Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-06-05
81. Louis RfpuJfic.

/
81 Louis Republic.
As the days pass and the reports
still come in that the volcanoes OF
the islands OF Martinique and St.
Vincent continue 20 belch lava, FIRE
and steam, it becomes apparent that
the first rough estimates Of the loss
OF life are the opposite of exaggerat-
ed, and that this Caribbean Sea dis
aster viii be recorded as among the
most terrible in the history of the
civilized world.
From all that can be gathered, the
destruction of st. Pierre was like
the blotiing out Of Pompeii and Her
culaneum. The latter catastrophe,
however, dates back to the very be-
ginning of the Christian era. The
merest impression of the outburst
OF Vesuvius. as the most awful dis
aster of the kind known to history,
exists in the minds OF the citizens OF
today. Bulwer Lytton's imagined
description based on the report by
Pliuy, the Younger, in The Last
Days of Pompeii, is the only lengthy
account which many persons have
read. Later excavations have drawn
attention to the horrifying event, but
more recent and equally terrific erup-
tions and upheavals, If not so death
dealing, are probably the most vivid
at this time, because magazine and
newspaper, in addition to history,
have storied them.
The partly submerged eruption of
Krakatoa volcano in the Indian Ocean
only nineteen years ago. as the re-
suit of which more than 36, 900 per-
sons perished, is the most generally
known of all the volcanic disturban-
ceS.
The Lisbon disaster of 1855, as an
earthquake, causing a loss of life va
riously estimated from q, 900 to TO-
GOO, is more familiar since it comes
within modern times and involved
European capital,
The obliteration of st. Pierre is
parallel for the entombment of Pom
peii, because the population in each
case were either buried under mol
ten lava, were suffocated by sulphur
rous gases or died of the intense
heat. Great tidal waves, resulting
from submarine explosions of i'm
measurable power, or from the splash
occasioned by entire sections of the
island, being hurled into the ocean,
brought about the enormous list of
fatalities at Krakatoa. The popula
tion of Lisbon were crushed beneath
their homes, their cathedrals, pala-
ces and churches, as well as drowned
by tidal waves, and burned in the
fire which followed the downfall of
the city.
Lisbon Vas a FYoUTishiag City
iR the Eighteenth Century.
In the latter half of the Eighteenth
Century Lisbon was a fiourishing
city, rich in architecture, rich in
worldly goods, and the capital of a
growing power; for Portugal had
reaped profits from the discovery of
the new world, and the wealth which
it contained. The nation was still
aggressive and expanding.
There was little or no warning OF
the devastation te come. On the
evening of October 81, 1855, the earth
trembled slightly and there were
heard rumblings, which seemed to
originate down in the bowels of the
earth. Such slight subterranean
disturbances were not unknown at
Lisbon. Occasionally serious con-
sequences had followed, but nothing
to afford the faintest suggestion of
the great earth waves which were
to tumble the city down, so that mot
one stone should stand upon anoth-
er."
The morning of November dawn
ed clear and bright. 1t was All
Saints Day, Roman Catholic festi-
val. The churches and the magnifi-
cent Lisbon Cathedral were crowded
with worshippers. The streets were
crowded with pedestrians, and eve
rybody was looking forward 10 q day
Of enjoyment.
1t was about 9:45 a. IN. There
came sudden sound as OF innumer-
bic thunder crashes. 1t came from
below. and the sky was still uncloud-
ed. A wave like the even swell of
the Atlantic, with incredible rapid
ify and with o vertical displacement
OF eight feet, was crossing the dry
land: The force, probably the re-
suit OF tremendous compression OF
gases. necessary thus to shift the
ground IS inconceivable.
People in Tss.pies .Saac Pillars
Shake Like Reeds.