Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-05-14
SWALLOWED BY FIRE.

SWALLOWED BY FIRE.
City of St. Pierre Meets the Fate Of
Ancient Pompeii. :,
Forty thousand people swallowed up
in a wnlrlwind Of fire, and all In the
space of a few minutes! That is what
happened on the island Of Martinique,
last Thursday morning. Mount Pelee
burst assunder and poured it's contents
of melted lava, red hot stones, ashes,
and steam down on the devoted port OF
st. Pierre and the country surround
ing, spreading death and destruction ev-
erywhere.
st. Pierre was the principal port OF
Martinique, the largest Of the French
West Indies. It had a population est1-
mated at 10000 souls, mostly of French
descent. 1t was nestled along the
northwest corner Of the island, with the
ocean on one side and Mount Pelee
rising 4,5UO feet high, only few miles
away on the other.
Mount Pelee had long been regarded
as an extinct volcano. 1t gave certain
signs of activity in 1851; but no lives
were lost on that occasion. Indeed, the
damage was confined only to fright
full rumbling, the precipitation OF
heavy fall of dry sulphur, and the
bursting forth of number of hot wa
ter springs The people were very
much frightened at the time; but their
fright soon passed away, and the SUI
phur smoke that has since issued from
crevices in the mountain, has been
taken as a matter Of course. 1ne main
crater, which had become extinct
years ago, formed the bed of a lake
on top Of the mountain.
During May 4, there were manifesta-
tions of seismic disturbance In the VI
cinity of Martinique. These first be-
came known to the outside world by
the interruption of cable communication
| in that quarter. Cable repair ships
were sent to the scene Of the trouble
and it seems that they arrived just
about in time to become swallowed up
| in disaster. At least this Is known 10
have been the fate Of the British repair
ship "Grappler," which was lost.
simultaneously with the seismic dis
turbances referred to, Mount Pelee be-
gan to throw out smoke little more
vigorously than previously. Heavy
rumblings were heard from time to
time and although made nervous, the
people did not apprehend serious dam
ger. This continued until the morning
of May at about o'clock when. with
out other warning, there was terrible
explosion. followed by, the darkness Of
night, and there came down the side
of the mountain an awful stream OF
molten lava and other accompaniments
of volcanic eruption. simultaneously
with this stream, red hot stones, sand
and ashes were thrown high in the air,
and these came down in an all Destroy
/ ing shower. 1t was probably four or
or five minutes from the time of the
first explosion until the awful ava
llanche of death reached the town Of ST.
Pierre, and during that brief interval
many people sought to save themselves
by flight; but, so far as Is known, not
more than 500 of the 10000 inhabitants
Of the city escaped with their lives.
Human beings to the number Of not
less than 25.OOO houses, trees and ev-
erything in the city was swallowed up
| in the awful ruin.
There were 1S vessels from different
parts of the world at the docks at the
time of the catastrophe. All these that
were in condition to move, tried to do
so; but only a few escaped. They were
burned or sunk in the shower Of stones
and ashes and white hot lava that
poured down upon them from the skies.
The water rolled out from the shore
distance of about 800 feet and came
back in a great tidal wave; but this,
| it is said, did no material damage for
the reason that there was nothing left
for it to harm. The most lucky vessel
was the British steamer Roddam. She
left the place at full speed, running
the gauntlet of falling death, which
killed seventeen Of her crew and burned
off most Of her rigging.
1t was at first reported that M. L.
Moutett, the French governor of Mar
tinque, was among the dead, and also
Thomas T. frentis, United States con-
sui, but subsequent reports say Mou-
tett escaped, and there is reason to hope
that Prentis was at sea at the time of
the disaster. Including people Of the
surrounding country, it is quite proba-
BILE that the total death list foots up
something like 10000.
Martinique is situated about 300 miles
north of the mouth of the Orinoco riv-
er, 400 miles southeast of Porto Rico,
and 1900 miles southeast of Santiago,
Cuba. 1t is the largest Of the French
West India islands and had popula-
ton of about 100000 including a large
per cent. Of Negroes. Sugar growing is
the principal industry, and Fort de
France, the capital, is the next largest
city after st. Pierre, which was the
most important business centre. The
French government has appropriated
about $350,000 as relief fund, and the
United States senate on Saturday ap-
propriated 100000 for the same pur-
pose. The various maritime powers are
sending war vessels to the relief of the
stricken people.
Cables of Sunday from Fort de
France, announce the arrival of num-
Der of relief ships off st. Pierre.
They brought provisions for the hum
CRY, and wood and quicklime with
which to cremate the dead. Upon ap-
preaching the shore the vessels found
thara
of the awful catastrophe. The city was
entirely destroyed. and only few walls
were still standing. 1t was impossible
to recognize even the streets. The dead