Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-05-15
THE ST. PIERRE DISASTER.

grows in extent and horror
The fire is now abating and the
work of rescuing bodies is being hast
ened today Many bodies have been
recoyed in positions Of life, just as the
molten lava overwhelmed them
Whole families were found stand
ing al their various household duties.
recalling the destruction of Pompeii
At the cathedral corpses were piled
one hundred deep. 1t is impossible
as yet to give correct estimate of
the loss of life. but the figures may
reach nearly to the fifty thousand
mark Sailors who jumped from yes
sells into the harbor to escape the sea
of flames. were boiled to death in
.. ..scalding water. At St. Vincent clouds
of vapors miles high continue to pour
from the volcano, and seven miles
west can be seen an immense water
spout. The survivors at Fort de
France face death by starvation. Ur-
gent appeals for foodstuffs to neigh
boring islands are met by the answer
the stock is so limited, food must
come from the mainland. As St
Pierre has always served as store
house for the islands. only the early
arrival of supply ships can avert a
new calamity.
PARIS, May 12.-The French cable
company this morning received from
its manager at Port au Prince, Martin
ique the following:
Have sent an agent to st. Pierre.
He was able to find the company's
office buried under a pile of rubbish.
but could find no trace of the general
manager or Jallabert, or the person
mel of the Office, consisting of five
men. The town is strewn with corps
es, the cremation OF which has begun.
The cable ship Pouyer Quertier is now
proceeding to repair the cable from
Martinique to Hayti and New York"
The commander of the warship SUI
chet cabled he explored st. Pierre Sat
urday with squad OF marines The
town was mass of smoking ruins |
under which the victims are buried.
He found it impossible to advance to
the north OF the island, owing to the |
rain OF ashes, which was most intense. |
The Volcanic still presents a menac-
ing appearance. and last night rum |
blings accompanied by flashes and |
projections OF stones and ashes oc-
Cured.
PARIS. May l2.-The most astonish-
ing feature of the shocking news from |
Martinique is the passive interest |
taken in the disaster here. The rich
est of her unies being practically |
destroyed and forty thousand people |
ssrept o,,l ri sisteiIee. does NOT ap- !
pear to excite any greater interest |
than the winner of the grand priX. |
London is vastly more excited and
King Edward in his contribution of
sympathy Is far and away ahead of |
the president of France and his peo-
pie in sorrow and the practical work |
oil nelp.
FORT DE FRANCE, May 10
Every available vessel has been
pressed into service Tor relief duty |
in the vicinity of St Pierre. Food |
and other supplies are being hurried |
to the scene. Great loads of fire |
wood, quick-lime and petroleum are
being sent to aid in the disposition of
bodies, the decomposition of which |
cause the greatest distress to the re-
lief forces. 1t is estimated that a
thousand persons who escaped from
the lava, have died from hanger
thirst and injuries.
st. Pierre's streets cannot be traced
Lava is still flowing down the hill
sides. The vaults of the Bank of Mar
Unique were found to be intact, They
contained 100000
n ~ Nto,-
Louis Ayme. United States consult at
Guadalupe, who went to Martinique
under instructions from Washington,
.reports by cable from Fort de France
yesterday as follows:
"The disaster is complete, st.
Pierre is wiped out. Consul Prentis
and family are dead The governor
says 80 900 people perished, while
$4,000 are homeless and hungry. He
suggests that the Red Cross society
be asked to send Goldfish, beans, rice,
salt meats and biscuits as quickly as
possible. A visit of a warship would
be valuable.
LONDON. May 13.-Sixteen lives
are known to have been lost on st.
Vincents island as a result of the ac-
tivity of Souffriere volcano there. On
account of the continued flow of lava
and the attendant intense heat, the
stricken section cannot be penetrated.
Refugees arriving at Castries, Santa
Lucia, say that the number of deaths
will exceed sixteen hundred. Rum
blings continued this morning, accord
is to . cablegram from Santa Lucia
The sea is covered with trees and
deb is swept from the island.
FORT DE FRANCE, May 13.-On
account OF the Intense heat and sick
ening odor, the work OF clearing the
ruins at St Pierre is proceeding slow
. " and under immense difficulties.
Only corpse which lie exposed arc be-
ing burned. Thousands are buried
under the lava.
Outside help is needed here quick
ly. for the town has filled up with
refugees who are absolutely destitute.
The local relief committee is doing
out food cautiously. fearing a short
age before more supplies arrive. 1t is
estimated that $4,000 people on the isl
and are without food and shelter and