Show PEOPLE OF martinique SAY THE GODS ARE MAD they are unnerved by volcanic horrors arid are trying to get away from the island which is doomed castrios castries Cas tries may 22 M labat alie senior town councillor of fort de france who was among the refugees who arrived here yesterday from martinique on the norwegian steamer accompanied by his entire family was interviewed today ie aard eliat since the st pierre disaster the population of foit de france had been excited and anxious tah waa intensified as the ash showers from mont thickened pumice rained more often and the frequent detona eions became louder councillor labat related thrilling stories of from the environs of st bierre which he gathered from refugees on saturday at three in the afternoon he said an incessant rain of ashes obscured the sky ana at 5 total darkness prevailed the population generally was unnerved sunday was lighter but the ah rain continued with an occasional fall of lava slag and pumice and continuous rumblings gs from the mountain and the feeling of anxiety continued at a in on monday a singular phenomenon was witnessed in the eastern sky clouds like gigantic white ostrich plumes rose high in the heavens they had lu linings which were mistaken for flames though they were only caused by the rays of the rising sun and threw the people into consternation at noon the iea i ea began to recede with a heavy ground swell tossing the shipping so severely that vessels broke from their moorings then a long roll ins wave spread over the sea front it did little damage however and the sea again receded and left a considerable area of the shore permanently uncovered at the same time the ash rain became twice as violent and fell they were followed by pieces of heavy rocki of which weighed from 3 to 12 pounds each I 1 the panic stricken people rushed out of their bouen some making for the i mountains in the interior of the island and others seeking to escape on loard una s hipping in port J the scene was one of the wildest kind whole families assembled on the jet i ties and along the beach nearly all of i them falling on their knees and scream ing forth appeals for loata to anko ab them to the steamers to which 60 meo if 5 the men swam off j A y the steamers at st pierre kept a large number of people on board until r evening when the phenomena subsided and most of the refugees were put ashore on tuesday steamers took away the destitute people who remained on board and also a number of paying passengers three hundred refugees were landed here and 1500 were taken to the island of guadeloupe the refugees who were landed at thia place had as a rule nothing with them but the clothes they wore alien they left fort de france and they are now supported by public funds or private subscription |