Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-17
A DIRE DISASTER.

OH dDOtueT page vi tIc vi ES
sENGER to-day will be found a
description of the obstruction of
the city of st. Pierre on the Is
land of Martinique, which has
been wiped out of existence and
it's thousands of inhabitants de-
stroyed by an earthquake. Its
structures, its industries and
the shipping in its harbor, has
been so completely buried be-
meath masses of fire, burning
mud and lava that trace of it is
gone and none of its people
saved. Before such a disaster
the world stands appalled, and
helpless.
"Pompeii was buried when
civilization was young. The
marvels of nature were hidden
secrets, the world was unknown
and underlined, people were ac-
customed to sudden shocks and
dire catastrophes, and lacking
any other reason, that fatal
eruption of Vesuvius was very
naturally attributed to super
natural wrath. But in this day
the elements serve as mans
subjects and have been har
messed to mems bidding; science
has solved nearly all the mys-
teries of the universe, the seas
and the lands are controlled by
mans prowess, and everywhere
there lodges sense of security.
People no longer live in fear
and trembling of fire, flood,
earthquakes, tidal waves and
other stupendous elemental dis
turbances. Instead they have
for centuries been progressing
in civilizations way until all
things save the evasion of death
seem possible to mans genius.
cit is in the midst of this civ
ilization, into this abiding sense
of security, into world serene,
happy and prosperous, that the
disaster of st. Pierre is thrust.
Without note of previous warn
ing, defying all of mans sci
ence to discover and prevent,
with a suddenness and power
that make relief impossible.
comes this catastrophe. Before
it mans prowess pales. Fa-
miliar as we have come to be
with volcanoes, the phenome-
non of volcanic eruptions, the
location and peculiarities of
those monsters, we have, by
their inactivity, been lulled in
to contentments and conceits
from which we are now so
rudely aroused. Impotent to re-
lieve st. Pierre, incapable of
saving so much as a single soul,
we can only pity the stricken
and, before this newest exhi-
bition of the devastating power
of nature, reflect upon man S
utter insignificance, his inca
pacities, the shortcomings of
his science and his puerile
weakness when nature shows
her hand. Baltimore american.
United States Consul Louis
IL. Ayme, stationed at Guade-
loupe, who was sent To ST.
Pierre by the United States
Government to investigate, has
made a tour of the destroyed
city.
He found that many of the
victims had their hands over
their mouths, showing that
they were trying to escape the
poisonous gases which must
have killed thousands i'm the
awful outburst of Mount Pelee
last Thursday morning. The
dead are found in groups. Ash
es, mud and volcanic stones,
still hot, are piled up. Not a
house is left.
The French Government has
sent an expedition from Fort
de France, which is burning the
bodies. A large number of sur
vivors from nearby towns are
being rescued.
Consul -Ayme was informed
by the Gov "rnor of Martinique.
General Mouttet, that 10000
have persisted and $4,000 need
food. 1t is believed that when
definite estimates of the losses
from districts outside of ST.
Pierre are received these num-
Der will be greatly increased.
The death of United States Con
sui Thomas L. Prentiss and his
family at st. Pierre is con-
firmed.