Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-13
APPALLING FATE OF ST. PIERRE.

st. Paul Pioneer Press: History affords
no record Of volcanic catastrophe OF like
magnitude since the destruction OF Hercu-
leaneum and Pompeii by an eruption of
Vesuvius in the first century OF the Chris
tian era.
Indianapolis Journal: When an earth
quake comes along the theory that the
earth's surface is a mere crust seems easy
to accept. II is plain enough then that the
human creature skates on very thin ice in
deed.
New York Tribune: The appalling
tragedy at Martinique is a tragic reproof
to those who have been skeptical upon the
subject of the storied earthquakes Of the
past. Tales of Pompeii and Of Lisbon may
well be true. In all their horror, after all.
Baltimore Americana: The period of
disaster on which the world has apparently
entered Is fearfully rounded out by the de-
struction Of a whole city and almost its en-
tire population by an earthquake. This Is
one of the horrors which can be neither
foreseen nor prevented-one Of those APP
palling assertions OF the might Of nature
before which human resource and human
power stand helpless.
st. Louis Republic: Men Of science will
find In the eruption on Martinique material
for their studies. The disturbances, It may
be noted In passing, have covered a consid-
cradle area. The neighboring British isles
Of St. Vincent and Dominica have been
more or less shaken, while the peak OF
Soufriere on St. Vincent has been In seri-
Gus eruption. In Guatemala on the conti-
nent an earthquake OF a grave character
has taken place within a month. involving
the loss of 500 lives. So far as can be de-
termined by present advices there has been
. -
American tropics.
Chicago Chronicle: The Martinique
earthquake appears to be due TO q volcanic
explosion. When lava contains water in
ternal heat forms steam, which, II stored
for a long time, blows of the top Of the
mountain. Earring the ground and c~leaving
assures at varying depths in the earth's
crust. The extent Of the calamity in the
French island And contiguous waters will
probably not be fully known for some time.
Present reports place 1t among historic
catastrophes. the loss Of life being esti-
mated at 10000.
Indianapolis News; In such cases as this
the astonishing thing is that people will
consent to live In such places. 1t was
known that the volcano was a source OF ex-
IRENE danger. The people had been appre-
hensive for some days. Great destruction
had been wrought by the volcano in the
past. Yet people apparently grow careless.
Indifferent or resigned and somehow
manage to live in cheerfuiness on the brink
Of ruin. Possibly II is as we'll, for there
Is danger OF one kind or another every
where. And when men have made their
homes they are reluctant to abandon them.
New York Post: st. Pierre is the chief
commercial city OF the little island OF
Martinique, and It's destruction will doubt
less involve widespread distress. We can
not doubt that the horror and the sym
patty which this unparalleled calamity
arouses may ind occasion to express
itself In practical benehcence. An appeal
for aid would undoubtedly meet a ready
response Reports OF similar volcanic dis
~turbanees in the islands Of st. Vincent
and Santa Lucia are most disquieting. The
economic distress OF these colonies II al
ready extreme and disaster by hre or food
would ~ the measure q their misfoTtuns