The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-07
CHATTER x1v.-continued.

|
as the little vessel ran into the harbor
OIL OF. Pierre there were found, lying at
ahchor, an English gunboat, an American
vessel OF the same type, and news.
paper dispatch boat. Jennings could
hafaiy credit his eyes. The hills, as well
| as the city itself, seemed covered with
a light fall Of pale gray snow. AS they
neared the water front the crumbled
and fallen ruins were plainly seen, but
all covered with the thin, gray pail OF
dust, as though the volcano had been de-
sirous of hiding It's hideous work.
Anohoring between the American and
| EnGllsh vessels, Ralph ordered boat
| over the side. and seeing that there were
| others already drawn UP on the shore,
gave directions TO Minnie, and started
at once upon his grewsome search.
| AS his boats keel grated upon the
beach he stepped quickly out and walked
toward the first street that he saw ahead
OF him. He did not ask himself how he
was going to find out where the de la
Touches had lived, he simply went blindly
I ahead, stunned with the evidences of the
awful fate which had come to the doomed
city.
He had made but little progress when
he saw approaching him two officers,
evidently from the ships in the harbor.
Ono Of them touched his cap politely
as he said:
pardon me, can I be Of any assistance?
l am an American, lieutenant IN the
navy, my name Is Fearing. You are
searching for some one?"
The other stopped and looked at Ralph
with O. grave expression In his clear-cut,
clean shaver face.
Yes, Mr.. Fearing I am. I can only
hope to- find no trace of the person LOT
whom search. 1t will then be within
4 49,. ,tt~tttA tao nCN
He gave them his name and the three
turned and continued up the street
Here" said Ralph. handing paper
to Fearing, us the address OF the per
son with whom she was visiting. am
quite in ignorance of the locality"
The young lieutenant took the paper
and read the direction written upon II.
20 yes" he said. II know well where
that Is. It Is to the south, Just on the
outskirts and the sea, where all the
rich residents lived. l am almost sure
that carried message to Mr. de la
Touche when I was here two years ago.
He was very polite to the officers OF the
ship, which was in here at that time,
and I think that it was to him that l
took the answer to an invitation. It IS
not a very long walk, but the dust Is
very thick"
AS he spoke he scufled aside some six
inches of the soft gray covering that lay
over everything.
''That matters little to me- replied
Ralph But am not interruptng you
in some duty. Mr.. Fearing"
mo; it is more or less what am
here for am looking for possible Nv
ing persons that we may find In order
that we may help them, but think that
I shall have little to do. We are also
here to prevent the dissertation OF the
dead
They plodded silently on for time.
stopping now and then to gaze at the
inextricable tangle of the ruins. or step
ping aside to avoid the dead bodies.
which, sngly or In groups, were found
everywhere. The city was one vast char
mel house, and Ralph's spirits grew heav-
Ter and heavier. as they proceeded upon
their way.
ut is horrible he said. after silence
that had lasted some minutes, as they
came upon a mass OF bodies, greater
dn number than any before. What
might this building be?" he asked, turn
ing away from the horrible sight to the
partially cru7nbled remains OF hand
some structure.
'1rhat is the city hall" said the Amer
lean, as he made a detour around the
pile of corpses that lay in front OF 1t,
LET us go in for a moment. II you do
not object"
Ralph followed, and they stepped into
the silent building. and then out upon
ar open court. which was full OF wreck
and ruin
Here, amid all the tangled debris quite
unframed, though covered Win aust,
stood two statues.
what are these?'' asked Jennings. as
he contemplated the silent forms.
zone is Justice, the other Mercy" was
the reply. ~
Most APPROPRIATED exclaimed Ralph.
bitterly. There is certainly neither JUS
tice nor mercy shown in this frighful
visitation"
These statues are supposed to repre-
sent human mercy and justice; that OF
which you speak Is divine" said the
third man, who up to this time had said
nothing. He was an officer OF the English
gunboat, and his voice was quiet, while
his tone was full Of reverence.
Can you see any Justice or mercy
human or divine, in such fearful thing
as all this?" asked Ralph. as he waved
HIS hands about In a gesture which en-
braced all the surrounding wreckage.
IT cannot presume to Judge" was the
quiet reply Such matters are quite
beyond human KEN
you are right" replied the other. 'Let
us go on, Mr.. Fearing. This Is but delay
ing my search and afford1nE us no salts
faction"
They continued upon their way up the
street. and after turning off proceeded
in a southerly direction toward the shore.
"Do you think the volcano has finished
its work?" asked Ralph, turning to the
silent Englishman.
''I do not know enough OF such mat
tiers to make an intelligent reply" was
the answer, TT seems to me, however,
that 1t has little II anything more left
to do. It has destroyed the city, killed
all the inhabitants that were In 1t; what
more is there left?"
"All that remained in it?' asked Ralph.
"Did any escape before the eruption?"
90 yes. such as could get away before
the Governor came and prevented people
leaving"
"Prevented their leaying?" cried Ralph
"Why was that?"
"Because he thought that 1t would
amount to nothing. He has paid for his
folishness with his life, SO nothing can
be said"
How many got away?" asked Jen-
nngs, as they tramped along. ankle deep
In the dust.
81 do not know. Many are at Fort de