The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-08
.IEF()E REPORTED n
Interesting Description of
Former Volcanic Eruption.
ON ST. VINCENT ISLAND
One ofthe Best Literary Pieces
in English Language.

Post Prints the following:
IN connection with the destruction ot
property ard life BY The volcanic emp
tons on Martinique and St Vincent the
most interesting bit Of classical English
literature is probably an article from the
pen OF Defoe. IN IFS he contributed 10
Mist's Journal an account OF a ''Destrrc-
ton OF the isle Of St Vincent by the
outburst OF the volcano there
At that time Defoe had not obtained
fame and great popularity by the success
OF Robinson Crusoe' and his many other
novels. but he was an exceedingly indus
trious and skillfuI pamphleteer. .poi
maker. and journalist IN IFS he had
undertaken INC management OF Nist's
Journal Jacobite organ. He wrote for
! it matter OF all kinds-gossip letters on
various subjects from fashions 10 poll
ties. and transcripts on foreign news.
He showed particular aptitude. how
ever. in a kind Of work that stamps hin
a sthe irst and greatest CT yellow jour
nalists.1 lie would take a. small hint
or scrap OF news and weave about il an
astonishing web Of circumstance and de-
tail that made it altogether interesting
and convincing narrative. Indeed. a rival
journalist declared that Defoe-s hand was
evident in Mists on acount OF the agree
ableness of the styie the LITTLE
art he is truly a master Of of forging
a story and imposing il on the world
70 rtruth." These forgeries were al on
small scale till he applied his genius
with such striking results to the fabrica-
ton Of Robinson CruSos The three most
noteworthy pieces OF his prentice work
are his History of the Greek Storm
imaginary history Of the destruction of
St Vincent
This reprint is from volume H. of Lees
Life and Newly Discovered Writings OF
Daniel Defoe London 1859, The article.
which appeared in AIists Journal on July
5. IT'S. is remarkable for the number Of
incidents which have an almost exact
papallel in the disaster of 1902
ANNOUNCEMENT or. TIE DEsTRUc-
TON or ST. VINCENT.
1--WE have a piece of public news this
time of such consequence. ans SO neces-
sary for all our readers 10 be fully ac-
quainted with. that our friends who have
written several letters to Us. which other
wise deserve publishing. must excuse US
for this week
This relates to the entire Desolation Of
the Island OF st. Vincent. III the West
indies. by the immediate hand Of Nature.
directed by Providence and IN a menner
astonishing 70 an the world. the IKE
OF which never happened since Creation:
Earth by Water in the general Delure.
Our accounts of this ONE from so
many several hands. and several places.
that il would re impossible 70. brFg the
letters all separately into this JourHal:
and when we had done So or attempted
to do So would have the story. confus'e.
and the World not perfectly inform'd-
we have therefore thought II better to
give the the substance Of ffis amazing
Accident in one 4oileotion. making to-
gether as fun and distinct account OF the
whole. as we believe is possible 20 come
At by any intelligence whatsoever: and
at the close Of this account We shall give
some probable guesses as tire natural
carse Of 50 terrible operation the re-
Iation IS as follows viz.
AN account ~ the island ~ So Vincent
in the West Indies ard Of its entire De-
struction on the esth 81 March last. with
some rational SUGGESTIONS concerning the
Causes and manner of f.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND.
'.The island Of St Vincent is the most
populous Of any possassd by the Carl
bians. its latitude is 16 degrees north
from the Line Those who have seen
the island Ferro or Fietre. one ~ the
cansries. affirm. that there T. much q
the same figure II may be about eight
leagues In length. and six in breadth.
There are in IN several hieh Mountains.
and very fruitful pIaias. n they were
cultivated. The Caribians have many
fair villages. where they live pleasantly.
and without any disturbance. and tho
they have Jealousy q STRANGERS. yet
do they not deny them the Breed u
the Country. which IS Cossava water
Fruits. ara other provisions growing In
their country 81 they want them taking
in exchange wedges hooks ard other I'm
plements OF Iron. which they must -
tesra.
sOn the 2lth Of March. a French sioop
arrived M MARTINEZ that passsd BY the
island ~ St. vincent the End. and. as
The Master reported. be bought some
Fish q some Ct the savages Who fnhshlt-
Cd herr. and who cane OF 70 him IN
three Canoes. He says that al vac safe.
and ~ very good condition there. and
anything r. perceived. only that some
n his seamen report since the disaster.
that ere q The Indians told them. theT
had lssn terribly frishtene5 by earth
auakes for sanne tine. ara WITH fashes q
Ere IKE Iirhtuing which did not come
out ~ tho Clouds as usual. but orE - The
Earth. and. that thsT had ~, these
Earthquakes foF a month past, 70 their
very greet Arnazs-nent.
HOW TIE ERt-RTION BEGAN
con ne .7th. ia ERE aorriaE ire AIR
Wa sarisrad r 2 fresdfrli rrsnrsr Eiich
re-s n5.bfn i'e mites - m piece, but
was re-teivea 80 - move ~ less dark
~ thoes lslan5f wsr, faTther ~ nsarrr
from ths riscc-
-But that vhieh is Srost rerra-ka bic
u an Is that ~ sans - ire TEL rig
ara IL Eariirsea r. r4rttr1iar, ~ thev
and g. Sc scan ~ tfe Ssh aflt
T-f-~ers o-clocx ~ Night tbs Sass. ahseh
they osi Bzht-fas we shan acceurt
for. 81 the following pert = tbs rcis-
8on-
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