Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-12

blanket of fire which fell upon st. Pierre
appears to be consuming all the coun-
try for miles around.
| Since the rescue of so persons by the
| French cruiser Suchet it is not known
here that another person is left alive in
st. Pierre, though it is hoped that more
rescucs may have been effected. 1t
seems beyond doubt that the radius Of
destruction has involved at least 4c,o0o
victims. They had no apparent chance
to escape when the top Of the mountain
exploded.
The belief here is that some Of the
residents Of st. Pierre must have taken
warning from the ominous actions of
Mt. Felce for several days before the
catastrophe, and took refuge in the
| country. Even then they may have
been caught in the disaster which is 80
Widespread.
The island Of St Vincent is threat
ened with similar disaster, and st. Lu-
cia lies midway between these two vol
canic centcrs. The volcano called the
Soufrerc Sulphur pitt, in the north
western part Of st. Vincent, is in SYM
pathetic eruption.
over one-third of the north side Of
miles, there is a burning, sizzling
strip. Incandesccnt sand and red hot
cmders are filing the fertile ana well
populated valleys
All the springs have been dried up
and the lakes are steaming pits. The
residents are dying Of burns ana thirst
and many have been overtaken in their
flight by the overflow from the Sou
friere.
III this l50-mile stretch of the Wind
ward islands, the volcanic ashes from
St Vincent and from Martinique over
hang in vast clouds, turning daylight
into partial darkness. Decks and rig
Ging of vessels are covered with the
drifting dust, and a feeling OF error
) prevails on the sea.
KingstoWn, the capital Of st. Vim
cent, on the western end Of the island,
with a population Of 5000, is still safe,
but the people are alarmed, and fear
flaming masses from the SoUfricre may
Overwhem them at any moment
There are ever active volcanoes in
ST Lucia and Dominica, but these have
shown 10 sympathy with the upheavals
Of the neighboring islands.
The latest report from the vicinity Of
st. Pierre comes by the Royal Mail
steamship which called off that port at
10 O'Clock last night. Attempts We're
maue to signal the possibly living by
throwing up rockets ana blowing the
whistle but there was no response.
A boat was sent toward shore. but q
landing vas found impossible because
, of fire along the coast for miles. All
the shipping in the port had been de
stroyed. \ later attempt to enter the
city hv officers Of the French colonial
government was barred by flames.
Among the ruins of the streets lay
thousands Of bodies.
The British steamship Roddaul, of all
the shipping in the harbOr, alone est
, capped, and came into this port with a
cargo Of dead and dying. She was dis
mantled ana almost wrecked. She was
burned from stem to stern. Ten Of her
crew had been scorched to death while
she sought her way to sea. The cap-
tain. terribly burned and blinded,
stcercd his ship through storm Of fire.
lie was the only man on board able to
help himself above deck.
The steamers agent was alongside in
the harbor Of st. Pierre when the city
was overwhelmed, and crawled on
board in what he said was a cloud Of
fire. lie was severely burned, but will
Dobably live. Two men Of the crew
have died since they were taken ashore
TO the hospital at st Lucia, and the
captain is not expected to survive. It
is probable that the agent Of st. Pierre
will be the only survivor of those who
reached here. The Roddam was navi-
I gated 20 safety literally by q handful
Of dying men.
Late advices say that some Of the in
habitants of st. Pierre. taking warn
ing, fled to Fort de France. the capital
of Martinique, and a few came to St
Lucia. But almost all Of these refugees
were women and children, sent away
by their husbands and fathers. These
are now left destitute and desolate.
Thousands Of persons are hockng
into Fort de France and famine faces
these survivors. Animals are dying all
over the island, and all fodder and
growing crops are withered. III
Bodies of men and cows and horses
are found. dried by the rain of ashes
miles from the scene Of active destruc-
ton. Other islands are sending assist
anCe, but they are without guidance as
| TO the nature Of the help required
Foodstufts of all kinds are urgently
needed for the relief Of Martinique and
St Vincent, as well as for the suffering
refugees already in St. Lucia 1t is i'm
possible to obtain any coherent account
of the catastrophe from the survivors
in this port. Almost without exception
they are tortured with injuries and
/ have only half-crazed recollection az
a fight for life.
It is not even possible to ascertain
whether the CONFORMATION Of the coun-
| try has been greatly changed, although
It is said that the whole top of the
mountain has been blown off, for vol
canic masses were scattered for dis
lance Of at least O dozen miles.
BOILING LAVA