Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-10-29
JOSEPHINE IN MARTINIQUE.
An Account Of the Great Hurricane OF
1766

1866.
Although Martinique Is an earthly
paradise in It's outward aspect, 1t has
always been subjected to the widest
convulsions of nature. The first
white invaders were told by the ma
tive Caribs Of the fierce wind storms
which swept the island at unexpected
times and the French planters soon
learned that a case-a-vent, or hurri.
cane house, was an indispensable ad-
junct Of every plantation. These
were not unlike the Cyclone cellars"
Of the Western plains, though they
were usually built into or under the
side Of hill, with walls Of stone sey.
eral feet in thickness. The door was
Of thick plank, there were no windows
and the air within, If the storm was
Of long duration. became most oppres.
siva.
The great hurricane which destroy.
ed the property of the father Of the
future Empress of the French occur
red on the 18th of August, 1766, some
seven weeks after Josephine's third
birthday. Young as she was at the
time 1t made an indelible impression
on her mind. and after she was En-.
press she used to thrill her lades-in-
waiting by vivid descriptions of that
day Of terrors. She had been snatched
from her morning bath by her father,
who had only time to wrap her in a
large both towel, and the full fury
of the storm burst upon them as M.
Tascher and his baby daughter pass
ed through the door Of the case-a-vent,
where Madame TascheF and the terri
fled household slaves had already
sought refuge.
Scarcely mad the massive door been
closed and boltcd than the hurricane
was upon them in all it's fury. The
tall palms writhed and bent beneath
its blows; mango and calabush, or.
apge and guave trees were quickly
stripped Of their limbs or forcibly up
rooted; roof-tiles from the mansion,
boards from the negro quarters and
branches torn from trees were hurled
through tho air. The door Of the case
a-vent groaned on its huge hinges, and
strained at the iron bars stretched
across 1t. The air within the cave
became hot to suffocatlon; means and
cries from the terrified negroes; but
little Josephine uttered not word.
Close clasping her arms around her
fathers neck, and clinging also to her
mothers hand, she lay quiet and calm.
The hours passed slowly; but finally
the door ceased to strain at its fasten-
ings, and M. Tascher commanded the
huge negro who had charge Of 1t to
open it little way. Carefully and
slowly the bolts were drawn and day
light admitted. All was quiet without.
The darkness that had accompanied
the storm. caused by the dence clouds
and sheets of rain, had been dispelled
by the sun. which was now shining
brightly. The wind had died away to
a moan; exhausted nature lay pros
trate, torn and bleeding. Hardly
tree was left standing; huge celbas,
cedars and sapote trees had been up.
rooted and cast to the ground. But
the most mournful spectacle was the
palm avenue, for in place Of the
columnar trunks, with their waving
plumes, was a ragged row Of shat.
tered stumps The huts of the
negroes. which had been grouped
about the sugar mill. were entirely
destroyed. and soon hundred despair.
ing beings were cropping in their ruins.
But the crowrjng desolation of all was
the total destruction of the Tascher
mansion.
Only the great sugar house remain.
ed standing of all the buildings per-
tanning to ttc estate. To this struc-
ture the new homeless family direct
ed their steps It's walls were Of stone
some two feet in thickness, its raft
ers heavy and covered with eartnen
tiles. the doorways we're broad. with
granite lintels. Above the ground
Goor, where the machinery was placed,
were two large chambers. The beams
supporting the floor were sound and
strong. and the floor itself intact, and
there the family took up their abode.
NJ. Tascher de La Pagerie never re-
built the great house. and thus fate, or
fortune, willed that Josephine should
know no other place of residence Willie
she lived in Trois-Dets, unless visit
ing at the house of a friend, or at
school. But she was to live to know
still stranger places Of abode; the
grim Carmelits prison. the stately pal
ace of the Tulleries and cheerful NAL
maison, in whose gardens she cherish.
ed the rlants Of her native isle.