The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-02

VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN THE ISLAND OF MARTINIQUE
From the st. Lucia Palladium, Aug 81
We have just received Martinique letters of the
9th instant. They bring the startling accounts Of
the Pelee Mountain at that island, which took
place during the night of Tuesday last, the 5th
instant. Like the great and memorable eruption
Of the st. Vincent Soufriere, in 1872 the phenome
non at Martinique is described as having been ac
companied with ga noise similar to the approach
Of thunder, still nearer and nearer with vibration
that affected the feelings and hearing" 1t appears
however, that, beyond layer of grey sand, gritty
particles Of calcined earth, and fava found in the
having been thrown forth by the volcano in the
night, the people Of ST. Pierre were up to our last
accounts, uniformed of the effects Of the phenome-
The following extract of a private letter may, in
the absence OF more collected particulars, give some
idea Of the eruption;-
sr PIERRE, August Q, 1851
strong rumbling noise was heard last night which
continued from about midnight to four O'Clock this
morning At daylight this morning, observed three
One Of these was Of black smoke resembling the smoke
from steamship, though ten times more vouminous
than the chimney Of our steam rgste The other two
were formed Of whitsh smoke. l assure you never
before saw anything grand The town Is all covered
over with grey ashes great many persons have gone
has been no shock of earthquake felt but persons
living in the neighborhood declare that they were
and the fear Of danger their vicinity to the erup
ton.
Another letter of the same date SAYS
We had during the night, eruption of the volcano
on Mount Pel6e The whole town. as far the Mouil-
lage as well all the surrounding country, is covered
with ashes The population Of Precheur had to fly
their homes during the night, and come the whole way
to st Pierre AS for my family it not uutil this
morning heard Of the occurrence there not having
BEEN thank God, any earthquake 1t Is not possible
yet to give you any particulars Of this phenomenon
Of its effects shall have them in the journals
1t may however be inferred that calamitous result
has arisen from it, for had there been any, should
bave known by this time
The Peee mountain, which is the highest land
in Martinique stands at the north Of the island,
rity, in 1881 is represented as bearing altitude
OF 443S English feet from the level OF the sea. 1t
is from this mountain chiefly that the numerous
springs issue, by which the island is watered aud,
although strkingly characterized with the indelible
marks of an ancient volcano, we do not remember
to have ever fallen in with the record of any Of its
eruptions. 1t is to be hoped that amongst those
inhabitants stated to have been attracted to the
site Of the volcano by its recent eruption, some
scientific explorer will be found to enlighten us
with the result of his observations on so interesting
phenomenon.
There is said to be an identity of origin in earth
quakes and volcanic eruptions-a connection more
or less intimate in the agency of the with the
other. In the case of Etna and Vesuvius, it is
corded, they rarely returnto state of activity after
an interval Of Iepose, without some antecedent
earthquake, the latter usually ceasing the
volcano has once established for itself Won't where
by the elastic vapors can discharge themselves.
%, 100, We nave teen tndJ inc eartnqutke WHICH
destroyed Caracas in 1872 at the same time that
the shores Of the Mississippi were in sympathetic
commotion, was followed in eight days by the
memorable eruption of the Soufrere in st. Vincent.
May it not, then, be hoped that the awful oscilla
TORS Of the earth, almost continuously in action
during the last two months, at the neighboring
island of Guadaloupe, will now be at an endl
We have received Martinique papers to the 23d
Of July. BY custom house reports, printed in these
papers, it is shown that in the six months elapsed,
up to the lst, there had beer exported from Mar
Unique rs 69S hogsheads of sugar, and from Cub
daoupe, II ,7F hogsheads, making q difference of
1881 hogsheads in favor Of the former island. Upon
this state of things, the Courier remarks -
When 1t is considered that fer period Of thirty years
from 1915 to 1s47, Guadalupe shipped fifth of
sugar than Martinique it follows that for two colonies
toarrive at equal footing Of prosperity Guadaloupe
must rot Only make up these 1851 hogsheads at the
least but must reckon above that, the fifth Of 269S
namely, 1859 hogsheads.
The whole crop of Martinique for the present
year, il is anticipated will amount to $4,000 casks;
whilst that Of Guadaoupe, allowing that she has
ye ffths Of her crep to reap, will not exceed
36,2i5 casks.