The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-27
SAFE IN HER
AUNTIE'S ARMS
Child Survivor Of the Volcanic
Eruption at ST.. Pierre.
Her NAME IS RITA Stokes
Faithful Nurse Who Esclpad With Her
Also Being Cared for By Mrs.
CrOnsy.
Her NAME IS RITA STOKES

New York. June 27.-The pathetic letter
which appears below will convey to hum
dreds OF sympathetic persons the first
definite information concerning the pres
ent whereabouts and condition OF Mar
guerite Stokes, the little Brooklyn girl
who survived the horrors OF St Pierre,
Martinique.
The little girl and her faithful nurse,
Clara King. were the only two passen-
gers OF the steamer Roraima who es-
capped. Marguerite's mother and her
brother and sister were burned TO death
before her eyes She. too. was terribly
burned. but was rescued by the French
cruiser Suchet after being shielded from
death by Evans and Moore, the two fire.
men Of the Roraima, who fought the fire
on the ship for two hours.
Little Marguerite and her nurse wero
landed at Fort de France, but the child
was lost sight OF in the confusion re-
sulting from the panic among the fear
stricken people who nocked by thousands
TO that town. She was found in the Civil
hospital.
is SAFE WITH HER AUNT.
The little girl is now with her aunt.
Mrs. Emma ID. Croney, at Gaydene, Bar
BADGES, British West Indies. A cable
gram asking the fullest information was
sent to Miss King. the nurse. who Is an
comes in the form OF this letter from Mrs.
Croney:
Having received your cablegram in
which much heartfelt sympathy is ex-
presser for the sad fate of my dear dead
sister. Mrs. Stokes, and for the brother
and sister OF my poor surviving little
Rita (Marguerite) and more especially
for my poor Rita, I make haste 10 thank
you all and to ask you 10 give this letter
publication.
FAITHFUL NURSE WITH HER.
Rita and her faithful nurse. Clara King,
are both with me. My husband, J. Ed
ward Croney. of this city, went on 10
Fort de France as soon as they could be
moved and brought them UP 10 me on
Saturday, the 9TH inst.
Rita's medical attendant thinks she will
get all right but that II will be a very
long time before she is strong. She will
need much care and attention. We are
so very thankful that her face has es-
capped (been only slightly burned; the
marks in time will fade). Her head is
very badly burned and her hands, es-
pecially the right one.
This letter serves TO convey my sin
cere thanks to all my dear little Ritas
very sympathizing friends. and believe
me. that I thank them most gratefully.
/ am not in very affiuent circumstances,
but / will do all can for her. but can
not part with my dying sisters last gift.
DYING MOTHERS REQUEST.
The nurse said TO me when my husband
placed Rita In my arms:
Mrs. Croney. the mistress last words
were:
"'Clara, II Rita and yourself get out
OF this, take Rita TO her auntie and tell
her to take care of her."
Yesterday for the first time memory
awakened. She woke from sleep and
cried TO be taken TO mamma and Eric
and dolly (Olga). oh. sir this was sad!
God will help her TO forget the past.
She has always looked on me her
second mother, and. God helping me, 1
will act.
Should Rita's kind friends and well
wishers be willing to do anything for her
they may be sure that what they give
will be properly looked after for her sole
benefit. Again thanking you all and
with deep gratitude, believe me, sir. very
sincerely yours. EMMA ID. CRONEY.
Gaydene, Barbados. June 16.