The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 12, 1902, Page 1

3 VOLUME XCI-—NO. 163. SAN FRANCISCO, MONDAY, MAY 12, 1902. PRICE FIVE CENTS. FIRST PARTY LANDS AT ST. PIERRE AND EXPLORES DEVASTATED CITY 7l B 1) et | HAVEN TO WHICH THE MARTINIQUE ISLANDERS WHO ESCAPED HORRIBLE DEATH IN MONT PELEE’S RAIN OF FIRE ARE NOW HURRYING. From the special correspondent of The Call and the New York Herald. Copyright, 1902, by the New York Herald Publ ishing Company. T. LUCIA, May 11.—The first relief parties have ventured into the streets of St. Pierre. It was not expected that survivors would be found, and so there has been no disappointment at - the mournful 're- ports that have been returned. All of the earlier stories of the disaster worked by Mont Pelee s have been verified. The destruction of the city is complete. Not a building re- mains standing. The desolation is beyond description. Piles of dead in the vicinity of the site of the cathedral tell a story of the attempt to find sanctuary and refuge in the great structure of - worship. Men and women, panic-stricken at the cataclysm, turned in the moment of their despair to the cathedral and were apparently overcome before they could reach its doors. So far the search has been hindered by the fires that are still raging and the investigators are in great danger. Mont Pelee is active, but the erup- tion is subsiding. In St. Pierre every form of life apparently has been de- stroyed. eral days. From the positions of the bodies, the opinion is formed that many were overcome almost before they realized the extent of the peril. Many of the bodies are in life-like positions, as though death hall come with a breath, as indeed may have been the case. Many of the bodies are so burned as to ‘make identification impossible, but in other cases the opposite is the case. Scme have been identified - by the searching parties, which are under military control, and are conducted un- der orders. The scenes in St. Pierre are heartrending. Steps have been taken to SUFFERERS MAY BE GIVEN AID THROUGH CALL- HERALD BUREAU; ! { FFICIAL advices and cable dispatches from The Call and Herald’s correspondents fully confirm the worst reports of the terrible catastrophe which has befallen the inhabitants of the Harrowing tales of suffering are reported by all correspondents, and it is evident that unless prompt and intelligent relief is at once afforded the When the news of the disaster was first received The Call and the New York Herald, together with the Boston Herald, Philadelphia Ledger and Inquirer. |Chicago Record-Herald, St. Louis Republic and Cincinnati Enquirer, leading newspapers of the country, which compose a news syndicate, chartered a fast vessel to transport correspondents, This vessel is now at sea under orders to touch at San Juan, Puerto Rico, for orders. \will undertake 1o forward any relief that the charitably disposed may.care to offer. |to San Juan, where the money will be expended for supplies most needed, under the supervision of the United States authorities. islands of Martinique and St. Vincent. \list of dead will be much greater. |\artists and photographers to St. Pierre. |and delivered to the local relief committee. to be used to the best advantage. . It will be impossible to penetrate to the center of the ruins for sev-" prevent disease resulting from the disaster. Burial parties are working night and day, but it is impossible that the dead can be cared for as their friends would wish. Stricker Island Depends on World’s Charity. Military rule is established in the town to prevent vandals from work- ing. Such property as has not been destroyed will be protected. One of the great misfortunes arises from the fact that the storehouses of provisions have been swept out of existence. Martinique must depend upon the charity of the world to prevent a food famine. Already food is exhausted at Fort de France, which has becn overrun by refugees from the country. Ap- peals have been sent to the neighboring islands for assistance and food may come in to-morrow. Meantime the few provision stores are under close Continued on Page Three. Subscriptions will be. received by the syndicate, to be forwarded to the Herald, up to Wednesday night, and will be transmitted to San Juan in time - Cash contributions will be received by the syndicate and will be transmitted through the Herald by cable The syndicate, through the Herald, by means of this vessel, These supplies will then be taken by the syndicate’s ship \ 2