The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-07-26
ST. vINcENT's VOLCANO.
Sreat Eruption Of 1912 Surpassed
Everything Up to the Recent
Mont Pelee Upheaval.

Those familiar with the geological
and Typographical formations of tn,
Windward islands said that it would
not be surprising If both Mont Pelee
on Martinique, and La Soufriere, Oh
st. Vincent, exploded in the same
manner. Both of these mountain.
slope gradually from the coast, both
go to about the same height, both
have small lake within their craters
and. curiously enough, each has been
known colloquially as ia Soufriere,'
although the official name of each is
different, says the New York Times
The st. Vincent mountain, however
has had very different history from
that of Martinique. Mont Pelee vom-
tied forth volcanic fires in 1851, but
soon afterward became inactive, so
that both islanders and scientists be-
lieved it to be completely extinct.
Not so with La Soufriere, of the
Morne Garou of st. Vincent. That
mountain was the source of tre-
mendous eruption in 1912, of another
smaller one in 17s5, and, according to
tradition, of still another in 171s. :
The great eruption of 1912 took
place on April 81 of that year. There
had been disturbances all about the
shores of the Caribbean sea for two
years before the great outburst
came. On March 26, just day more
than n month before the principal
eruption, the coast of Venezuela was
vigorously shaken, and the city. of
Caracas suffered the loss of thou
sands of its inhabitants.
The seismic convulsion moved to
the sea from Caracas, and ON the
date mentioned reached the little is
land of st. Vincent. With a great
roar, the gases and fumes, the flames
and molten rocks of the earth's ir-
terror were thrown into the air,
carrying ruin and terror to all the
surrounding country. For three
days the great volumes of smoke that
were emitted from the volcano COW
cred the islands with darkness. 1t
is. said that the noise of the eruption
was so great that the English sol
diers at Barbados--6O miles away
supposed it was the cannonading of a
naval battle, and preparations were
made to Withstand an attack.
Before the eruption of Mont Pelec
little st. Vincent enjoyed the distinc-
ton of having produced the most inn
portant volcanic disturbance in the
history of the Lesser Antilles. The
island is only IS miles long and IL
miles wide. 1t lies in the Caribbean
sea, 60 miles west of Barbados and Is
miles southwest of ST. Lucia. The
entire island is of volcanic structure,
and La Soufriere rises to height of
4,04S feet.
This island was discovered by CO.
lumbus in 1898. In 1927, when Charles
j. granted st. Vincent to the earl vi
Carlisle, it was pcopled by Caribs;
in 1672 the island was given to Lord
Willoughby, and in 1722 was granted,
along with other islands, to the duke
of Montagu by George !. After hos
Utilities with the French and Caribs,
the island passed definitely to Great
Britain, in 1888. Immigrants were
introduced soon afterward, and the
plantations of the island were well
cultivated.
The ''Carib" country is broad and
fertile tract, sloping gently back
ward from the sea to the base of the
hills of the central mountain range,
and ~ do~svo. "a. -ox~~o <x1>.:~~..-I..
from the aborigines of the country.
The valleys are fertile and we'll
watered with fine streams, several of |
which are SPAWNED with substantial |
stone and iron bridges. The prin-
cipal harbor of the colony is Kings
town. The harbor is formed by the
projection into the sea of two pro-
montories. the extremities of two !
spurs thrown out by Mount st. An
drew. The shore is sandy and the
sea SO smooth, generally, that boats |
can be beached anywhere along it.
There are about 70 miles of roads |
running around and through the is
land, these being for the most part |
close to the sea coast. and many by
ways afford very picturesque views
of this beautiful island. Communi-
cation along the coast is maintained
in very unique manner. The ma
tives propel large. six-oared canoes,
these plying daily for about 20 miles. |
It is favorite custom of visitors |
to the island to inspect the coast |
and the peculiar people living along |
il with these vessels.
Steamers anchor in the bay, and
the cargo is transported to and from
the shores in lighters called "Moses"
boats. These are peculiarly shaped
and are built only in St. Vincent.
The town Of Kngstown = remarkably |