Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-17
BURIED IN ASHES.
CONTINUED from page ~

Since midnight Tuesday the subter
rdnean detonations here have ceased
and the Soufriere, Wednesday. relapsed
apparently into perfect repose, no
smoke rising from the crater and the
assures emitting no vapor. The stunt
cd vegetation that formerly adorned
the slopes of the mountain has disap-
Feared, having given place to gray
colored faya. which greets the eye on
every side. The atmosphere is dry but
somewhat agitated. Rain would be
welcomed as there is a great deal of
dust in the air which is very disag gree
able and irritating to throats and eyes
and is causing the merchants to put all
their dry goods under cover The in
habitants naturally tmeaning the white
population as a rule). are anxious to
know whether the repose of the vol
cano is permanent or whether II is the
lull which usually precedes greater
raroXysmal activity. Some people, an
ticipating that there is danger of fur
Their volcanic eruptions are leaving the
outlying towns for this city. The No
gfoes who have remained on the estates
are half starved and The Carib survi-
vors are leaving their caves and pill
laying abandoned dwelling houses and
shops. 4 number of arrests have been
made in This connection.
The Colonial hospital here was found
inadequate to accommodate the suffer-
ers. Large army tents have been erect
ed for the use of the PATIENTS who are
constantly being brought here from
other towns on the island. but even
these annex hospitals are overcrowdcd.
The local doctors have been reinforced
by doctor who arrived here from the
island of Grenada, one of the British
WindWard islands. He brought with
him number of packages of medical
supplies which were extremely useful.
The arrival here of the first detach
ment of the ambulance corps which
brought sufferers from Georgetown
caused quite sensation. This batch
consisted of 100 persons whose charred
bodies exhaled fetid doors ana whose
lOathSome faces made even the hoSpitai
attendants shudder. All these burned
persons were suffering fearfu!y from
thirst ana uttering, when strong enough
TO do so. agonizing cries for water. 1t
is doubtful whether one OF the whole
party viii recover.
The death rate among the people in
the hospital is still very high in spite
OF the best medical efforts made in thei.'
behalf. All the neighb1ring British
colanics are eVincing sympathy with
the sufferers here and subscription lists
have been started and food ana cloth
ing are being forwarded TO St. Nincen'
from an the British islands
While the entire community is thank
full for This help and sympathy from
British soldiers. on an sides are heard
grateful appreciation of the prompt al
furnished by the United states in send
Ing The Potomac here With provisions
ana other things for the destitute pco-
ne Of st. Vincent.
The report that the volcanic lax
which occupied the tops Of the noun
tain has disappeared appears to be CON
frmcd. y sea of lava. emitting sulphur
Gus fumes, now apparently occupies il
place ana several new cratcrs have been
formed. The last time the volcano
showed activity. Tuesday last, the era
ters. old ana new. and numerous Gs-
Sures in the mountain side discharged
hot VapoG deep suhterranean murmur-
ines were heard. the ground trembied
at times, from tho center Of the VolcaM"
huge Volumes Of steam rose like gigaH-
tic pine trees toward the sky and
dense. zimmerman smoke, mnGliug With
the steam. issJed from a new ana ne
live crater, forming an immense pall
over the northern hills. lowering. into
the valleys ana then rising ana spread
ing until it enveloped the whole island
in a peculiar gray mist. Simultaneous
action upon the part Of the volcanoes
Of Martinique ana Dominica ana else
where. seems to denote a volcanic con-
nection between these islands and ap-
pears to verify the assumption of the
volcanic origin of the mountain chains
running parallel with the Soufrierc in
the Windward districts.