Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-17
BURIED IN ASHES.
St. Vincent Island in Worse
Shape Than Martinique.
Crops Ruined, Covered by from 10 to
"a Inches Of Derbis.
About 1900 Dead, Of Which 1900 Have
Been Buried.

KingstoWn, Island Of st. Vincent.
Thursday, May 15.-( Afternoon).- A
correspondent of The Associated Press
has just returned here from a visit on
horseback to the deNaated district ol
this island. during which he travelled
80 miles and penetrated to within five
miles Of the Soufriere crater. The ash
covered area Of st. Vincent exceeds
that OF Martinique, which the cores
Tondent also has explored.
The most conservative estimate of
The death rate now places the number
at 1900. About 1900 bodies have al
ready been Inferred. The entire
northern part Of the island is covered
WIN ashes to mn average depth Of rs
inches. varying from a thin layer at
kingstown to two feet or more at
Georgetown. The crops are ruined.
nothing green can be seen, the streets
OF Georgetown are encountered with
drifted heaps of ashes. and ashes rest
so heavily on the roofs that in several
cases they have caused them TO fall
in.
There will soon be many destitute
persons in need of assistance from the
government, which is already doing
everything possible to relieve the suf-
ferers. There are 100 injured people
in the hospital at Georgetown. gangs
or men are searching for the dead or
rapidly burying them in trenches ana
all that can be done under the circum-
stances is being accomplished.
While the outbreak Of the volcano on
the island Of Martinique killed many
people outright. more territory has
been ruined in st. Vincent. hence there
is greater restitution here.
The injured persons were horribly
burned by the hot grit which was
driven along with tremendous velocity.
Twenty-six persons who sought refuge
in room 10 feet by Y were all killed.
One person was Drained with a huge
stone nine miles from the crater.
Rough collins are being made to re-
ceive the remains of the victims The
hospital here is filled with the dying
people. Fifty injured persons are lying
on the floor 0f that building. as there
are no beds for their accommodation,
though cots are being rapidly con
structed of boards. This and similar
work has been in progress since imme-
diately after the disaster. But two
days elapsed before there We're any
bufldlS, dS IIl. HeE1OtS FtiuSel W diS
the necessary trenches, though they
were offered three times the usual
wages by the local authorities. The
nurses employed are incompetent but
they are willing to learn and are work
ing hard. The negroes are Indifferent
20 all that is Transporting and to what
has taken place They expect to re-
ceive government rations, but there
have been instances where they have
refused to bury their own relatives.
1t is estimated that the sea has en-
croached from 10 feet to two miles
along the coast near Georgetown and
that a section on the north of the is
land has dropped into the sea. This II
apparently verified by the report Of the
French cable ship Pouyer Quertier that
soundings now show seven fathoms
where before the outbreak there were
&c fathoms of water.
Lieut.. =. r. Mccormick, commanding
the United States steamer Potomac,
now In these waters, has called on Coy.
I1ewellyn and offered him the sympa-
thy of the United States and any as
sistance which it was in his power to
render. The Potomac has also landed
what she can spare Of her food stuffs.
The governor expressed his thanks and
added that there was no immediate
need of help. The United States
steamer carried official dispatches TO
the island Of st. Lucia.
CONTINUED on page p