Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-23
Second Eruption Of Mount Peles orASes Pop
ulaoe With Fear,
CRATER DESCRIBED AS SETTING FURNACE
Tuesdays Explosion More Violent Than
that Which Effaced St. Pierre.
RUINS OF CITY AMPITHEATsE OF FIRE
Bombardment of the volcano is Tre-
mendOus and Fort de France
IL FILLED with Anrighted
Masses.

FORT DE FRANCE, Island Of Martinique,
Wednesday, May 21.--4 p. m.-The second
! eruption Of Mount Pelee, which occurred
yesterday. is said to have been many times
more violent than the fatal explosion which
effaced the beautiful city Of St. Pierre and
swept it's 30 900 people from tho earth. The
volcano is described as a seething furnace,
I whose deadly tongues Of flame are expected
to lick up life and property at any time
Indeed, the people of this section are in
absolute terror over what they resolutely
believe to be their impending fate. They
are thronging this city by the hundreds
and crying, not for food, not for clothing,
hut to be taken far away from this island,
which they declare has become the object
of Gods wrath and that He has determined
to sweep it's people out Of existence.
Streams OF people have been pouring into
Fort de France from all the surrounding
country. The people are not destitute, but
they are terrified. They want only one
thing, and that is to be taken far away
from this island, with which they say the
gods are angry and which they will destroy
by fire before II sink. under the sea-
The consuls here and the officers Of the
war vessels in the harbor are waylaid by
persons crazed with fear and begging to be
carried away.
The weather Is now calm and beautiful,
but the mountain Is veiled In volcanic
clouds, which often assume a very threaten
ing aspect, and occasional rumblings are
heard. Some heavy and very welcome
rains fell this morning.
The United States steamer Dixie, Captain
Berry. from New York. arrived today after
a quick and safe passage. Its passengers
include many world-famous scientists.
Prof. Robert T. Hill, government geologist;
Prof. G. e. Borehgrevlnk, Messrs. George
Curtis and George Kennan and many maga-
zine writer's and correspondents are also
among those who arrived on the steamer
Cargo of Supplies Landed.
Dixie began landing Its enormous cargo
Of supplies early and the storehouse on
shore soon became congested, and this is
the greatest difficulty OF the distribution.
The United States steamer Potomac went
10 inspect 81. Pierre with the commanders OF
the war vessels now here. With the great
est difnculty the party succeeded in making
a landing. The effect Of the outburst OF
yesterday was tremendous.
The huge cathedral was laki nat to the
earth. The bombardm6nt Of volcanic
stones is not sufficient to account for this
and all evidences point to the passage Of a
enormous speed and with inoalculable
force. The deposit of boulders. ashes and
angular stones is enormous. Not a human
being saw what happened at st. Pierre yes
terday morning. Fort de France is over
whelmed.
This second eruption was many times
more violent than that which effaced St
Pierre and swept it's people from the earth
Nor has all volcanic activity ceased. Vast
columns Of smoke and gas still pour from
the great crater and new assures have
opened on the mountain sides and are
vomiting yellow whirlwinds, which rush in
termittently now from one point and nov
from another. Boiling mud also is thrown
out at times IN torrents that reach the set
and produce smallStidal waves.
Hideous Anaphitheatsr of Fire,
From a somber, silent city of death ant
desolation st. Pierre has become a hideouI
amphitheater Of fiery. roaring destruction
The people are convinced that God Il
angry with the island and means to scor'
,it with hre and then sink 1t in the ocean
iUnreasoning fear Is possessing all souls
Even Fort de France is believed to be un
safe. The presence Of the relief ships
however, is helpful to the people. who say
'The American nag makes safety"
The Potomac could not approach close Il
st. Pierre The Dixie will sail tomorrow
for ST. Vincent, but the other vessels will
remain. The scientists who have arrives
will examine into the question Of the DANCE
OF the peaks of Csrbet. near Fort de France
becoming active volcanoes. The outburs
of yesterday probably means q ruine
island. as all confidence is lost.
1--WE want not food. but only to leave
Is the cry Of rich and poor.
PARIS. May 22.-The minister Of tn
colonies. NJ, De Crais. has cabled to Gov
ernor l'Huerre. at Fort de France. instruct
ing him to make all possible arrangement
for the embSrkation OF the inhabitants Q
Martinique, In the event Of circumstance
neeessitatlng the evacuation Of that island
The ministry Of the colonies has com
munieated to the Associated Press the fol
lowing cable message, sent to Governo
LHuerre. yesterday evening:
Make known, II the situation seems I
you TO necessitate partial or total evacua
posal or those you may need.
No reply has yet been received.
People in a state of Panic.
CAsTRIEs. Island OF st. Lucia. B. W. I
aday 22.-M. Labat. the senior town coun
eillof OF Fort de France. who was anon
tno IeluBca VINO dINcu ucfe yeblcIOa
from Martinique on the Norwegian steame
Pelga. accompanied by his entire famil!
was interviewed today by a eoTesponder
OF the Associated Press. He said ths
since the ST. Pierre disaster the populatio
of Fort de France had been excited an
anxious. This was intensified as the as
showers from Mount Pelee thickened. pun
ice rained more often and the freQueI
detonations became louder, Councillor L
Bat related thrilling stories OF escape
from the environs OF ST. Pierre, which /
gathered from refugees He said;
On Saturday. at 3 In the afternoon, a
incessant rain Of ashes obscured the SIX
and at o'clock total darkness preVaile
The population generally was unnerVe
Sunday was lighter, but the ash rain COZ
tinued. with an occasional fall OF lava. sls
and pumice. and continuous rumblings fro
the mountain, and the feeling OF anxie'
continued.
At $50 a. m. on Monday singular phi
nomenon was witnessed In the northeas