AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 111, 12 May 1902, Page 5

AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE.

36,000 TO .40,000 LIVES LOST,

A EAIN OF FIEE.

THE DESTRUCTION OF ST. PIERRE.

LAVA THROWN FROM THE VOLCANO.

THE SHIPPING OVERWHELMED.

SHOWERS OF ROCKS AND ASHES.

[N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.]

LONDON, May 10. Further details received concerning the appalling volcanic outbreak on the French, island of Martinique, in the West Indies, fully bear out. the worst fears that were entertained, and show that the entire city of St,,, Pierre was destroyed by a most fearful castastrophe, involving the loss of between 36,000 and 40,000 lives. In addition to the hot ashes, rocks, and boiling mud ejected in immense quantities, the volcano of Mount Pelee, which overlooks St. Pierre, threw out molten lava. As the New York cable was interrupted by the eruption two steamers carrying messages were despatched to the island, but were lost, and a third was unable to land. The British steamer Ocean Traveller, which has arrived at Dominica, reports that she left the island of St. Vincent during a heavy fall of

sand from Souffriere volcano (on

that island), but was unable to reach

St. Lucia owing to currents, and arrived opposite St. Pierre on Thursday morning.

Those on board saw the volcano of Mount Pelee explode, a rain of lire sweeping down and destroying the town environs and shipping, includ-

ing the cable-repairing steamer Gr°appler, 868 tons, belonging to the West India and Panama Telegraph Company. The cruiser Suchet went round to St. Pierre on Thursday afternoon, and found the place in flames.

Thirty persons were rescued belonging to the shipping, but the Suchefs men were unable to penetrate the town.

Heaps of bodies were seen on the wharves, and it is feared that in addition to the Governor (M. Moaitlet) and his staff, Colonel Wire, the American Consul, and his wife have fallen victims. The steamer Esk was covered with ashes while passing St.. Pierre, five miles of? on Thursday night, everything ashore being aflame. The British steamer Roraima, 1764 tons, during the morning exploded, the Suchet saving eight of her passengers. Another steamer, thte Roddam, 1506* tons, was partly burnt. She slipped her anchor, but 17, including her officers, died from their injuries. The captain was taken tvo the hospital at St. Thomas. Out of the Roddam's crew of 23^ alt were killed or injured except vwo, who declare the disaster wa_ like "a glimpse of hell,"..beggaring description. Five miles from the land the coast ia enveloped in impenetrable darkness, and the atmosphere is saturated with cinders and sulphur, M. Laparent, the president of the French Geological Society, states that the chimney of Moimt Pelee exploded, projecting showers of incandescent lava, submerging- everything, with a flow of lava following 1.

The population of St. Pierre was estimated at 36 ? 000, and ttoe latest estimates of the dead in Martinique are between that number and 40,000.

The number of whites hying in St. Pierre was estimated a.t 1000, including probably a dozen English.

Eighteen vessels wes'e destroyed, including four American. PARIS, May 10. The flags are half - masted in France. Sir E. Monson, the British Ambassador in Paris, has expressed Brij tain's sympathy with Prance.