New-York tribune., 1902-06-23
AYME TALKS OF ST. PIERRE
FeREpICTs THE DESTRUCTION OF BASSE
TERRE IN FIVE YEARS.
SAW EXPLOSIONS AT A HEIGHT OF SEVEN
MILES IN THE AIR-HERolC
WORK OF RELIEF.

Louis Henry Ayme. United States Consul at
Ciuadeloupe arrived yesterday on the steamship
Caracas Of the Red D Line from san Juan
The Caracas was not due ill to-day. ana mace
i7he trip in ninety-seven hours and hall oreah-
1ag the record by two hours.
At the Holland House last evening Mr.. Ayme
salked TO a Tribune reporter about some OF MS
Interesting experiences in Martinique, "here
he rendered valuable services in aiding the SUI
ferers from the Mont Peee disaster He sald
there was no reason to suppose that Mont Pelee
Nould do any damage To Fort de France, as II
was fourteen miles away. and there was great
range Of mountains in between. The volcano
had thrown stones as big as ones fist, some or
them as far six miles away The ashes IN
The air occasion stopped MT. AyIhe ;
iMatch. The explosion Of May 20 was OF the
gnost frightful character. and ashes fell about
aw'enty minutes. on June Is an explosion stun
more imposing sent UP column of ashes and
.-rnole seven miles high, which spread with
enornous velocity. Mr. Ayme said that no
anolten material came from Mont PeIee at any
tine. Ashes fel. so heavily on June u that yes
EseI had to use searchlight to reach the harbor.
Nr. Ayme predicted that in FIVE years Basse
aTe -:e the capital Of Guadeloupe, with popula-
II n Of eight thousand, would be destroyed as a
ns-g vent had been discovered on Morne Echelle.
IN extraordinary feature Of the Mont Pelee
erT rptiOnS that at times there would he eX-
J5Iusions in the air seven miles high.
Mr. Ayre viii report at once to the State De
lIartment at Washington, in obedience to spe-
cial order. The supplies sent to Martinique
were handed by him 20 the Acting Governor Of
the province from whom he received a receipt
What the Governor did with them did not con
Germ Mr.. Ayme
Mr. Ayme said there were no starving people
II Fort de France. The people there. however.
bought the whole island would bz destroyed
soHie day There was uot living soul at St
1'lerre. and people We're leaving the whole island
II great numbers. There were originally TWO
hundred thousand people on the island. of whom
thirty thousand were wiped out by the volcanic
eruption on May = In the early panic about six
thousand people left the island.
AR. Ayme told an interesting story aoout the
relief work Of the residents OF Martinique when
$50 refugees came there, dependent upon the
hospitality of the place Gaudeloupe is bank
ruDt. be said and is going through a temporary
financial crisis. Nevertheless the refugees were
met by 2 committee Of citizens at the wharf,
ar the public school building and the orphan
as lum were turned into lodging houses Tor
II. ir benefit. Each refugee received 10 francs
am VAS fed and clothed. The next morning
every adult received one franc and every child
20 -entimes. The food and clothing were oousht
by the residents II was practical relief Work
by TIE poorest people on the face Of the earth
They contributed in all $1,000 and three nun
dred Of provisions for the relief OF slfferers
from the Mont Pelte disaster.
Nj Ayne added that lOOters were busy al 81.
Pierre. as many houses were uncovered ana
siivorware and other yaluabeS were stolen from
tirae 10 time. He had nothing TO criticlse, but
many things 10 report, at Washington
On the Caracas with Mr.. Ayms was Captain
Yates Sterling. commandant Of the naval sta
ton at san Juan. He was ordered 70 report at
Washington tomorrow with reference to his
promotion 10 rear admiral.