The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-02
Ashes Rained, Fire Flamed from the
Crater and the Sky Was Lighted
by Electric Flashes.
WEIRD, TERRIFYING SCENES
BALLS OF GOLDEN FIRE WERE SHOT
FAR INTO THE CLOUDS.
Columns of Flame Also Ascended from
the Seething Pit, the Earth Rocked
and Hot Water Flowed.

CASTRIES, Island of st. Lucia, B. w. l.,
Sept. 1.-The British steamer Corona ar
rived here yesterday evening from Fort de
France. Island of Martinique. She reports
that a terrible eruption of Mont Pelee oc-
CURED at 8 o'clock Saturday night, and
that people who arrived at Fort de France
from the northern part Of the island re-
ported that the village of Morne Rouge
had been destroyed, and that LIE Carbet. a
village on the coast which was destroyed
at the time of the great eruption, had been
swept by a tidal wave. About 200 persons
lost their lives.
A sloop from the Island of ST. Vincent,
which reached here this morning, reports
that Mont Pelee's crater is now quiet, but
that the detonations during Saturday night
were the loudest heard up to that time
and that the inhabitants were terribly
alarmed.
Mont Pelee has been in constant eruption
of ashes from the volcano the night of the
18th. There was a very severe eruption
the night of the 2sth, when the volcanic
rumblings were heard at a great distance
The mountain burned fercely that night,
and out at sea passing vessels were covered
with ashes. The night Of the 30th there
were three separate eruptions.
1t Is impossible to approach the. ruined
town Of st. Pierre from the sea. The peo-
pie Of the village Of lie Carbet, on the
coast. are terror-stricken and flying to the
interior. Hot water is pouring down on
Lorrain and Basse Pointe, villages to the
northeast of the crater. Horrible detona-
tions were heard. the ground rocked and
to the floor.
The Governor Of Martinique has ordered
every available boat to remove people from
the coast villages to Fort de France
At o'clock in the evening of Saturday,
the 30th, the sky was cloudless Suddenly
and without warning one-half of the hori-
zon was obscured by pitch black cloud
of dust. This cloud was the center Of most
magnificent electric effects, the flashes of
light surprising the most elaborate fire.
works. Flames and flashes continued to
burst from the cloud until nearly midnight.
Columns of flame shot out Of the crater of
Mont Pelee to explode about the clouds in
showers of balls of golden fire which fell
through the darkness in myriads of sparks.
Three large aureoles were seen in the sky
over the opening of the crater.
A tidal wave rushed upon Fort de France.
and the terrified inhabitants fled in large
numbers to the interior. The wave was
not severe and did but slight damage.
AT midnight of the 3oth Mont Pelee was
quiet; shortly after this hour there came
another shower Of ashes, accompanied by
vivid sheet lightning.
In addition to the 200 persons reported to
have lost their lives at lie Carbet and
Morne Rouge, mary other persons are said
to have been killed all over the northern
districts of the island. The Governor of
Martinique is believed to have started for
the scene of destruction.
When the steamer Korona arrived here
yesterday she was covered with ashes and
scoria.