The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-16
WAS WITHIN A MILE OF
THE GREAT ERUPTION,

ID =
YORK HERALD SPECIAL CORRESPOND
ENT.
Port of Spain. Trinidad. May 1o.-(Copy-
right 1902. M. Albert, the owner and man
ager of La Garrane estate, which lies about
a mile northeast of the crater of Mont Pc
lee, has just arrived here with his family
on the steamship Canada from Martinique
He tells Of o marvellous escape from the
death that swept st. Pierre out of exist
ence. He says:
Mont Pelee had given warning of the
destruction that was TO come. but We, who
had looked upon the volcano as harmless,
did not believe that it would do more than
spout fire and steam, as 1t had done on 9TH
er occasions. 1t was 4 little before o'clock
on the morning of May that the end came.
II was N one of the fields of my estate
when the ground trembled under my feet.
not as it does when the earth quakes. but
Cs though a terrible struggle was going on
within the mountain. a terror came upon
me. but I could not explain my fear.
GREAT DARKNESS FALLS.
MOUNTAIN GROANS AND QUAKEs.
LAS 1 stood still. Mont Pelee seemed to
shudder and moaning sound issued from
Its crater. 1t was quite dark. the sun being
obscured by ashes and fine volcanic dust
The air was dead about me, dead that
the floating dust seemingly was not dis
turbed.
Then there was rending. crushing.
grinding noise. which can only describe a
sounding as though every bit of machinery
in the world had suddenly broken down. 1t
was deafening ard the flash of light that
accompanied it binding. more than
any lightning l have ever seen.
1T like terrific hurricane and where
a fraction of second before there had been
a perfect calm. l felt myself drawn into a
vortex and had to brace myself firmly. 1t
was like a great express train rushing by.
and l was drawn by its force
THE mysterious force leyelsd u row of
strong trees. tearing them up by the roots
and leaving bare a space of ground fifteen
yards wide and more than 100 yards long.
'IranstiXed l stood. not knowing in what
direction TO hec. l looked toward Mont
Pelee and above it's apex formed Il great
black cloud, which reached high in the air.
II literally fell upon the ciry of st. Pierre.
1t moved with a iapldity that made ii i'm
+ possible for anything to escape 1t.
"ALL NAVIES OF WORLD
IN TITANIC COMBAT"
from the cloud came explosions that
sounded as though all of the navles OF the
world were In titanic combat Lightning
played IN ana out III prOaC forkS, the result
peing that intense darkness was followed
by light that seemed to be of magnifying
| power.
That St. Pierre was doomed / knew. but
1 was prevented from seeing the destruc.
ton by spur CT the hill that shut off the
| view of the city.
1T Is impossible for me to tell how leng
l stood there inert. Probably IL was only a
| few seconds, but viva were my impres.
| lions tnat II seems though l stood as
| spectator for many minutes.
Nv nen recove. ed Possession of my senses
| ran TO my houses and collected the menu
/ bers of the family. all of whom were panic.
! stricken. 1 hurried them TO the seashore
where we boarded small steamship, ir
| which we made the trip in safety to For,
! de France.
Il knew that there was no flame in the
| first wave that was sent down upon St
| Pierre. 1t was heavy gas. like fire damp
| and it must have asphyxiated the inhab,.
| tants before they were touched by the fire
| which quickly followed.
| '"As we drew out to sea in the small steam
| ship. Mont Pelee was in the throes of g
| terrible convuls.on. New craters seemed tC
| be opening all about the summit and lava
| was flowing In broad streams in every d.
| rection. My estate was ruined while We
were still in sight of it.
! MANY women who have lived in st
| Pierre have escaped only to know that
they are left widowed and childless. This !:
! because many of the wealthier men SEM
their wives away, while they remained ir
st. Pierre to attend to their business al
| fairs