The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 15, 1902, Page 14

14 THE SUNDAY CALL. t so very tong ago, I r wept the hero is no longer taken as a matter - s of course, but that instead men do love s be a deeply and passionately, and yet, withal, W « But times with a singleness of purpose and un- nge Now man who swerving devotion that makes their suf- ses W »pular m ferings quite keen as if less spectacu- s e lar than the trials of the weaker sex. be In the new scheme of modern psyco- s stage romances it the hero’s " g list of recent that is laid bare and dissected of « e surprised to emotion for the edification of a cen theme audience. ving who loves and good example of was recently lose s little more ywn us by John Drew as the man who ense. But loves and loses in ** Second in Com- v ses his heart- In t play there were more sick long s s fears, his bit- properly two men with an apparently ter dis: that now bring the hopaless love and the author completely s s ng of the overshadowed everything else in the piece P the to maintain the tensity of their wavering s become hopes. It was quite a masterpiece in s g contrasts of the triumph of the lover who f loses over the lover who wins. That is 1o the second big success that Drew has had t grow g of is sort and he admits himself that P s such roles best. 1 Drew, however, is only one of the many I s vorites who express such a fond- for the role of the man who loves e s g and loses, though in this line Henry Miller, who has just completed the first week a . me less hys- of his long summer engagement at the e e an th Columbia, above all the w in brief, others. His part in “Trelawny of the "more is whereas the d time mas- the heroine the devotion ply as a reward the discovery Centinued From Page Thirteen. noon a telephone message stated that the flow had not been consi e At Gec old of some harrowing inct dents of erup Victor Sutherland was killed_in sh e Carib country and it remained closed for three days. When the door was opened on ty-seve ecomposed, were found. In in the same postures in ] é. Thé manager of one disc d’ sitting with his_pipe of smoking: women were found in their laps and hands. Others had fallen at their Il clutched in their hands. tchen floor, where they had After’ the holocaust the s One with corpses, g ed the u River was a solid bed of he roads was terribly ap- Women with litle indiscriminately along of animals were scat- hideous confusion. At were so numerous and so closely y could scar y be counted. In ing of the hut had to be broken shtubs, Some were been prepar most eloguent per u n of Soufriere olence thar oes, nine: ppears to have been of even f Pelee. Ashes filled the air ) the east, darkening the sky d of Trinidad, about 150 miles 1 was dimmed, detonations like the peoplc of Port of Spain n boats had engaged the battle. The steamer Louisi- t distance from St. Vincent, had her decks d through ‘an atmosphere n oven. covere that sugge it is a notwithstanding the small area of St the earthquakes preceding the eruption were not folt, while at Chateau- Belair they were On May 7 there were sixty ehocks in of which demolished several awelling_ho b sut four hundred feet deep and two hun- xisted between Langley Park miles from Soufriere, was com- pletely fil va The rea of cultivated land destroyed ap- proximat square miles, and the loss of life on Bt. Vince is from three to five thousand. Three were made homele of old men and women trudging into Kings- heir packs on their backs was pitiful. Some f twenty or th miles, hungry and footsore. The captzin of the Dixie found that while the few sur- sivors at Martinigue were plentifully supplied with pro- visions and clothing, the condition in St. V as much g were soon busy unloading the balance of the Di s just been made that the devotion of .SUNDA Y CAL,L REF’RESENTA TIVE VIEWS enough, the well-to-do English residents of ly the merchants, did not welcome contributions, for, they said, the enor- n of food and clothing could not fail to ade of Kingstown merchants; and when told s_would likely increase the rellef appropria dollars and that President Roos 1ch State of the Union would relief fund to a million, they shook s and predicted *‘bad times." y poor who suffer most b that Congre tion to a h velt's o probabl their h Tt i not the very 3 a Kingstown banker, “but the middle cl thy at; In company with Father Reaney, one of the Dixie's chaplains, 1 called at the monastery at Fort de France and we obtained data concerning the Catholic institutions destroyed ir Pierre, viz., five parish churches and twen- five hospi In_all, twenty-four priests perished, ng to the Society of the Holy Ghost and y-two sisters lost thelr lives, of which thirty-thr of St. Joseph's Sisterhood, twenty-eight of St. Paul's de Chartres and eleven of thé Society of the Deliverance (natives). One of the most pathetic features of the terrible dis- aster was the injury and bereavement of little Margarita Stokes of Brookiyn. She lles on a cot in the hospital of St. Louise, Fort de France. It is situated on a beautiful eminence overlooking the town and sea. We were con- ducted by the sisters to a large ward, wherein were at least fifty patients, most of them