GREAT VOLCANIC OUTBURST.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 414, 13 May 1902, Page 2

GREAT VOLCANIC OUTBURST.

TillKF COMMUNITIES BESIDES ST. PIERRE DESTROYED,

ST PIERRE STILL IN FLAMES,

WAVES OF LAVA

GREAT TIDAL WAV!

HUNGRY NEGROES KEPT BACK BY MILITARY.

By telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. NEW YORK, May 11.

Tiie survivors of the steamer Roraima, who have reached Dominica, state that the eruption seemed to come from a new crater. Accompanying the eruption there was, they say, a tidal wave, which overwhelmed the shipping. The commander of the cruiser Sucnet reports there was a whirlwind, which was followed by fire, and the whole town of St. Pierre was instantly in (lames. Ships were dismasted and burned. The shower of rocks from the volcano lasted for a quarter of an hour. On arriving at St. Pierre at two o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday,the Suchet’s captain was unable to penetrate into the town. He states that he saw no living creature about, but there were numerous corpses visible on the quay. The cable ship Puyer Quertier lias brought four hundred and fifty persons from St. Pierre to Fort de France.

Other steamers are searching for survivors.

The hot mud and cinders continue falling throughout Martinique, and there are already many more Killed and injured. The cruiser Suchet is returning to Guadeloupe with provisions. When the Suchet re-passed Saint Pierre on Saturday, the fire in the town was observed to be still raging. The volcano is still throwing forth ashes.

Negroes are flocking into Fort de France. They are demanding food. The military are guarding the food supplies.

PARIS, May 11

The Temps states that the whole north-eastern portion of Martinique was covered by waves of lava, and three great communities besides St. Pierre have been destroyed,

LAVA ANI) ASHES FALLING O.

ST. .VINCENT,

200 LIVES LOST THERE.

TW j CRATERS EMPTYING FROM LASONFRIERE.

(Received May 12, 9,43 p.m.),

By Telegraph—Press Association—

Copyright. NEW YORK, May 12, Some further details are now ci hand.

It is now knowm that two crater, are active, and emptying from Lasou

friere. A BRITISH ISLAND IN DANGER, ’File contents emitted from the two craters are covering, the northern district of St, .Vincent with lava and ashes.

It is impossible, owing to tiie in tense heat and steam, to approacli thi northern shore of St, Vincent. It is known that two hundred peopie have been killed on the island by, the effects of the eruption. ASHES FALL 250 MILES AWAY, Ashes fell upon a steamer that wav a distance of two liundced and fifty miles away from the island. FORKED LIGHTNING. Forked lightning is incessant over the disturbed area, A CAPTAIN’S NARRATIVE.

The captain of the steamer Roddam (the vessel which escaped from off St.Pierre), states that lie had just haj. the vessel anchored, after a terrific t-hurderstorm, in the night,

THE FATAL CLOUD. 1-Ie saw a tremendous cloud of smoke, from which live cinders were being blown, GREAT SHEET OF FLAME.

Thr appalling cloud was swept over the harbor and town of St. Pierre (in Martinique).! (The city was thfen enveloped in a great sheet of flame.

CREW SCORCHED TO DEATH. The flame scorched ten of the crew of the steamer so severely that they soon died.

The deck of the steamer was covered toj a depth of six inches with burning ashes, the steamer hein/ much burnt, A NARROW ESCAPE.

The captain himself slipped the anchor of the steamer, and managed to steer her out-to sea, though lie him self had been badly burned. (He was subsequently conveyed to the hospital at St. Thomas-, where he now lies), FUGITIVES, ... .Five thousand people succeeded in taking refuge on the hnis around Le Precheur. The fugitives fortunately have provisions, and are gradually being removed to places of safety.

LATER REP.VRTS. THE BREAKING OUT OE MOUNT PELEE, THE TIDAL WAVE. By; Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. NEW VQRK, May 1,2* Further reports state that a sudden' fiery flash caused an immense reiit iri the western side of Mount Peiee, in Martinique.

Within the rent there was formed i,

new crater. A maelstrom of red lioL mud set hi It travelled like spiral wreaths of vapor, and moving with incredible velocity. It de\ istated everything within its path.

There was a distance of live m'.’es between the volcano and St. Pierre.

It carried along trees, rocks, and tons of earth.

It instantaneously obliterated the whole of the streets, and engulfed the town. Reaching the sea it created a tidal wave, which destroyed eighteen vessels, the crews of which were paralysed.

No buildings were left standing on the coast from Le Carbct to Le Prectesuc,

ROADS BLOCKED BY DEAD "BODIES.

The roads are impassable, being I locked by mounds of debris and bea,.i

■1 ix... !,

OFFICIALS PERISH. The Governor of Martinique, the British Consul, Mr James Japp, an 1 the American Consul, Colonel Wire, were amongst those ’-'ho perished. PLICHT OF FORT BE FRANCE.

Stines of the size of walnuts and hot mud fell at Fori de France (tie chief town standing in a bay on the west coast.) ASSISTANCE.

The British cruiser Pallas, from Jamaica, has been sent to Saint Vincent U: render assistance.

TIU: SKY OBSCURED IJY ASHES. Clouds of ashes obscured the sky for one hundred and fifty miles around San Friere and Mount Pclee.