The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-05
M1EMORY and the Present
Wu of the Dead City of
81. Pierre, Martinique.
who taps theref IT'S my own self.
Love: open the door to me,
RY HENRY r. RLANEY.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC
Alas, the gentle call OF love Is no longer
heard in ST. Pierre.
The Creole girls who distinguished this
lovely tropic city are no more; only their
memory remains.
II was a most luxurious city. built in
terraces leading to the sea, embowered In
palms. the houses multi-t!nted and fur
nished with the elegance and taste for
which the French Creole is renowned.
The writer. who was conversant with con-
dtions before the catastrophe of May of
last year visited st. Pierre IN November
and wandered about the stricken city
searching for old landmarks.
He found It was only with the greatest
difficulty that one could in mind reconstruct
this pearl of the Caribbean. the most pic
turesgue Of all the towns in the West Indies.
A prolonged study had been male by the
writer of the island of Martinique. the city
and Mont Pelcc through the months OF No
yerlber. December. January. February and
March. the last visit to St. Pierre being on
March 4 last. and II brought forc!bly to the
observer the friGhtful power and novel
action OF the volcano.
There can he seen IN ST. Pierre bars of
iron standing side by side. one twisted into
knots. the next intact. and near this one
others melted in a mass. Glass cecanters
have Seeen found with their necks twisted
by the heat. the wine unhurt.
tao cotc rN.a md
prayer chapeis mark the sites OF former
happy homes. Mont Peiee to-day Is quiet:
tomorrow It will grun,be and smoke. and
perhaps throw a heavy discharge Of gas
and ashes toward RivIere Blanche. The
Mart,nlauaise will never build IN ST. Pierre
again.
The pretty streets that were shaded by
tamarind and cottonwood trees are blasted
out of all recognition-Rue Lucie. Rue
BouiIle. Rue du Morne Mirail. all quantity
named. running from the sea inland where
dwelt above their shops ozanla, the jeweler;
Mar!s Era. Leo Nara, Doctor Pole and
others. all caught IN the rain OF fire and
gone to their reward. At the theater there
was held on February l6. 1902. Mardi Gras
ball
The residents Of St Pierre packed the the
alter on this occasion. ard the fete was
placarded from one end of the island TO the
other.
poor dilapiiated poster was noted in
Lamentin a year later-3 francs admission
for gentlemen. I franc for ladies. and
special note at the bottom asked for correct
costumes: n grand ballet Of the maskers-
all under charge of the well-known conduc-
tor Monsieur y.
year has passed since the great catas-
trophe. and in the little country towns rest
ing far back in the hills the people tell
strange stories of the day when all most
dear to them was lost in the whirl OF fire.
In the little town OF Lamentin the orange
red roofs shine under the rays of the after
noon sun and the country people pass jour
neying to their homes, carrying baskets Of
provisions and bundles, the shapes of which
cause one to wonder at their contents. The
mountain air Is fresh md cool. broad fields
surround the town, and the cattle wander
over the savanna, which is covered with
vegetation of a vivid green. BY the roadside
in the environs Of Lamentin are little
shrines decorated with old blue and white
figurines, paper flowers. and light con-
stantly burning In recess.
broad savanna-like country surrounds
Lamentin. and to the southeast the low hills
OF Francois and Vaucin may be seen lining
the horizon. ten miles away; beyond them
again the ocean. Very few cocoanut trees
are to be seen-only breadfruit, calabash.
guava and cottonwood trees Martinique
lacks the picturesqueness of Jamaica. and
since the destruction OF ST. Pierre and the
laying waste Of the surrounding country the
island has lost its o.d-tine beauty. A few
rIn MI I -,
fauclin. preserve the old houses and trees
OF the early days. Lamentin is small town
or perhaps 1000 inhabitants. situated high
up on rising ground. Now that ST Pierre Is
no more this little country town is second In
Importance to Fort dc France. Lamentin is
reached from Fort de France by small
tug twice a day, the trip taking one hour.
TOWNS WHICH ESCAPED
Crossing the harbor in an easterly direc-
ton the boat reaches the entrance of a little
winding river, at the source of which Lam
entin is situated There are manufactured
here the red water bottles which are sold
all over Martinique, large beds of red CLAW
being found in the hills. The life in Lam
entin is primitive living Is Cheap, rents are
low.
Many OF the people work in the cane
fields during the season of grinding the
cane. which begins in January They re-
ceive franc day and their food of vans
and bread. The sunsets seen from Lamen-
tin are magnificent. glory of orange and
yellow light. Little rain falls In January:
the days are bright and fresh with few
clouds. except toward the late afternoon.
1t is five miles to Trinity. a small town
on the east coast. and regular coach
leaves Lamentin for Trinity at 10 a. m. on
the arrival of the boat from Fort de
France.
From Trinity one may continue on to
Bassepont by horseback. Rassepoint was
partly destroyed by mud which rushed down
the sides of Mount Pelee. following the
course of the river. Enormous powders
choke the stream, and the huge stones have
demolished the outlying houses. A unique
little house in Lamentin Is owned by a
French gentleman. The hedge surrounding
the house Is composed of tropical plants.
massed together. On each side OF the en-
trance gate are large travellers palms 4
large garden In the rear of the house Is de-
voted to the raising of vanilla. Across the
way at the junction of two streets. IS
placed a shrine. built of brick. life-sizei
figure of Christ on the cross sur.rc,nts It
and dominates the town. \ little oil lamp
burns AT night in a niche at the base.
There is no hotel or boarding house in The
town and one has TO hire furnished room