victims of terrible burns. Two rows of beds were ranged along the sides of the long room. The occupants were all negroes—all but one—and from the coverlets of that little cot peered the wistful face of a child—a face once pretty, but now frightfully scarred and distorted. By her side, in the same cot, lay her nurse, Clara King, who seems to have been burned only on her limbs. These two are the suryivors of the Stokes family. The mother perished on the Roraima in St. Plerre road- stead. The wee girl gratefully received a bunch of flowers and gazed wistfully at them when placed in a bowl by her cot. She feebly muttered her thanks, and In reply ito a few questions faintly murmured that Rita was her name and said she was nine years of age. Then, as the nurse, Clara King, an intelligent mulatto woman, gave us a vivid ac- count of the agonizing scenes on the Roraima and told pathetically of the death of Rita’s mother, brother and sister, the little sufferer lay in her cot with a sad light in her blue eyes, for she was not too young to realize her terrible affiiction and bereavement. “We were en route to Barbadoes to live in future with Mrs. Stokes’ sister, Mrs. J. E. Croney,” said Clara King, “for Mr. Stokes, who has been emploved as bookkeeper by Mahler Brothers at Sixth avenue and Thirty-first street, New York, had died of pneumonia about three weeks be- fore. The family had resided at 349 Twelfth street, Brook- lyn. On the Roraima were Mrs. Stokes, Rita, a little boy of four and a half years and a girl of three. We ap- proached St. Pierre about 6 a. m. on May 8, but as the voi- cano was smoking and steaming and ashes filled the air and covered the deck the captain decided to cruise for a while in open sea, as he considered it unwise to anchor. Mrs. Stokes said to me: ‘Clara, it is just four weeks since . Stokes died. Wash and dress the children nicely, and HOBERTS BUSHNELL emoro -~ ‘Wells" is just such a role, in which he has a hopeless ve /through the major portion of the play, and in his big rep- pertoire there are many others which are even stronger wmples. Indeed his great- est popularity has been won as the de- 2 ORI IO o, e we will take them on deck to see the volcano.’” Then the captain called for all to come on deck and sece a ‘real vol- cano’ in eruption. We all went out. By this time the Roraima had ventured into the roadstead and lay at anchor. was smoking and steaming, and ashes floating in air settled over the deck. I was afraid they would 1 the nice white dresses of the chil- dren, and said I would take them below. Suddenly there was a great upheaval of the mountain top; a great mass shot into the sk The air around the ship became blind- ing with dust. hot wave shot past us and nearly ried us off our feet. we ran to our stateroom and closed the door after us we heard the captain cry, ‘I fear the ship is lost.’ The air in our stateroom was Dby this time intensely hot, blistered ou faces and hands, and we gasped for breath. I thrust Rita behind me and tried to shield her face with my rts. I held the smallest child The volcano the in my right arm. Mrs. Stokes, who was badly burned, cried hysterically as she realized she was dying. She fell on her knees and praved, and exacted from me a promise to always care for the children. As her cries ceased the steamer gave a great lurch. The little boy, who had been leaning against the door, fell out into the passageway. With Rita and the baby I made my way out. The scenes 1 witnessed are too awful and harrowing to relate. The clothing of the men was burning; the deck was covered with hot ashes and rocks. Men lay writhing in agony on the deck. How we all lived through the terrible ordeal T will never know. The baby in my arms was dead, the doctor told me. T returned for the boy. Hig body was found in the passageway and that of Mrs. Stokes in the stateroom. In the afternoon about 3 o'clock we saw a steamer approaching us cautiously. It was the Suchet, and she carried us to Fort de France. Every one has been very kind to us in the hospital, and when we are able we will sail for Barbadoes.” “What shall we say Rita?” we asked the 3 “Just tell Mamie McCarthy about it,’ she\said simply. “Mamie JcCarthy is her little playmate in Brooklyn,” the nurse exblained. The physicians say that Rita will recover, though her pretty face will be sadly disfigured. As we were leaving the captain’ of the French cruiser Suchet called to inquire after her health and brought her a box of bonbons. Cap- tain Berry of the Dixie ordered ice to be sent and such delicacies as the ship afforded, while the newspaper corre- spondents proposed a subscription for her benefit. The files of Les Colcnies, a little daily afternoon paper, are being preserved jealously at Fort de France, for they ;}qnlaln the only authentic record of the last days of St. ierre. The chaplain of the Dixie, Father McGrail, was one of the fortunate ones who seclred copies of the little St. Pierre daily, and the corps of correspondents are indebted to him for a liberal translation from the French—a faith- ful report of what happened in the city up to the very end, the last issue being dated May 7 (the day “vetore the eruption). Under the date of May 2 (five