The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1902-05-23
VOLCANOES Arb ACTIVE
Additional EruptiOns on Mar
Unique and st. Vincent.
Expedition of Americans 70 Re-
cover Bodies of COnsuls
Escaped by Flight.

Mont Pelee, the Martinique volcano
that exploded May 8 with such direfuI
results to lille and property, wiping out
the city OF st. Pierre with it's $4,000 in
habltants and laying waste under a
mantle OF ashes and stones a large Sec
ton OF the island, remained more or less
active and threatening until MAY 20.
when a second eruption, similar to the
nrst, out not SO severe, occurred. CO.
lossal columns of volcanic matter we're
eJected from the volcano, which rained
nuge, redhot bOulders many feet in di-
ameter on the ruins of st. Pierre and the
country near it from an enormous eleva-
tlon and with fearful velocity. The
spectacle was appalling and beyond de
scrlptlon, the glowing, fiery clouds ad-
yancIng until they reached Fort de
France, where stones as large as hazel
nuts, still hot, were rained down. throw
ing the whole population into a FRENZY
OF panic. The United States steamer
Potomac, which went from Fort de
France to investigate, approached close
to st. Pierre and found that the city
had been bombarded with enormous
stones from the volcano and the ruins
lett standing after the first great dis
aster had been nearly razed. Millions
OF tons OF ashes then covered the ruined
city. Further south, smaller stones had
destroyed the houses of the villagers
VINO had stuck to their homes.
Narrow Escape of Americans.
An expedition sent to recover the
bodies OF the American and British con-
suls had narrow escape. The bodies
had been identified and while the rescu
ing parties were working among the
ruins huge column of smoke and gas
poured out of the crater and down the
mountain. The American sailors we're
IN imminent danger and beat a hasty
retreat, but their GOODNESS and courage
was noteworthy and they carried the
body OF the American consul, which was
nearest the shore, with them. In the
meanwhile the British ship Indefati
gable, which was a part of the expedi-
ton, arrived off st. Pierre. but seeing
what was coming, headed Tor the sea,
blowing her siren. At that time huge
sfream OF molten matter was pouring
into the sea, which was hideous, having
turned q yellOwgreen color. Fortu-
nately the wind kept the clouds of smoke
and gas from enveloping the American
ana British warships, or the working
party, but the escape was exceedingly
narrow.
The Living Have Food.
The first official estimate gives $4,000
as the number of people buried in the
ruins of st. Pierre. Six thousand per-
sons we're rescued from the surrounding
country by steamships Probably 5000
we're drowned. Late advices indicate
that the authorities are no longer
anxious regarding the supply of food, as
the American and other relief ships have
arrived.
Letters which have reached the out
side world, written before the ca
tastrOphe, indicate that evidences of the
impending disaster were numerous five
days before it occurred. In the light of
the information they convey it is strange
that so few sought safety in fight.
On st. Vincent Island.
Although attended with smaller loss
OF life, the eruption of La SOufriere in
st. Vincent was not less violent than
that of Mont Pelee. The area covered
by lava comprises 16 square miles. The
TACT that the loss af life and damage to
property in st. Vincent were smaller
than in Martinique is due to the posi-
tion of La Soufriere and the smaller
population of the district, whose in
habitants were given warning of the ap-
preaching disaster and fed for their
lives. All the villagers who remained
we're killed. Sixteen hundred persons
were killed, 1000 are destitute, and aid
will be needed for six months. Another
great eruption OF Soufriere occurred San
day night and the whole island shook.
The thunderOus rumblings in the craters
were appalling and continued for two
hours, streams of lava flowing down the
mountain side. At last accounts the
outbreak was modifying.