The Monticellonian., 1902-10-23
ST. PIERRE FOREVER SEALED.
Mar Unique City Entombed for All Time Beneath the Ashes of
 Mont Pelee's Crater.

Rev. Father Louis Leininger, mem. Der of the Order of the Holy Ghost, who for eight years was teacher in the College of St. Aloysius, St. Pierre, and an eyewitness of the cata- clysm in Martinique, has arrived in the United States, en route to St. Mary's college, Detroit, Mich, reports the National Tribune.
 "The ashes of Mont Pelee have placed the eternal seal upon the tomb of St. Pierre" declared Father Leininger. Ages after the mountain fever shall have ceased the fields of ashes that were hurled from It's gaping crater will stretch away to the sea solitary desert-a silent memorial to the 40,- GOO souls that were disembodied in that awful moment of old Pelee's an- ger. Man and beast dread alike that ashen-covered burial plot. Where once was gay metropolis ships sail by as if fearful to intrade upon the scene of deaths dread work. The sullen thunder of the mo uirt a in and the plain tive sobbing of the tide alone disturb the silence that will reign there for ever.
 Early in April it was apparent that the volcano had been aroused from it's long slumber. Detonations were heard at frequent intervals and at night vivid flashes of lightning illuminated the lips of the crater. A number of priests visited the mountain on April 26 and narrowly escaped being asphyxiated by the sulphnrous smoke that was emitted from the pit of boil ing lava.
 On May 2 began a rain of ashes which increased to such extent on the following day that the students in the school were dismissed. At this time the sky was overcast by dark clouds like those we see during a heavy fall of snow, and an object 50 yards dis tant was scarcely visible. The black pail in the heavens was rent by dart ing lightning and the roll of thunder shook the earth.
 "On May conditions became worse. Above the noise of the thunder we could hear d sound like that of the boiling of an immense caldron, the bubbling of the seething lava pot be- ing distinctly heard. That night 1 was summoned from the city to assist at the services on the following Sunday. Morne Rouge is situated in a position where it's lofty altitude gives d wide survey of Mont Pelee and St. Pierre on the plain below.
 At midnight the populace was alarmed by the renewed activity of the volcano. Shortly before dawn, however, all was calm and the people sought their beds.
 At 5: 50 o'clock the detonations were heard again and smoke and ashes were seen to enshroud the mountain toS. 1 held mass in the church as usual and went to the parish house for break fast.
 It was a few minutes before eight o'clock and l had just taken my seat at the table. Suddenly came an awful shock. A roar like 10000 Niagara> filled my ears. l staggered to win dow. 1t appeared that half the noun tain had been lifted from its base. l saw q sheet of red flame, acres of boiling mud, rocks and ashes spread out fan-like and sink with a crash into the valley. This whole scene of hor. TOT was enacted in few brief sec. onds. Morne Rouge had escaped, but St. Pierre-of it's 1000 people only one was left to tell the story of it's fate.
 "A few days later left Morne Rouge It seemed as if Providence again spared me, for in the eruption on May 2t Morne Rouge, too, was almost de. stroyed and the priest whom l hat gone to assist and 40 nuns in the con. vent were counted among the victims
 ''The second volley from Pelee'f crater, however, must be regarded as provide ntjslr ~Jt killed tae ghoAIs, whe had been robbing the dead, and bur jed forever the decomposed bodies, breeding pestilence on the island that would have been little less terrible than the power of death that lurkec in the volcano.
 "Mr. Prentiss. the American consul at St. Pierre, was close friend oi mine, and his eldest daughter, beauti. ful and accomplished girl, was one of the belies of the English-American colony on the island. l met her at a concert but short time before she shared the fate of her family when the city was destroyed.
 "When l left Martinique the volcano still showed signs of activity, but no matter how long it slumbered apain. I never expected to see the city inhab. ited and St. Pierre will forever be classed with Herculaneum and Pom. peii.'