The Washington times., 1902-05-12
DETAILS OF DISASTER
SL0WLYIREAcH LONDON
Deaths of the American and British Con-
suls at st. Pierre Confirmed
by Cables.

LONDON, May ia dispatch to the
Daily Mall from st. Lucia dated Sun
! day, said that La Soufriere was still in
full eruption. raining pebbles, lava, stones,
and dust on Kingston until 2 o'clock
| Thursday afternoon. Large stones were
falling in Georgetown at that time. Then
telephone communication ceased and has
not yet been restored.
The loud cannonading OF the mountain
was audible at Grenada and Barbados. At
4:30 Wednesday afternoon darkness like
that of midnight shrouded Barbados, and
at the same time quantity of gritty dust
began to fail.
Both Consuls Dead.
A dispatch to the Times" from st.
Thomas. dated Sunday, confirms the re-
ports that the British and American con-
suls at st. Pierre. together with their fam
lilies, perished. The dispatch adds that
not forty escaped. Negroes are focking
into Fort de France and demanding food.
The steamer Korona has arrived at
Dominica. bringing survivors of the
steamer Roraima. She reports that the
eruption of Mont Pelee was apparently
whelmed the shipping.
La Soufriere, on ST. Vincent, became
active on May Z. There was a continuous
tremendous roaring Several estates were
destroyed The eruption continues pro-
gressively northward. The whole north
ern portion Of the island is burning. 1t
has been denuded of vegetation, and is |
rocky wilderness.
Definite News Lacking.
News from ST. Vincent Friday states
that there have been over two hundred
deaths there. Definite news is lacking.
but many estates and animals have been
destroyed. Stones and ashes fell for two
hours from in the morning.
Later news, dated $3.50 D. m. states
that the eruption was then invisible from
Kingstown. Dust clouds were being
blown to the eastward. 1t is supposed
that 500 are dead. A majority of them
have not been buried
II is reported that Fort De France is
threatened. There is frightful tension
everywhere.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail" from
st. Lucia, dated Sunday, says that the
fire at st. Pierre is burning out Sue
cessful attempts have been made to reach
the ruined city. The town is simply a
heap of ruins. Dead bodies are lying all
around. 4
Dead on Cathedral Site.
Few Of the victims will ever be recog-
1ized. SO great is the nitilation and dis
-ortion. Searching parties found three
thousand charred corpses on the site of
he cathedral. All appear to have been
.sphyxiated before they were burned. 6
The bodies of some persons were found /
s they died, in the act of performing {
heir daily vocations. Not a soul was i
ound alive in thea whole town Unless
'holesale cremation. IS intended, is car q
led out there will he an epidemic There /
re many survivors in the adjacent hills. g
Mud and cinders are still falling at q
ort de France, which city is now prac-
cally under martial law. Laborers S
rom the country are focking there for d
1od. The authorities are doing their
tmost to relieve the distress.
There was an eruption in the sea seven
lilies west of St. Lucia that was like
aterspout. +
Refugees Arrive.
A dispatch to the DAILY Mall from
Dominica, dated Sunday, 4 p. m. says d
hat four boats have Just arrived there a
rom Grand Riviere, Martinique, with l.
ixtyone refugees aboard, mostly labor t
ig class men. women, and children. They
re in a pitiable condition. al
They report that ten boats left the viii y
100 hut fe Enn h., |