days before the first eruption) Les Colonies printed a display advertisement an- nouncing a gay picnic party to Pelee. Under the general caption of “Echoes” and the sub-head ‘“Toward Mont Pe- lee” this announcement appeared, couched in the alluring ldw your friends in New York, HO tray vyet, withal, Hall.” as Eric Temple in More recently rection. loses in officer who of Knowledge.” In successes in the two successes phrases of a circus advertisement; “We call attention to the fact that next Sunday, May 4, a grand excursion to Morne Pelee will take place, or- ganized and conducted by the members of the Gymnastic and Shooting Society. Those who have never witnessed this magnficent panprama, offered to the eve of the as- tonished spectator atlan altitude of 1390 meters; those who have never seen the yawning chasm from which there have escaped these last few days those thick clouds of smoke and steam, which have not failed to cause terror to gome of the more timid of our people, should profit by this grand opportunity and have their names enrolled at the office of the society by this evening at the latest. The excur- sionists will meet at 3:30 a. m. sharp on Sunday at Marche du Fort, and will tlen proceed to Riviere Blanche and to Isnard, where guides will be found. Those who ‘do not care to bring their luncheon with them may be so bounti- fully supplied at a cost of 3 francs each that they will not regret the absence of their own food. According to the lists we have received, the company will be very num ous. If the weather is fine the excufsionists will spend the day on the mountain. It is well understood that by reason of this expedition the regular Sunday target prac- tice at the Botarical Garden will be abandoned.” The issue of Les Colonies of Monday, May 5, in its ac- count of the picnic, says that great clouds of steam from the crater prevented a good view, but that the party trudged over the mountain with guides and returned home in the evening, rather disappointed with what they had seen. While on the mountain_they were told what Jules Romain, a property holder of Morne Pavillat, had seen at Pelee’s crater as early as April 15. On that day he decided to leave the neighborhood, having observed light emitted from the crater for several successive evenings. He re- solved to have one last look into the crater, however, and did_so. He compared the crater with a_ huge ®dblong caldron, in which seethed and bubbled a black mixture, in appearance not unlike the contents of the big kettles in the sugar factories. The black mass, as it bubbled, rose and fell, sometimes rising in the crater till it overfiowed and ran’ down the mountain dides in rivulets. As Romain was esteemed a reputable and veracious citizen by his townsmen, this may be taken as a reliable description of the appearance of the crater just previous to the eruption. The excursionists who returned from the picnic to Morne Pelee indulged in a bit of satire at the expense of America’s chief product. They declared, according to Les Colonies, that on the mountain they had trudged all day long through dust that looked like “the gray flour from America.” Little did the excursionists dream that on to-morrow they would lie huried under blankets of this dust, and that cargoes of ‘‘gray flour from America” would be hur- rying to relieve the ‘distress of the few survivors. On May 5, following the picnic to Pelee, came the great ‘avalagche of ashes, mud and hot rocks that wrecked the GuWin sugar factory, but singularly enough the Governor and his administration sought to prevent the flight of refugecs to a place of safety. Soldiers were or- dered to turn them back, and Les Colonies on May 7 (the very last paper fssued) said_editorially: “Notwithstanding the efforts of the Governor and ad- jected lover, perhaps because he can por- such a character more poetically, more convincingly, more pathetically and with more than any other actor on the stage. His earliest success as the dejected lover was as Kerchival West in “Shenandoah.” After this came Mr. Owen in only his genius as a lover saved from ut- ter failure at its initial performance, and raised to wonderful success after the play had been partly rewritten under his di- Then followed his remarkable portrayal of Sydney Carton, the man who loves and “The Only Way"; loves and loses in Officers” and the husband who loves and loses and dies for his love in “The Tree “The Adventures of . Lady Ursula” he was the man who, hav- ing been the victim of an unhappy love affair, detests all women, and besides his ‘“Heartsease.” Way,” “Trelawny of the Wells,” will have a fine part as Sir Harry Milan- or, who is thrown over.by a flirt. In contrast to these roles, however, he I * will have excellent opportunity to display his talents as lovers of different sorts in f the present Empire Frill John Hare's big hit “The GL’ Lord Quex” and M ne’s Defense,” which latter, by th calls attention "¢ to the fact that Ma Anglin, of all manly qualities the women of the stage who have recent- Iy attained to the d of a star, has won her_great 2 the woman who lov and lc e Wilderness' S aterts “The Twin Sisters ¥she has two very ety e Whils rwd all know What = came his triumph {prijling personation was her acting of “Heartsease,”” which iha name part in ““Mrs. Dane's Defense™ at the Columbia last on. Another actor who has won no small re of his notable success as a star for his impersonation of the dejected lover is James Neil, at the Californta Theater. Among the plays that have demonstrated - his ability #n this direction are “Captain Swift,” who commits suicida nglish for the woman he loves; “The Social the English o avman,” “Captain = Letterblair,” Brother wparbara Freitsche,” “Under the Red Robe” and “A Bachelor’s Romance."” As exceptions to the growing pre-em- inence of the man who loves and loses are dainty little Maude Fealy at the Grand Opera-house and Florence Roberts the Alcazar. Both of them, however, have gained title and fame for/ them- selves in the theatrical profession more for their acting of women who love and lose than for any other roles they play. Note Florence Roberts’ present success Zaza,” and before that her display of talent in “Sapho” and “Camille,” both roles in which the heroine loves and loses. Maude Fealy, by the same token, has created the biggest sensation in her whole “The Only etc., he Theater season, “The Wilderness” and career, which has been an exceptionally The Twin Sister,” and also in Sydney brilllant one, in the role of Jullet, in Grundy’s costume plav ‘rocks and ‘which she rose to fame in a single per- formance and in which she is said to be the most ideal Juliet on the stage. She will make it next week the star attraction of her engagement at the Grand Opera- house, with Edward J. Morgan as Romeo, another actor famous, by the way, for hi dejected lover roles, notably in “The Christian” and *“The Liars.” e ought to gelar; ideal Romeo to Miss Fealy’'s ideal tliet. RRORS OF MARTINIQUE ministration, supported by the troops, man our efti- zens have fled by day and by night. taking Y nete hudren and carrying their baggage with them. Yesterday no less than three hundred took passage on the steamer. We con- fess we cannot understand this wholesale exodus of foel- sh and frenzied people. All along Victor Hugo strest to- day people were at thelr windows. Some repeated un- founded rumors that the rivieres Roxaline and Depres had overflowed. At Precheur the state of mind is deplor- able. Mayor Brelet cannot restore confidence. We repeat that thére is no ground for this alarm, for In case of earthquake St. Plerte would be as safe as any plac much safer than Fort de France, at any rate. There are some, however. who are philosophical and will have their little joke. This morning we heard some one at a window sa; ‘It is a pity we can’t sleep, yet Toadiy. D ¥ Pelee is gnoring After the destruction the k Guerin sugar factory on n 9 izens ready to take flight, some of ‘St. Plerre’s citizens, scoffing at danger, were in the throes of political dissension. It was stated by Les Colonies of May 7 that when supplies reaching St. Plerre for the relief of some of the victims of the Guerin sugar factory’ destruction were unloaded from lighters hungry crowds besieged the soldiers in charge of the distribution, but no one was supplied unless he had a meal ticket signed by the Mayor. Les Colonies protested against this attempt to make political capital for the Mayor’s candidate for the gislature (on the radical socia ticket), M. Percin, as a disgrace and outrage, and announced that on the following a (May 8) the Colonijal Alliance party would meet to examine the books of the relief fund treasurer. But on that fateful day the Mayor, his candidate for the Legisla- ture, the entire radical socialist party and the opposition Colonial Alliance slept In a_common grave. The story of the miraculous escape of a negro ned in prison at St. Pierre appears to be well fouud:g.nflflls name is Raoul Sartont, alias Plensin. He was convicted of petty larceny and was serving his sentence when the erup- tlon’ occurred. Of the population of 30,000 souls he is the sole Hsux-\-h-or. 22 ok is story was told to the Bishop at Morn from which 1t appears that the convict's escape from domthiiom due to his incarceration in an interior cell, situated under- ground. He had besn an obstreperous prisoner, and as a punishment he was locked in the “dungeon.” 'According to his story, he heird the detonations from Pelee and the excitement in the cells overhead: felt some of the stifiing heat and breathed the gas, but not enqugh to asphyxiate him. He suffered for four days, meanwhile trying to at- tract attention by ioud cries, but the situation of the in- terior cell made it a tomb. through which his cries for help scarcely penetcated. They were finally heard by & rescuing party, however, and he was believed to be in & dying condition. Being furnished with food and water, he révived and was taken to the estate of Ferdinand Clere, near Morne Rou He was badly injured by the fumes and by the deprivation of food and water, and his recovery is considered doubcful. At Morne Rouge his story was told to the Bishop and to M. Clere, and therefore appears to be well authenticated. If the negro lives he will doubt- less be a great degand as a_dime museum freak, several offers having airealy been cabled him from New York. May 5, with many of the ci