The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-05-14
City Of 81. Pierre, Island Of Martin
iqus, and ali Shipping Consumed.
FORTY THOUSAND SOULS PER
lsHED In FIRERY DELUGE.

ly destroyed at s O'Clock on Thursday
morning by 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
of 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 she was
five miles distant from the town,
which was in impenetrable darkness.
A boat was sent in as near as possible
to the shore, but not a living soul was
seen ashore, only flames.
The Quebec Steamship company's
steamer Roraima was seen to explode
and disappear.
ports that at l O'Clock on Thursday
the entire town of ST. Pierre was
wrapped in flames He endeavored to
save about 80 persons more or less
burned from the vessels in the harbor
His officers went ashore III small boats
seeking for survivors, but were unable
to penetrate the town. They saw
heaps of bodies upon the wharves and
it is believed that not single person
resident in st. Pierre at the moment
Of the catastrophe escaped.
The governor of the colony and his
staff colonel and wife were in st.
Pierre and probably perished. The
extent of the catastrophe cannot be
imagined.
The captain of the British steamer
Roddam was very seriously injured and
is now in the hospital at st. Lucia.
All of his officers and engineers are
dead or dying. Nearly every member
of the crew is dead. Supercargo
Campbell and ten of the crew of the
Roddam jumped overheard at ST.
Pierre and were lost.
The Bristish schooner Ocean Travel
er of St. Johns n. B., arrived at the
Islard of Dominica, British West
Indies at 8 O'Clock this afternoon.
She reported that she was obliged to
fee from the Island of st. Vincent,
B. W. I, during the afternoon of
Wednesday. May z, in consequence OF
a heavy fall of sand from a volcano
which was erupting there. She tried
to reach the Island of ST. Lucia. B.
". T., but adverse currents prevented
her from so doing. The schooner arrlv-
ed opposite st. Pierre Martinique,
Thursday morning, May S. While
about mile off the volcano (of Mont
Pelee) exploded and FIRE from it swept
the whole town of st. Perre, destroy
ing the town and the shipping there,
including the cable repair ship Crap
pier of the West India and Panama
Telegraph company of London, which
was engaged in repairing the cable
near the Guerin factory The Ocean
Traveller while on her way to Dom
minica encountered quantity OF
wreckage.
the French cruiser Suchet has tele-
graphed to the minister of marine, N.
de Lanessan, from Fort de France, ISL
and of Martinique, under date OF
Thursday, May s, at 10 p. m.
.sHave Just returned from st. Pierre,
which has been completely destroyed
bv>immense mass of fire which fell on
the town at about o'clock in the
morning The entire population OF 25,-
600. souls is supposed to have perish
ed. I have brought back the few sur
vivors, about 80. Ali the shipping in
the harbor has been destroyed by ire.
The eruption continues.
Paris, May 9.-The colonial minis
ter, NJ. de Crais, received at : O'Clock
this evening two messages from the
secretary general of the government OF
Martinique, J. E. G. Lehurre, sent
respectively at p. m., and 1870 p.
NJ. yesterday. The earlier, cable re-
ported that the wires were broken be-
tween Fort de France and st Pierre
but it was added in view Of the reports
that the eruption of Mont Pelee had
wiped out the town of St. Pierre, all
the boats available at Fort de France
were dispatched to the assistance OF
the inhabitants of that place.
The second dispatch confirmed the
reports of the destruction OF St. Pierre
and its environs and shipping by a
rain Of fire and said it was supposed
that the whole population had been
annihilated with the exception OF a
lew injured pS1SoliS 1ooNe0o ~
cruiser Suchet.
Immediately after the receipt of the
above dispatches tie flag over the col,
onial office was draped with Grape and
hoisted at half mast.
The commander of the French cruis-
er Suchet, recently at Fort de France,
has been oreered to return to st;
Pierre, Martinique, with all the speed
possible and to forward details of the
disaster to the French government.
It is feared that NJ. L. Mouttet.
the governor of Martinique, has per
ished He telegraphed May I that he
was proceeding to st. Pierre. Sena-
tor Knight is also supposed to have
Wa Washington, May 9.-The following
cablegram has just been received at
the state department: .oo,
Point Pitre, May 9, 1902.
Secretary of State, Washington;
At o'clock a. NJ on the Sth inst,
storm of steam, mud and fire enyel-
roaScfnoH of St.