Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-05-15
GRAPHIC PICTURE OF DESTRUCTION.

Fort De France, Island of Martini
que, May 11.-Several steamers, in
cluding the government vessel Rubis,
started from here yesterday for st.
Pierre. They had on board govern
ment delegate, number of gendarmes,
detachment of regular infantry and
several priests. The vessels also car
ried quantity of frewood, petroleum
and quicklime, for use in the crema-
tion 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
were also shipped to St. Pierre.
The refugees had, as rule, assem-
| bled at lie Carbet and Case Pilote, not
| far from st. Pierre, and it is reported
| over thousand of them have died
since the fearful stream of lava poured
down Mont Pelee.
The sea for miles around was covered
with the wreckage of the vessels sunk
| off ST. Pierre at the time of the dis
aster. and ashore only n few trees, all
bent seaward by the force of the vol
canic shower, we're left standing.
| When nearing St. Pierre, the Rubis
met number Of tugs towing lighters
filled with refugees.
The heat from the smoking, lava
covered ruins at ST. Pierre was sutfo-
eating, and the stencil from the corpse
strewn streets was awful. Only few
walls were standing.
The report that the hospital clock
was found intact, with Its hands
stopped at 750, was confirmed, as was
tue statement that the offices of the
cable company had entirely disap-
peared
On all sides we're found portions of
corpses, which were gathered up by
the soldiers and gendarmes and burned
on one of the public squares. Not a
drop of water was procurable ashore.
The darkness caused by the clouds of
volcanic dust shrouded the town, and
continuous subterranean rumblings
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 gov.
ernment offices was alone standing,
There was no trace of the streats. 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 Custom House formerly
stood, and traces of the larger shop.
COulI DG S6tttt LII bhttu
t hundreds of corpses were found lyin(
in all kinds of attitudes, showing tina
$ the victims had met death as if by ;
4 lightning stroke. Every vestige o
, clothing was burned away from thu
S charred bodies, and in many cases th,
S abdomens had been burst open by tn,
intense heat. Curiously enough, th'
: features of the dead were general,
7 calm, though in some cases terrible
d fright and agony were depicted. Grin
i piles Of bodies were stacked every
! where, showing that death had stricken
!. them while the crowds were vainl
l. seeking escape from the fiery deluge
}, On one spot group of nine childre
Q we're found locked in each others arms
The vaults of the Bank of Martini
) que, at the head of what had been tn
u Rue L'Hopital, were found intact
70 They contained 1000, 600 francs i
b specie and other securities, which wer
rt sent here for safekeeping. The vault
of of the government treasury are now be
v ing searched in the hope that larg
ID amount of money and other valuable
1t deposited by the principal merchant
ie of the city may be saved. z
ot Nearly 4, COO of the refugees from tn
m vicinity of Lie Precheur, a village
IN the north of st. Pierre, were rescue
by the French cruiser Suohet and th
cable repair ship Pouyer Quertier, an
III were brought here. AS result of h
ys inspection, the commander of th
e. Suchet reports that crevices and valley
es are constantly forming in the nortker
It. portion of the island, where the Ian
ne is in a state of perpetual chang
40 Fortunately, that part of the countl
az was evacuated in good time by the il
ii habitants, who fed to Fort de Franc
I'd Lava continues to stream down Il
mountain side, accompanied by territ
sh thunder and lightning.
as The dearth of provisions is begil
at ming to be felt throughout the islam
he Numerous families are complete
Sc ruined and even shelterless, while 81
er means at the disposal of the author
ec tics are much too inadequate to co
nd with the situation. Communication