The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-20
Highly Interesting from the West Indies
Further Particulars CT the Awful harth-
quake at Guadaloupe.


desoated GuadaouIe and other French West In
dia Islands
/ The first of these letters is a communication from
! Nj. De la Forest, French Consul of New York, en-
closing a letter from Guadalupe, announcing the
opening of the ports of that island for the importa-
ton of certain articles specified. The others are
extracts and TRANSACTIONS made from letters and
newspapers from Guadalupe, and CO. led from a
New Haven paper, whose conductor received them
from mercantile house of that city.
The particulars now.turnished by these papers are
OF the most thrilling description. We have never
heard or read of any thin. so heart-rendng-so dis
tressing-so overwhelming and we trus, that mes-
sures may be taken at once IN this city TO make
available the opening of the ports of these islands as
indicated by the annexed correspondence
NEw York, March Is, $40.
have the honor of addressing you copy of letter
received yesterday from the Commissare Central Or.
donnateur de Ia Marine at Guadaoupe stating the aw.
ul events occasioned that Island by the earthquake
You will find also herewith printed ordonanc issued
by the Governor at Pointe-aPere the 18th February
by which the harbors of said colony are open the
duction OF provisions (vctuas) OF all kind and timber
Unable journal.
Accept sir, the of distinguished ccnside.
| ration,
The Consul General of France,
Officer OF the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour
L.DE LA FOREST.
BAssErERRE, II Fevrier ls4s.
MONSIEUR Consul GENERAL:-
I'm violent tremblement de terre Went de runner la
Gnadeloupe Villes ct bourgs, maisons dhabitaon et
usines dams les campagnes, tout etc detrut. La
cousse aeu lieu lie du present mos de Fevrer heu-
res ct demie du ma'in ct ellie dure plus Dune minute
An meu de cette calamite la Pointe aPitre lie siege
du de la colone, VILE populeuse ct fsrs.
sane a etc surtout lie theatre DUN desasre nou: Au
tremblement de terre succede ncende qui achieve de
tout anesntr qui ait perr les decombres sans
quill rests aucun moyen de eur porter la plu
part des mslheureux q1 pouvaient avoir surv6cu
premier head. On n'estme pas a mcns de mile
ames lie nomhre des victmes
Ces infortune immense ct qu appele tous les Sc
cours du dehors Mr.. lie Gouverneur, qui sest rendu
sur les ruines la premiere nouvele de unese eve
nement pris arree pour ouverture des ports de
coone Ja Fhonneur de adresser par ordres
quelques exempses, priant De lie metre la
Nuisance du commerce dams reendue de consula
de lie faire puber dams les journaux du Des vi
vres des bos de son lei de premiere ne
cessite, ct est assure d'en trouver lie placement
Agreez je vous prize Monsieur lie Consul General, Pas
surance de ma haute consideration
lie Commissaire Grl. ordonnateur
(signG PARlsET
lFrom the Courier de la Martinique, of rcb H. 1881
My pen trembles-mv thoughts are conTounded-
! am thunderstruck II know rot where To com
mence me recital OF this overwhelming calamity.
9Th OF February 20 day for ever celebrated in the
annals OF humanity DAY forever execrated l-Day
that will live IN the memory of man as one of those
that witnessed the accomplishment of one of the
most dreadful DEGREES of Providence
II was on the 9Th of February, at 35 minutes past
10 O'Clock IN the morning, that violen, and pro-
tracted shock OF an earthquake was felt at ST
Pierre cannot tell you the terror that seized Oh
the Inhabitants. When recovered from this fear
the thought immediately turned the fate of Fort
toyai WIN what anxiety they were expecting the
ooat that would bring to us the news of the desiruc-
ton OF our capital At last, towards three in the
afternoon. we were relieved. Fort r oval had been
spared. The hand OF God had abandoned this spot
to all the heavier In other places The danger over,
lite had returned ITS wonted course, except an in.
voluntary terror which reigned every where The
shock had been long that they feared TO see re-
newed, and the sad remembrance of the Ilth of
January established but too much such fears. The
next day, about two IN the afternoon, boat that
had arrived almost unperceived, brought letter. one
single letter. from Basseere which announced
| that Point Petre no morel
torbear 10 describe the awful impression of this
terrible information. The catastrophe appeared so
appalling that they doubted it. Yet, the letter was
there; every body could read the facts We enter.
tanned the most lively fears for the fate of Point
Petre, when schooner arrived this evening con-
firming the total destruction of that citv Nothing
official, however, had arrived as yet and the cap
tain, IN consequence of orders received gave no de-
tails; he knew nothing, id heard nothing. The
boat had been sent on a speculation Can you I'M
derstand that a man in such moment, in presence
OF such an event, could employ the faculties of his
mind IN the combinations of commercial opera
non, whose success is based on the total destruction
OF city! This is too awful; no word exists that
can qualify such baseness.
Let the report be true or false, we did not wait
Tor It's continuation TO prepare the succors. By
spontaneous movement a subscription list is opened
at the Exchange, and is in moment covered with
names, and NJ. Duieu, mayor of the city, whose
conduct deserves the greatest praise can hardly re-
celve all the donations that crowd HIM from all
sides. immediately the place Berlin is crowded by
the populations; the whole city, old and Young rich
and poor, every one, brings his mite. sublime
ana spontaneous feeling that unanimous senme mt
mad brought forth! Generous devotion of a people
OF toxt,, .-1-.
succor those whose mistortunes are greater still
Yet II was most beautiful spectacle 10 see in this
multitude some noble hearts who, in this solemn
moment, forgetting their own wretchedness, wished
also TO contribute TO relieve misery deeper than
their own! Ii we wish TO relate here all we have
seen OF sublime devotion, this article would not sui.
nee. Find anything more touching than the gift of
a poor black fellow who brings his 25 cent niece
and begs they should return him two cents to buy
him some four and OF that poor negress who brings
two bundles OF sugar canes, for she has no money
10 give; and the old woman who offers two shifts to
make lint, she says, for the wounded Are YOU not
moved in seeing such sights? What, compared with
this modest offering, is the splendid gift of that man
who brings handiuls of gold, which he does need?
Find n the whole world population that will fur
nsh the example OF such generosity.
1t was necessary, however, TO provide for the most
urgent wants OF the unforunates which the scourge
had spared: Provisions bought and given, boats
are offered TO carry them. The news had been
known at three only, and at five a {irst CONVOY of
tour boats was setting sail for Point Petre loaded
with provisions of all kinds, and linen and medicine
young doctor, as distinguished for his learning as
his philanthrophy listening ONLY to the voice of his
heart, abandons his patients, his family his friends
and embarks for Point Petre, where he thinks his
aid will be as useful the provisions. Mr. Boulin,
who has already received baptism of fire, and
whose arm bears the mark of noble wound goes
also again 10 expose himself 10 the horrors of city
that breeds pestilence. He fears nothng-he stars
instantly. A sublime self abnegation, whose re-
ward IS IN It's own satisfaction.
However, nothing appeared: our eyes, continu-
ally turned to The Point of the Preacher were anx-
lous TO pierce through the expanse of the horizon
Impotence was at Its height This silence presaged
nothing good. The sea showed nothing afar offbut
the vast mirror of its dazzling azure. A was calm;
our hearts alone were agiated with sinister pre-
sentiment. The whole OF Friday passed in fright
fu doubt. Nothing had been seen! The offerings
still poured IN; The same eagerness, the same ge-
nerosy Zeal redoubled as uneasiness incre ased