Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-07-14

Flame-There is much evidence that
flame developed in the cloud after it's
eruption. All persons who witnessed
the cloud from the rear or land sids
testify to seeing great sheets of fame
develop within the cloud. suggesting
sudden ignition. Victor. a native,
whom I met at Deux Choux, six miles
from st. Pierre, who saw the eruption
from a neighboring estate, stated that
at the time Of the explosion for
he saw the heavens clouded
with flame; five minutes afterward to-
tai darkness.
Prof. Arnoux says that after the
cloud had settled over the city there
was flash of flame and he put his
hand over his face to shut out the aw-
full sight.
Many testify that while the cloud
was not visibly afire at the time of its
eruption, it inflamed objects in its path
over the city. Evans said that wher-
ever it touched the houses in the town
they took fire. AS the houses were of
stone, with tin OF tile roofing, contain
ing but little combustible material. the
temperature must have been intense to
cause such sudden Inflammation.
Scarcity of visible effects of light
ning-There is no positive evidence of
1ioh hf1oi1
nor is there sufficient data to say there
were no such effects. No fulgurites
were found no splintered trees, no
shattering. The iron work was bent
by combustion, heat of the burning
city. l saw hundreds Of commercial
bars of iron standing against the walls
of shop, which were INFUSED and un-
hurt. No fusion whatever of metals
was observed The only apparent cleo
trical phenomena reported is the al
legation that Mr.. Clerc found that the
iron cross which formerly surmounted
Morne la Croix had been melted down
from it's stone pedestal.
Force-A tremendous destructional
force was apparent. 1t uprooted trees,
destroyed buildings, threw people and
objects. made the sea recede, over
turned ships and destroyed their rig
ging. 1t is impossible to conceive that
this force was initial from the volcanic
| vents, two and a half miles distant.
The force aerial. not terrestrial
Tops of walls were thrown down, foun-
dations standing; pedestal standing,
statues blown off; rigging and upper
works blown off, ships keeleed over;
the stones on which the light house
stood were torn asunder and thrown
great distances.
Exhaustion of air-Many witnesses
on the perimeter of the disaster testi-
| fled that they were not suffocated by
ashes or detectable gases, but could
get no air to breathe This language
or words to its effect is the testimony
of every witness. from the intelligent
| ship officer to the humble negro or
| peasant Engineer Evans stated that
he could get no air to breathe on deck
after the explosion, until he got below.
Confagration-All witnesses testify
to the sudden and instantaneous con-
f1agration of the city. Father Alte
Roche noticed that it swept rapidly
from north to south. In parts of the
city all combustible material was de-
stroyed, but in the central and south
ern parts many trees stand which were
only singed of their leaves and twigs.
Duration-The whole catastrophe
from beginning to end was over in less
than three minutes, although the ruins
| were still burning.
Death--Death was an accompani-
ment of any of the phenomena of the
eruption described and undoubtedly
occurred in many ways and with differ
i ent degrees of suddenness. Many were
killed by inhaling hot lapilli lash
notably on the Roraima; others burn
/ ed by same on the Roddam; Others
burned by steam; others killed BY
1 force; others singed by flame. Al
did not die instantly.
Nearly all the burns Of the wounded
survivors from the ship, according tc
DR.. Riley, were of the first degree, af
fecting only the epidermis. There
were also some burns of the true skin
The eyes of the wounded were unaf
fected and the eyelashes intact. Or
the other hand, remains on shore were
horribly burned to the quick.
Officer Scott, of the Roraima, tell!
of children who moaned for water, un
y able to swallow because. of ashes which
clogged their throats. One rinsed ou
his mouth. but could not swallow be
cause Of ashes which burned hi
throat.
Il 1t is not true that all the inhabitant
died from asphyxiation in the position
in which the 'cataclysm found them