, 1891-09-12
THE AVIS
8trisiia1sir6 Il, Sruin.
Saturday, 18th Sept. 1891.

of volcanic islands, the larger ones being
towards the middle Of the chaiu. Martl-
niuue is one of these. 1t contains no less
than six extinct volcanoes although it is only
about As miles in length (say about twice as
long as Santa CRUZ and from 10 to Is miles
in breadth. It measures about $50 English
square miles, or covers a surface about tour
times that OF Santa Cruz. 1t contains
u large population, numbering about
100 900, supported mainly by the sugar in
duStry. which is there in a very advanced
and hoarishlng condition.
Martinique, as every one knows who has
either visited it or passed it in the mail
steamer, is IL very beautiful island. The
mountains of the interior, rising in their
highest point to over 1000 IT,, the numerous
valleys and raVineS running down to the
sea, the fertile fields, with the sugar works
or the white houses of the planters seen
here and there along the coast, make up a
picture of beauty and prosperity which few
places can SurpaSS. At noon on the 18th
of August there was no drawback to this
beauty. 1t two o'clock when the r. NJ. S.
ESk entered the rOadsteAd Of st. Pierre,
sheltered by the land from the ocean swell
which in the open channels told of the
coming storm. the sea was calm, the boats
W re coming and going, there was the usual
French vivacity, everybody seemed happy,
II Dpoiy seemed to dream OF the possibility
OF the frighrfuI experience that wa, ut
htIl. Even then the terrible maSSeng ger OF
death and destruction, the dreaded hurri-
cane, was creeping slowly, though so
ierCely, along the surface of the Atlantic
towards the doomed island. The accounts
to hand show us what ruin and horror only
s hours later it had brought to that beauti-
FIJI and happy land. The centre of the
cyclone seems to have first struck the island
at the southeastern end. The island
stretches S. e. and N. w, and as the cy-
clone had u direction not much differing
from that, it appears that it followed the
island through d great part Of its length,
which largely explains the fearf,i, .monnt
of destruction which II uas caused. No
part OF tue lSlaht seems to have ESCAPED.
we reau tr Instance, in Les Colonies, about
SalIlte Marie, one Of the nOrthernmost com
muheS," The disaster is immense. every
thln8 Is destroyed, buildings of all kinds
aud The cultivation. It is feared. saws LIE
AoRItepT, that the population will not be
apL> TO find food. On the Goth there were
already recorded II Deaths On the other
hanl we find that at Marin, near the opposite
end OF the island, s deaths had been le-
corded.
= Some OF the losses can never bn reDairpl
nreS cannot be restored; but in regard %
all else tits not too much to expect that AN
aslAnI In so healthy d condition as Marti-
II qle WILL IN a comparatively short time
recover Its former appearance and DroSperi-
ty. The editor of Les Colonies, referring TO
the last words of the Governors proclama.
ton, says. These words, !very simple and
very firm, with which NJ. Moracchini CON
GUIDES his proclamation, have given US great
pleasure. 1t is in fact we'll to recall that
during the last century, at several different
times, nam Sly in 1923, 1724, 1856, 1888, 1866,
1909 1856, and 1888, ::the colony has been
visited by cyclones which in point of VIC
aence might rival that of the 18th of August
1881, which has accumulated here so many
ruins. 1t is we'll, we say, to recall these
facts, SO that We may not think ourselves
incapable of once again restoring the de-
wasted country. Altogether we are in a
better condition economically, politically.
and socially than our ancestors; we ought
then to be able to do as much, or even
more, than they, if the Oil energy which en-
abled them to lift their heads after such
great disasters, and which they have trans
mitted to Us, has not degenerated III us"
For the sake of our common humanity
we may regret with the Governor Of Mart
nique that there should have been shew
among the merchants and wOrkmen a dis
position TO take advantage of the general