, 1859-07-15

mountain, carrying woods and rocks in its
course; and, precipitating itself into large
ravine, the blazing stream reached the sea. "1t
seemed, to use the words Of q spectator, as
though the fires Of central hell had burst their
dungeons and were trying to spread themselves
over the earth."% +.
An earthquake, more severe than any yet felt,
now agitated the island to this succeeded a
heavy fall Of cnders, and this again was followed
by fall Of stones mingled with fire, by which
many lost their lives; these showers continued
all the night, and until the afternoon Of the next
day, may the lsO when the soufffiere seemed
70 have expended its tremendous rage, and sank
IN solemn silence; it, however, burned for six
weeks after, but without doing further injury.
such was the dreadful eruption Of the souif-
riere Of 1872; the damage sustained by this
visitation was incalculabe; so heavy quantity
OF ashes covered the island, that famine would
have resulted but for the prompt beneyolence Of
the neighboring colonies. Barbados, though
eighty miles to the windward Of st. Vincent,
was covered several inches deep with gray sand,
although the weather was quite calm and ter.
r0r was spread over the island by the approach
Of the utter darkness, which continued iur four
hours aud a half In Trinidad, at distance Of
three degrees Of longitude, so long and con-
that the regular troops and the militia were
put under arms; it being supposed that the
reports proceeded from hostile fleets engaging.
The b, autlful appearance Of the souffriere was
entirely destroyed, in so much that the Indian
born and bred in the neighborhoOd scarcely be-
lieved It to be the same mountain that his eyes
were accustomed to survey all its beautiful for
est was destroyed; the conical mount disap-
peared; yellow-coIored lake supplied its place,
and q new crater was formed on the N Z. side I;
some rivers and ravnes were dried up, or their
courses filled with lava; others, being forced
from their channel sought subterraneous
course. Years after, some OF these broke through
their barrier and sought the SEQ, carrying away
men and buildings. y-fa
But to resume the narrative. It was in The
afternoon Of the 30th OF April, when Melburn,
fearing some accident might befall Rosetta, set
out from his uncles estate TO visit her. He
made his way through shower Of sand, and,
on arriving near the old dwelling, to his agony
and dismay he found il in flames mass of fire
had fallen on the end, by which Il was entered,
and, to complete his horror, he heard Rosetta
shrek for help. The house was built Of wood,
and rested upon pillars elevated eighteen feet
from the ground. He attempted to pass up the
wooden staircase, but il was wrapped In flames.
Charles possessed the Fapidity and active courage
that generally characteFizes the West Indian, IN
which respect they yield TO none. Defeated IN
bis first attempt, with the speed Of Lightning hS
sprang up a tall coeoa.nut that grew beside the
blazing house; fiOm tho top of this he leapcd
on the part Of the roof not yet on fire. By bis
h,avy plunge the old shingles gave way be-
meath him, and the house having no ceiling, be
fell on the floor Of the hall. In an instant he
was on his feet, and heheld Rosetta at the win
dow; the negroes were below encouraging her
to leap. This she feared 10 do; not moment
was to be lost; to catch her in his arms, hold
her out Of the window, and drop her down, was
the work Of an instant and the people below
caught her without the slightest accident lie
heard lavorite negro girl Of Rosetta's cry he
caught her up and dyopped her out also, but with
less success than her mistress; the infant was
severely but not fatally injured in the fall Al.
though, from the time Of his ascending the Co
coa-nut tree till he threw out the child, but q
few seconds had elapsed, yet he bad not ong
moment TO lose 50 quickly the confagration
spread that his dress was seorched ere he could
leap ont Of the window, which he did safely
He followed the group Of negroes who were con
veying their faiDting mistress into the sugar
works, which were fire-prooG to recover her
He relieved them Of their lovely burthen, and
few with her to the asylum, but in so doing
tlatle u ulStONefl winch hAllSueu nun OF y point
which had long and bitterly agitated him. AS
he delivered bis fainting charge TO her woman,
lockct, which she always wOrein her bosom,
became discngaged from its concralment and fell.
On taking it up, Charles, with feelings little short
Of transport, found il to contain miniature
likeness ol himself He instantly remembered
the time ho missed the miniature he had brought
from England, and the fact became manifest to
him that Rosrtta had caused Il to be taken and
copied. While he was indulging in the joy ol
his discovery, Rosetta became gradually restored,
and her first expression was--"where Is Charles
where is my delivereri" Mediums joy was
complete. .'.,..
The days have passed when m author could
minutcly record al the events Of q marriage,
and take space to describe his hcroines dress
on the occasion; he can now only remark that
at the dwelling OF this amiable pair he
passed two days, during too brief soiourn in
ST. Vincent; and IL they did not consider their
choice happy, and had no reason to bless their
situation, they must have been extraordinary
hypocrites.
Mustapha had lodged the treasure belonging to
his mistress with q respectable merchant in
Kingston the first day Of the eruption Of the
souffriere; he is now on the verge Of extreme
old age, but he enjoys good health, and is al.
ways with ROsettas children, telling them stories
Of the war and the bursting Of the souifriere
but none Of his tales he relates with such de-
light as that in which he gives the account Of
how he saved their mother from the Black Car
lbs ...
"Ths.s expressions used BY Black csrih vhe, Win