Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-05-14
HORRIBLE
DISASTER
One of the Worst calamities in the
History of the World-Many
Thousands of People Dead.
DEADLY VOLCANIC ERUPTION
The City of st. Pierre in the Island
of Martinique Buried Beneath a
Mass OF Red Hot Lava.

London, May 9.-Dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Pointe-a.Pitre, island
of Guadeloupe, French West Indies.
dated yesterday, says:
The Mount Pelee (St. Pierre) era
tor elected, yesterday morning. mol
ten rocks and ashes during three min
utes and completely destroyed st.
Pierre and the districts for four miles
radius. All inhabitants were burned.
"About eight passengers from the
Roraima, of the Quebec steamship
line, were saved by the French cruis-
er Suchet.
"The inhabitants of southern dis
tricts of the island who were. depend
ent upon st. Pierre for provisions are
menaced by famine"
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Jamaica says:
lHc niot VI a
at Martinique was the breaking of
cable on Tuesday. The French cable
to Martinique from Puerto Plata, was
broken Wednesday. The cable COM
munication with all northern islands
is stopped.
Report Confirmed.
st. Thomas, ID. w. l., May 3, $3.50
a. m.-The French cruiser Suchet ar
rived at Pointe-a-Pitre, island OF
Guadeloupe. French West Indies. from
Fort de France this morning, bringing
several refugees. She confirmed the
report that the town of st. Pierre.
Martinique, was entirely destroyed at
s o'clock on Thursday morning by
volcanic eruption. It is supposed that
most of the inhabitants of st. Pierre
were killed, that the neighboring par
ishes were laid waste and the residue
of the population of st, Pierre is with.
out food or shelter.
The commander of the French cruis-
er Suchet, now at Fort de France.
has been ordered to return to st.
Pierre, Martinique, with all the speed
possible and forward details of the
disaster to the French government.
He cannot, however, be heard from
for "a hours, as the Suchet had gone
to the island of Guadeloupe in order
to procure provisions.
Sun Totally obscured.
Fort de France, Island of Martinique,
May 10.-The volcano of Mont Pelee.
near st. Pierre, showed since May B
alarming symptoms. vomiting ashes
and mud. There was, however, lit
tie excitement, and few families left
the place. On Thursday, May s. at
about o'clock in the morning, a ter
rible volcanic eruption occurred, the
effect of which was felt all over the
island. At Fort de France stones fell
weighing from seven to ten and even
up to is grammes. Thick clouds Of
ashes obscured the sun and filed the
atmosphere. Panic seized the popu-
lation. The sea receded distance Of
fifteen metres, rushed back with great
force, afterward resuming its normal
level.
The French cruiser Suchet left here,
followed soon by all the available
steamers, towing lighters and carrying
rescuers and provisions. Their return
was awaited with anxiety. An hour
after they left the steamer arrived
and discovered that st. Pierre was
overwhelmed, that the town was in
flames, as well as the settlements
along the shore. The ships in the
harbor were on fire and the sea great
ly disturbed.
The Suchet returned here at six
o'clock in the evening, bringing 80
persons who we're frightfully burned.
Nine of these succumbed while they
were being taken to the hospital here.
Night came on and the search lights
of the Suchet lighted up the wharves
where the work OF debarkation was
being carried on.
II is estimated that 10000 persons
perished at st. Pierre. All roads lead
ing out OF the city are choked with
dead bodies, according to reports
reaching here.
A second relief expedition was sent
out and brought back some OF the in
habitants of Corbett. They were Graz
ed by terror and dying from hunger.
The expeditions succeeded in reach
ing ST. Pierre, which is reported to
be entirely destroyed. The dead bod
les found were entirely nude. The
houses are said to have disappeared
as IL they had been swallowed up in
a great pit. Immense iron columns
were found twisted and bent over In
the direction of the seas. II is be-
lieved that NJ. Mouttet governor OF
Martinique. is among those who have