The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-07
Violent Eruption EnveIops ST.
Vincent's and Carib Coun-
try is Believed to be Com
pleleIy Lost.
Sand Has Fallen Ten Miles
from the Crater, and Hea
in Martinique is Unbeara-
BILE.

Kingston. st. Vincent Thursday Sep
tember Am appalling phenomna was
witnessed here last night. It lasted from
9 p. m. to 5 clock this morning. A dread
full eruption of the Soufriere volcano en-
veloped the whole island In an electric
cloud and smoke. At II o'clock this morn
ing the atmosphere is still unsettled, but
the eruption is apparently subsiding Thz
sur is obscured and oppressive heat pre-
walls. The sea is slightly agitated. Sand
has fallen ten miles from the crater. No
sand has fallen here. The northern CEN
ters are deserted. No intelligence has yet
been received today from Chateau Belair
It is believed to have been destroyed. Of
fiolals have been sent from here by boat
to visit tine northern parishes. ana 1t is
impossible to report on the destruction OF
property and loss of life
The heat in Martinique IS said to be al
most Inbearable.
Later Report.
Kingston, Island of ST. Vincent. Thurs
| day, September 4, p. m.-An official
who has just returned here found that
Chateau Bellair was safe Only a small
quantity of sand and stone fell there. An
adjacent estate, Fitzhughes, suffered
greatly, all cultivation being destroyed.
The parish is being evacuated. There was
no loss of life. Georgetown rs aiso safe.
No one ventured within the fire zone,
La Soufriere still beirg in eruption.
The destruction of the Carib country is
presumably completed The eruption Of
yesterday was longer In duration and
more violent In action than the outburst
of May q With a taunting recollection
of the fate OF St. Pierre. Martinique.
and the last disaster here. the people
converged on Kingstown and ran to and
fro seeking the safest shelters from the
threatening electric cloud spreading over
the hills toward the town. while shocks
of earthquake. though not severe in
creased the panic
AT 3 o'clock in the morning loud rapid
explosions were mingled with the con-
tinuous terrible roar, and the cimmerian
darkness changed into constantly glim-
mering armament. illumined by forked
lightning. balls of fire ascending from
the crater and bursting into meteor-like
showers Such an awe-inspiring scene
the widest flights of fancy could not
have imagined. This lasted until 8 o'clock
in the morning
The rumor that tidal wave was ex-
pected caused increased agitation, and
hundreds of people fed to fde hills ad-
joining the town. Super heated clouds
rose to an immense height and rain
clouds below sent down two showers
| At a. m silver clouds were issuing
from the crater, and throughout the day
flezr f1arr aval he
abnormal and there were renewed indica-
tions of a further outbreak of the vol
| csno.
Last night there were unmistakable
signs of Mont Pelee, Martinique being
| in eruption simultaneously with Sou
! friere, distinct electric flashes being OBJ
served on the northwestern horizon.
Mont PeIee Violent.
] Kingstown, Island Of ST. Vincent. Sep
/ tember 2.-Authentic reports received
| here from various sources confirm the
statements that the eruption of Mont
| Pelee, Island of Martinique during the
| night Of August 80. was the most terrific
] experienced. The captain of the French
transatlantic steamer Zalvador, which
| has arrived here furnished the following:
| "I left Fort de France at 5 o'clock at
night, Mont Pelee was in violent erup-
tion. At in the morning of August 81
| on approaching the island of Les Saintes
volcanic ashes began to fall. l arrived
| Off Point-a-Pitre, Guadaloupe, at 5
o'clock In the morning, but was unable
to enter the harbor until II o'clock.
everything being obscured by falling
ashes.
THE Quebec steamer Korona. on her
arrival here. after reporting the eruption
| of Mont Pelee, confirmed the statements
| of the destrustion of Morne Rouge,
AJoupa Bouillon and portions Of LeCar-
| bet, the latter being swept by tidal
| wave. as already cabled
| Passengers who reached here on the
| steamer Dahome. and who witnessed the
eruptions of August 81 say that the dis
| charges from Mort p ,lec consisted II
dense clouds of steam and came out CT
large hole in the side of the volcano
at regular intervals of five minutes.
Big Stream of Lava.
They add that while the pahcmo
steamed away out of the darkness and
from the approaching volcanic cloud.
which was emitting flames, they law
a stream of lava quarter Of a mile
wide flowing over the ruins of st. Pierre.
| Other reports indicate that the eruption
of August 80 covered a consi1 srably wider
area.
dispatches received here from every
island of the leeward group, say that
| terrible detonations we heard during
| the night of August 20, causing panics
among the inhabitants and THAI during
| the morning of August 81 thick, dark
| ness prevailed. Ashes feel throughout
| the day.
| ..As this dispatch is forwarded the
Soufriere volcano. on this island. shows
| no serious sign of agitation. but intense
heat has been experienc I'd In spite Of the
| stormy weather"
|
/