The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-10
CITY OF ST. PIERRE.
Facts About Town Destroyed by Vol
Canic Disturbance.

ST Pierre was the largest town and the
commercial center of the French Island
Of Martinique. 1t was the largest town
in the French West Indies and was we'll
built and prosperous. 1t had popuia ton
of about 2Itl0,
1t was divided into two parts. known
as the upper and the lower towns. The
lower town was compact. with narrow
streets and unhealthy. The upper town
was cleaner, healthier and handsomely
Ia id out.
There was in the upper town fine
botanical garden and an old Catholic
College as we'll as fine Hospital.
Mount Pelee. the largest of the group
of volcanic mountains. is about 4.-vd
feet high It had long been inactive as
volcano. although in August. 1851. 1t
had violent Eruption It is in the
northwestern end of the island and near
the foot of its west ern slope. fronting the
bay, St. Pierre was butt.
CONSULS AT ST. PIERRE.
The consuls resident at st. Pierre were
for the United States. 7 T. F.ennz
Great Britain J. Japp: Denmark. NJ Z.
s. Never: italy. P P1iosonneau: Mexico.
E. Dupre; Sweden and Norway, Gustave
Borde
There were found banks In the city
the Eanque de Ia Martinique. Bandue
Transatla ntique. Colonial Bank of Lon
don and the Credit Foncier Colonial
There were sixteen commission mer-
chants. twelve dry goods stores. twenty
two provision dealers. twenty-six rum
manufacturers. eleven colonial produce
merchants four brokers and two hard
ware dealers.
ISLAND OF MARTINIQUE
The Island of Martinique has the same
general characteristics as its nearest
of
own It's extreme length is about forty
five miles from northwest TO southeast.
and the main part of it is in the shape
of an oval with rough edges. its greatest
width being fifteen miles. At the lower
end OF this main part. the old Fort
Royal Bay-since the French Revolution
called Fort de France Bay-cuts III SO
deep as to come within six miles Of meet
ing the inlets of lie Robert and LIE Fran
Gals on the other side
OF VOLCANIC CHARACTER.
The whole area of the island. near 80
square miles, is mountainous. Besides
Mount Pelee there are further south and
about midway of the oval the three crests
Of Courbet and all along the great ridge
are the black and ragged cones OF old vo!-
canoes.
In the section south of the deep bay
there are two less elevated and more IL
regular ridges one running southeast and
terminating in the Piton VAUGHN and the
otner extending westward and presenting
to view on the coast Mounts Caraibe and
Constant.
The mountainous interior is torn and
sashed with ancient earthquake Upneav-
ais. and there are perpendicular cliffs.
deep clefts and sorges, black holes filed
with water and swift torrents dashiiiS
over precipices and falling into caverus-
in a; word all the fantastic savagery of
volcanic scenery. but the whole covered
with the rich verdure of the tropics
The total population of the island IS
reckoned at 10000. of whom 1000 are
whites. 1900 of Asiatic origin and 49,
coo blacks of all shades from ebony TO
light octoCoon.
Martinique has two interesting claims
to distinction IN that the Empress Jose
phine was born there as was Nln1e. de
AIaintenon. the latter passing her girl
hood on the island as FRANCHISE d.Au-
bisne. At Fort de France there is a
marble statue OF the Empress Josephine.
MARTINIQUE IN SPANISH VAR
Martinique became an interesting point
i in this country during the recent war
with Spain The first news OF the arri-
val of the Spanish fleet OF Admiral Ger
vera came from ST. Pierre. At $50 in
the morning of May II. 1898, the cruiser
Harvard arrived at ST Pierre and at
e o'clock the same evening faithful
correspondent at Fort de France COM
municat ted To the Harvard's coc.nande:.
the fact that the Spanish torpedo boat
DESTROYER Firor had put into Fort de
France The destroyer turned out 10 be
the Terror instead OF tie Fursr. but --.e
important fact that Cervera was on this
side OF the ocean was established.