Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11
SERIES pFrADVENTURES
STORY TOLD BY ABYSSINIAN IN
fO.a DE-
POLICE COURT.
Says He Lost Wife and Child by ut.
Pelee Erupation-rortured
by Cannibals.

Pelee Eruption-rortured
by cannibals.
Cornelius J. Ol.1erleaux, a native of
Abyssinia. told a remarkable story when
he appeared before Judge KimbaN of the
Police Court today, having been arrested
yesterday afternoon on complaint OF
charles F. Weller, general secretary Of the
Associated Charities, who caused charge
OF vagrancy to be lodged against him.
According to Olvierleaux, who claims to
be deacon in the Episcopal Church and to
have graduated from Cambridge Univer-
sity. Cambridge. England. he has had
most exciting experience since he left col
lese SIX years ago. He was captured by
the cannibals In the northeastern part OF
AFRICA. ne said, from whom he escaped,
only to be caught In the Mont Pelee dis
aster. at which time he lost his wife and
cniio. he came to Washington during the
early part of the week and called on
Blshop Henry Y. Satterlee, representing to
MN that ne was deacon in the Episcopal
Church, although he was unable to pro-
ouce any letters Or credentials He claim
ed that he had lost all his possessions dur
ing the eruption of Mount Pelee in May of
last year.
Calls on Associated Charities.
After visiting the bishop he called on
number of Episcopal clergymen throughout
the city, several of whom aided him in a
financial way. and yesterday he called on
Mr.. Weller at the Office of the Associated
Charities, on g street. between 9Th and
9th streets northwest. He said he was
endeavoring to get back to Abyssinia or to
England. He was told that the organiza
tlon could not assist him unless he was
wiling to work his passage across the
ocean. Mr.. Weller engaged to aid him in
HnolnS employment on a steamship This
dld not suit him, and he finally consented
10 go TO work In this city. and Mr.. Weller
promised to secure employment for him,
telllng him to return to the office later in
the day.
When he returned In the afternoon Mr.
Weller told Olvierleaux that he had Sc
oecilned to go to work, saying he was not
useo TO that kind of employment. Because
OF his actions and the manner in which he
talked Mr.. Weller decided that he was Iiv-
ing on OF his wits, and Policeman Mont
gomery. who was called in, placed him
under arrest.
Olvierleaux is twenty-eight years of age
ana very black. He is trif1e over six feet
tan, mas very thick lips, through which he
displays, when talking, two rows of very
large and even white teeth.
he talks very rapidly, after the manner of
foreigner. If his story is true, the news
counts OF the destruction Of the city of st.
Pierre, caused by the eruption of Mont
Pelee the 9Th Of May last.
Captured by Cannibals.
The defendant said he left college at the
age Of twenty-five years and went into the
northeastern2part of Africa with Bishop
Alfred Tucker. and that while on journey
OF fourteen days by himself he was taken
captive by the sheetite tribe, a barbarous
race OF people who average two feet six
inches In height He declared that they
bound him to tree, back outward, and
for what seemed to him nearly an hour
lashed his back although they did not re-
move his clothing, The castigation was
made with rope or vine into which were
woven innumerable thorns which pricked
him at every stroke. After subjecting him
alone. and In short time he made his
escape. After several days he made his
way to the coast of the Red sea- where he
shipped on vessel bound for South
way from place to place in South America
until about two and one-half years ago
when he went to st. Pierre and took charge
OF mission school which he was conduct
Ing at the time of the disaster which re-
suited in the loss of SO many lives
Mt. Pelee Disaster.
In speaking to Star reporter who WIS.,
tied him in the cell at the Police Court he
repeated his story Of the disaster of Mount
Pelee. He talks after the manner of a
person on the lecture platform, though he
does not look his visitor in the face, keep
ing his eyes raised toward the ceiling of
the cell.
"A short time after the eruption" he
said, "a dense cloud Of smoke was seen
am. there was a terrific shock similar to
that occasioned by thunder, which was
followed by intense darkness. People
rushed to the street and knelt down in
heavy artillery was heard. followed by
rain of fire, lava and hot rocks
What were you doing all that time?" he
was asked.
friend and short time after arriving there
the house was demolished by rocks, fire
and lava which descended on it. Out Of six
occuIents in the house two others and
badly burned. We went to the st, Jo-
sephine Hotel, where several hundred per-
sons were crowded together and after stay
ing there short time the hotel took fire
as the result Of a rain Of rocks
Four Escaped.
Olvierleaux declared that out of the sew
eral hundred persons who were seeking
refuge in the hotel four others and himself
were the only ones who escaped. He said
they made their way to the ocean, where
they saw people and animals rushing into
the sea only to be scalded to death by the
hot water.
man was asked.
I'VE found a small boat, and after
launching it made our way to Fort de
France"
From there, he said, he went to New York
city, and since that time has been preach
ing in different cities in the south. Al
though he claimed to have been badly burn
ed about the face and arms he bore no out
ward evidence OF injury.
Judge KimbaH was in doubt as to the
truthfulness of the man and directed that
he spend one month In Jail in default of a
bond Of $500.