New-York tribune., 1902-05-13
BURNING THE DEAD.
WORK OF A GOVERNMENT PARTY AMID
THE RUINS OF ST. PIERRE


THE RUINS OF ST PIERRE.
Fort de France. Martinique, May 11.-Several
steamers, including the government vessel Rubis,
started from here yesterday for ST. Pierre, ten
miles from this town.
The steamers had on board government dele
gate. number of gendarmes, a detachment Of
regular infantry and several priests The ves-
sells also carried a quantity of firewood ne
troleum 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 cloth
ing for the refugees were also shipped 70 ST
Pierre The refugees had. as a rule assembled
at lie Carbet and Case Pilote. not far from st
Pierre. and 1t is reported over q thousand 90
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 of ST. Pierre
at 'he time OF the disaster. and ashore only
ie" Trees all bent seaward by the force of the
volcanic shower. were left standing.
When nearing St. Pierre the Rubis met q
number Of tugs towing lighters filled with
refugees
Inc heat from the smoking lava covered ruins
al 81 Plerre was suffocating. and the stencil
from the corpse strewn streets was awful Onlv
Few walls were standing. The hospital clock
was found intact with it's hands stonned ar 7.5o
and the offices OF the cable company had on
tirely disappeared. On all sides were found
portions Of corpses which were gathered up
by the soldiers and gendarmes and burned in
one Of the public squares
Not drop Of water procurable ashore
The darkness caused by the clouds Of volcanic
dust shrouded the town and continuous sub
terranean rumblings added to the horror Of the
scene. The fort and central quarters OF the
town were raZed TO the ground and were re-
placed by beds of hot cinders. The iron grill
work gate of the government offices was alone
standing There was no trace of the streets
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 shops
could be seen. In that neighborhood hundreds
OF corpses were found lying IN all kinds of atti-
tudes, showing that the victims had met death
as If by lightning stroke Every vestige of
clothing was burned away from the charred
bodies and in many the abdomens had
been burst open by the intense heat. CuriousIv
enough, the features Of the dead were generally
calm and reposeful. although in some cases ter
rible fright and agony were depicted Grim
piles Of bodies were stacked everywhere. show
ing that death had stricken them while the
crowds were vainly seeking escape from the
fiery deluge. On one spot group Of nine chill
dren were found locked in one another's arms
The vaults of the Bank OF Martinique. at the
head of what had been the Rue de rHopital
were found intact. They contained 2OO0OOO
francs (S4oOOGO in specie and other securities
which was sent here for safe keeping The
vaults Of the government treasury are now
being searched in the hope that large amount
OF money and other valuables deposited by the
principal merchants OF the city may be saved
Nearly four thousand of the refugees from
the vicinity Of the village OF lie Precheur. a
suburban village 10 the north Of ST. Pierre were
rescued by the French cruiser Suchet and the
cable repair ship Pouyer-Quertier, and were
brought here
AS result of this inspection, the commander
OF the Suchet reports that crevices and valleys
are constantly forming in the northern portion
OF the island. where the land is in state OF per-
I.etual change. Fortunately that part of the
country evacuated in good time by the
nha bitants who fed TO Fort de France
Lava continues TO stream down the mountain
side accompanied by terrific thunder and light
ming
The dearth of provisions is beginning 10 he
felt throughout the island Numerous families
are completely ruined and even shelterIess,
while the means at the disposal of the authori-
ties are Inadequate to cope with the distress
Communication is practically cut off from all
the surrounding islands, except by straw yes
sells, which seized upon by the inha bitants
to fee from Martinique.