Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-25
The DISASTER
Of the Mount Pe|se
Eruption at St. Pierre
Recalled by Visit Of Captain
utdejohn to Augusta.
Was Last Sea Captain 10 Clear From the
Pon...Ais "reminiscences,

The Journal reporter RECENTLY had
one OF the most interesting interviews
that has been his lot for long time,
with the Captain c. H. Littlejohn of
the schooner Maggie Ellen, which sail
ed with lumber for New York for the
Augusta Lumber Co. a short time ago.
The interesting thing about the in
terview was the fact that CAPTAIN
Littlejohn enjoys the distinction of be-
ing the last American captain that
came out Of st. Fierre. Martinique be-
fore that terrible eruption of Mt.
Pelee that blew 10000 souls into
eternity.
Captain Littlejohn is very modest
man and did not care to speak for pub
!icatiOn. at first. but after a short tine
told the Journal many interesting
things about the place and it's inhabi-
tants. shortly before the explosion.
He said that before he sailed. and
in fact all the time he was in the port
on that last trip, the place was almost
enveloped in clouds, and that the ma
tives Were fearful of impending dan
ger. So much so. indeed, that they
started to leave the city, and 1t was
only by strenuous expectations on the
part of the governor. who assured
them there was no danger, that they
returned to the city. Still later, he
states. while he was there, the people
grew more fearful and started to leave
and the pathetic thing about it was
that the authorities threw guards
around the town and no person was
allowed to leave the place, without a
pass. and they were thus penned in
when the awful calamity came.
AS will be recalled by our readers.
there was but one single person of the
10000 inhabitants who was in the city.
who escaped with his life. and that
was a criminal for life who was in
carccratcd In dungeon below the sur
face of the earth. and this creature
was mumbling idiot when it was all
over.
The captain says he had more
friends in St. Pierre than any port
that he ever entered, not excepting his
own home port of South Portland. He
says they were genial. likable people,
kind-hearted and generous to fault.
Among other interesting things. he
StdtCu tiidt II was Tue OIIIy pace lie
ever entered where they kept money
almost loose. In the banking houses.
they counted their money on the floor
and small precautions were taken to
prevent any outsider to steal it.
The last man who left the port alive.
who was taken aboard the steamer
that came SO near being lost in the
fire and ashes. Tas published in the
newspap per accounts at the time. was
d personal friend of Captain Little
johns. he having been his cOnsignee
when he entered the port.
The captain sailed something about
5 to days before the terrible holo-
caust took place. leaving for Boston
with cargo of molasses. and the first
he knew of his narrow escape was
when the pilot boats in Boston harbor
told him of the disaster when he en-
tered that port.
The captain could not speak in too
high terms of the humble natives of
this far-Off isle. and said that they
had attributes of character that might
well be initiated by far more intelligent
races. Besides the acquaintance he
hod tIiS put, uC huCW uidlly vi tnc
captains and sailors who lost their
lives in the explosion. who were on
vessels in the harbor.
He said that the place was most
beautiful one. the country round about
being a high table land and with all
the luxuriance of the tropical vegeta-
ton. He saiG ST. Pierre had really no
harbor. and that when the captains
came into port. they simply swung
their vess ers stern inshOre and unload
ed or loaded as the case might be. He
said that his vessels crew could look
off the vessels deck into a dance hail.
Captain Littlejohn stated that one
who has never visited the place cannot
realize what terrible calamity the
blowing up of the mountain was. A
great city Of 10000 with only one sur
vivor is a dim figure which we in a
far-away country can only compre-
hend in a misty way, but for one who
las visited the port, seen it's people
and learned to appreciate them. it was
shock that will always be remem-
bered.