THE MARTINIQUE VICTIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 116, 17 May 1902, Page 5

THE MARTINIQUE VICTIMS.

WHOLESALE CREMATION

TERRIBLE CONDITION, OF

ST. VINCENT.

BODIES FLOATING IN THE

SEA.

(By Cable. — Press Association.— (Copyright.)

NEW YOKK, May 16,

The Governor of Martinique and his family, together with large numbers of other residents of St. Pierre, were attending a thanksgiving service in the cathedral when they were overwhelmed. Huge pyres, fed with petroleum and tar, are utilised in cremating thousands of the dead. Some of the men employed in searching amongst the cinders have on several occasions stepped on what appears a pillar of stone, but have discovered it to be a charred corpse. A negro murderer, who was imprisoned underground, escaped the poisonous g-ases and flames. When rescued after four days he fled to the woods. The troops have received orders to shoot all robbers of the dead. The eruption of Mt. Soufriere, in the island of St.. Vincent, has vastly changed the mountain. The extensive lake at the summit has disappeared, and the sea in the vicinity has been transformed intoa boiling cauldron. Lava has polluted the streams, rendering the water undrinkable, and many are dying of thirst and starvation. Countless bodies are floating in'the sea. It is impossible to approach within eight miles of Soufriere. St. Vincent is covered with a peculiar mist, and noxious vapours are causing much illness. There is a terrible stench in the Carib country in St. Vincent, where a tribe has been annihilated. Great darkness prevails in the island of St. Kitt's, though the extinct volcano there is quiescent. LONDON, May 16. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour gratefully acknowledged President- Roosevelt's offer to share in the work of aiding and rescuing the victims at St. Vincent. He stated that the Governor of the Windward Islands had been authorised to expend whatever was necessary on relief. ■ • ' r ;. The Bank of England has subscribed £ 1000 to the St. Vincefnt fund, the King £400, and the London Corporation £ 525.