The Daily soliphone., 1902-05-13
An Official Relief Force Found Moth ing But Ruin and Putre-
 flying Bodies.
LATTER BEING GATHERED AND BURNED.
Hundreds of Refugees at Le Carbet md Case PiIOte Dying-sunter- ranean RumbIings Continually Add to the Horror of the hu2h Already Accomplished.

iuue, Sunday, May 11.-Several steamers, including the government vessel Rubis started from here Sat urday for St. Pierre. They had on board government delegate, num- Der of gendarmes, detachment or regular infantry and several priests. The vessels also carried quantity ct tirewood, petroleum and qulckllme' for use in the cremation of the bodies of the victims of the terrible volcanic outbreak of Thursday last. Large quantities of disinfectants and stocks of clothing for the refugees also were shipped to St. Pierre. The refugees had, as rule, assembled at Ie Carbet and Case Pilote, not far from St. Pierre, and, 1t is reported over thousand of them have died since the fearful stream of lava poured down Mont Pelee.
 Sea Covered With Wreclxagc.
 The sea for miles around was cov- cred with the wreckage of the ves- sels sunk off St. Pierre at the time of the disaster, and on shore only the trees, all bent seaward by the force of the volcanic shower, were left standing. When nearing St. Pierre the Rubis met tugs towing lighters filled with refugees. The stench from the corpse-strewn streets was awful. Only few walls were standing. The report that the hospital clock was found intact, with it's hands stopped at 7:5o, was confirmed, as was the statement that the offices of the ca ble company had entirely disap- peared.
 On all sides were found portions of corpses, which were gathered up by the soldiers and gendarmes and burned on one of the public squares.
 Not Drop of Water.
 Not drink of water was procura- ble ashore. Darkness, caused by the clouds of volcanic dust, shrouded the town, and continuous subterranean rumbling added to the horror of the scene. The fort and central quarters of the town were razed to the ground, and were replaced by beds of hot cinders.
 The iron grille-work gate of the government offices was alone stand ing. There was no trace of the streets. Huge heaps of smoking ashes were to be seen on all sides.
 At the landing place some burned and ruined walls indicated the spot where the customhouse formerly stood, and traces of the larger shops could be seen.
 Corpses i'm All Attitudes. In that neighborhood hundreds of corpses were found lying in all kinds of attitudes, showing that the victims had met death as if by lightning stroke. Every vestige of clothing was burned away from the charred bodies, and in many cases the ab- domens had been burst open by the intense heat. Curiously enough, the features of the dead were generally calm and reposeful, although in some eases terrible fright and agony were depicted. Grim piles of bodies were stacked everywhere, showing that death had stricken them while the crowds were vainly seeking escape from the fiery dcluge. On one spot a group of nine children were found locked in each others arms.
 Treasure Found Intact.
 The vaults of the Bank of Martin ique, at the head of what had been the Rue De L'Hopital, were found in- tact. They contained 2,O0O,0O0 francs sn specie and securities, which was sent here for safelleeping.
 The vaults of the government treas ury are now being searched, in the hope that large amount of money and other valuables deposited by the principal merchants of the city may be saved.
 Many Refugees Rescued.
 Nearly 4,00o of the refugees from the vicinity of the village of Le Pre- cheur, a suburban village to the north of St. Pierre, were rescued by the French cruiser Suchet and the cable repair ship Pouyer-Q -Quertier, and were brought here.
 As result of his inspection, the commander of the Suchet reports that crevices and valleys are con- stantly forming in the northern por- tion of the island, where the land is in a state of perpetual change. For tunately, that part of the country was evacuated in good time by the in habitants, who fled to Fort France
 Lava Continues to Flow. Lava continues to stream down the mountainside, accompanied by terrific thunder and lightning.
 The dearth of provisions is begin ming to be felt throughout the island. Numerous families are completely |