Evening journal., 1902-05-21
MONT PBLBR
SPREADS HAVOC
ReScuing Expedition Mar
rOWly Escapes Destruction
American Sailors, With Body Of
Consul PrentiSS, Driven From
Island by Volcano

Fort De France, Island of Marti
nique, May Z1.-The expedition sent
to recover the bodies of the Ameri-
can and British consuls at st. Pierre
on Monday nearly resulted in a fear
full horror. The vessels taking part
In the expedition we're the United
States steamer Potomac and the Brit
ish cruiser Indefatigable. The Poto-
mac, under the command of Lieuten-
ant Benjamin b. Mccormick, arrived
there first, at IL o'clock Monday morn
ing, and landed working parties One
party went to the site of the American
consulate, and the other, headed by
Lieutenant Mccormick, went to the
north end of the town, to the spot
where the British consulate stood,
from where the lieutenant could see
Mont Pelee, and noticed that a huge
column of smoke and gas was pouring
out of the crater, in a manner similar
to the eruption of May s last He
thereupon rushed to the site of the
American consulate and ordered all
hands to the boats. The American
sailors picked up a heavy metallic
coffin, in a wood case, containing the
remains Of the United States consul,
Thomas t. Prentis, and carried it to
boat. The American party was in
imminent danger.
In the meantime the Indefatigable
had arrived off st. Pierre, but left the
Shore heading for the sea, blowing
her siren. At that time a huge stream
of molten matter was pouring into
the sea, raising columns of steam, and
the whole sea was hideous, having
turned a yellow-green color, while
what was apparently smoke was rush
ing from the mountain. The detona-
tions we're continuous, and were ac-
companied by a fearful storm of light
ming, thunder and rain. The flashes
were of terrific violence, and during
the storm new craters opened in Mont
Pelee.
Fortunately the wind kept the
clouds Of smoke and gas from envelop-
ing the American and British war
ships or the working party. The cool
ness and courage of the American
sailors were most noteworthy.
The body of Mr.. Prentis was brought
here. There was a funeral service on
board the United States cruiser Gin
cinnatl yesterday. The burial took
place ashore.
The volcanic mountain is apparently
in greater activity, and the escape of
the war vessels, and particularly OF
the shore party, was exceedingly mar
row..
A severe inundation at Basse Pointe
on the northeast coast of this island
at o'clock yesterday morning, swept
away 20 houses. Fifty other buildings
were damaged by the flowing mud
which has swept over the Valee de la
Riviere. There was no further loss
of life, Basse Pointe having been
abandoned several days ago.
Yesterday morning at half past five
o'clock a thick, heavy cloud, lit up by
flashes of lightning and the rising
sun, rose from Mont Pelee. The peo
pie of Fort De France at once became
panic-stricken, and in scant attire
rushed excitedly through the streets
of the town. Stones from the volcano
as big as hazel nuts fell in the streets
Many of the inhabitants hurriedly EN-
barked on the vessels in the harbor
and it was with difficulty that thel
we're eventually reassured. At
o'clock. however, the excitement wal
over and the people became calm.
The phenomenon yesterday morn
Ing was similar to the eruption o
Thursday, May s, but not so severe.