Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-10

a grave disaster, the extent Of which is not
mentioned, has occurred, and the receipt Of
repetition Of the Roddam's news. The
belief now/exists that the British West In
dian islands Of Dominica and st. Vincent
have also suffered severely. All messages
to these islands are sent at sender's risk
and no cipher dispatches are accepted. It
is expected that possibly news will reach
England tonight through steamers arriving
at the other West Indian Islands.
Eruption Begins Saturday.
A dispatch to the Reuter- Telegram COM
pany from Xii gston. Jamaica, giving the
details OF the Martinique disaster already
known, says
Thousands were killed at st. Pierre,
where a terrible panic prevailed. The erup-
tion began Saturday. May 3, when st. Pierre
was covered with ashes and appeared to be
enveloped In fog. The flow OF lava con-
tinued until Wednesday May 7.
The message adds: In the island OF 81.
Vincent the soufriere (volcano) is active
and earthquakes are frequent. But so far
no damage has been done.
In response to the request Of Governor
Lewellyn OF the windward islands, the
British second class cruiser Indefatigable
has been dispatched from the island Of
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Pointe-A-Petre. island Of Gusdeloupe,
French West Indies, says:
The Monte Peele (St Pierre) crater
elected yesterday molten rocks and ashes
three minutes and completely destroyed
st. Pierre and the districts within a four
mile radius. All the inhabitants were
burned.
ParaIIeIed Only by POmpeII.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Ja-
maica says:
The first intimation Of disaster at Mar
tinuqe was the breaking Of the cables on
Tuesday The French cable to Martinique
from Puerto Plate was broken Wednes-
day Cable communication with all the
northern islands is stopped.
The survivors OF the British steamer
Roddam describe the scene at St. Pierre as
being "glimpses Of hell" Roddam's men
were killed chiefly by molten lava.
All the newspapers express the utmost
horror Of the disaster. which they say for
Its suddenness and magnitude is only COM
parable with that of Pompeii, and they ex-
tend deep sympathy to the French nation.
BRIDGETON, Island Of Barbados, Brit
ish West Indies. May 9.-Volcanic ashes
from eruption in the island OF st. Vincent
are still falling here. The roads and houses
are covered an inch thick.
The island OF Barbados is over 100 miles
from the island Of st. Vincent.
Town is Entirely Destroyed.
ST. THOMAS, D. w. l., May g. $3.50 a.
m-The French cruiser Suchet arrived at
Point a-Pltre, island of Guadeloupe, French
West Indies. from Fors ire France, this
hHfn
confirmed the report that the town Of st.
Pierre, Martinique. was entirely destroyed
at 8 O'Clock on Thursday morning by a
volcanic eruption. 1t is supposed that most
Of the Inhabitants of st. Pierre were
killed, that the neighboring parishes were
laid waste and that the residue Of the
population in St. Pierre is without food or
shelter.
The British royal mail steamer, Esk.
which arrived at St. Lucia this morning,
reports having passed st. Pierre last night.
The steamer was covered with ashes
though 1t was FIVE miles distant from the
town, which was in impenertrable dark
ness. boat was sent in near as pos
sible to the shore, but not a living soul
was seen ashore. only flames.
The Quebec steamship company's
steamer Poraima was seen to explode and
disappear.
Town wrapped in Flames.
The commander Of Suchet reports that at
/ o'clock on Thursday the entire town OF
st. Pierre was wrapped in flames. He en-
deavored to save ebout thirty persons, more
or less burned, from the vessels in the
harbor. His ofhcers went ashore In small
boats, seeking for survivors, but we're un-
| able to penetrate the town. Taey saw heaps
of bodies upon the wharves, and It is be-
lieved that not a single person residing in
st. Pierre at the moment OF the catastrophe
escaped.
The governor Of the colony and his star
colonel and wife were in st. Pierre and
probably perlshed. The extent Of the catss-
trophe cannot be imagined.
The captain of the British steamer Rod.
! dam was very seriously injured and Is nov
| in the hospital at Lucia. All OF his oflcer'
and engineers were dead or dying. Nearl!
every member of the Grew is dead. Super
| cargo Campbell and the hremen on tn,
Roddam jumped overheard and were lost
KINGSTON. jamaica, May s.-All thu
islands in the neighborhood OF Martiniqu,
are isolated, apparently by an earthquake
Cable Communication with Vincent, Bar
BADGES, Grenada, Trinidad. Demerara an,
st. Lucia is interrupted. Fears are enter
talned for the safety of the cable repai
steamer Grapples. which was at Martiniqu
prior to the disaster.
Americans Among the Sufferers.
PORTLAND, Me-, May 9.-NsWs of tn
catastrophe at st. Pierre, Island Of Mar
Unique. was OF deep interest to the hru
OF ]. II. Hamlen Co. OF this city. whicl
is said to be the only New England busi
ness house with an once at ST. Pierre
Besides dealing In northern lumber. tn
Hamlens are interested in the sugar indus
try there, and hold considerable property
Their lose will be heavy.
J. G. Hamlen. the Junior member Of tn
! Arm. says there we're no New Englan'
people at the island connected with tn
business. and he believes that none bu
natives were killed. He also is of tn
opinion that no New England or America
vessels were in port, as the season 70
shipping lumber. ice and coal Is over.
There we're three passengers on the Quo
bee Steamship eompany's steamship Pora
ina. which is supposed to have been loi
with all on board In the harbor OF s
Pierre. These passengers were:
! +. INCE.
MRS. II. j. INCE.
Mr. STOKES
All live in the West Indies. At the ou'