New-York tribune., 1908-02-24
REBUILDING ST. PIERRE
Horrors of Mont Pelfe Losing
Hold ON Islanders.

ICorrsspondence Of The Associated PressI
St Pierre, Martinique. Feb 10-Six years nave
passed since Pierre was wiped out by tne VOL
canic forces of Pelee and In ten minutes be-
cam. a city of the dead For long time the
devastated region was stunned for the horror o.
.bat NAV night in 1902 held the islanders m it5
grip But slowly this has changed and the laSc
few months have witnessed a gradual but growing
reconciliation of the district St Pierre to-day has
a hotel a wharf is being constructed. steamers
soon will be seen IN the port from which only ono
vessel able TO escape the night or tne oisAstsr
and the authorities have found It expedient TO es
tablish a police force.
The destruction of six years ago was wloespread
and those who were left alive fed In terror THs
entire district of St Pierre, covering some nifty
square miles became desoIate and uninhabted- 81
Pierre mass of ruins. particularly avoided
BY the islanders because of the fearful story oc
death hidden beneath it's blanket OF ashes. Then
with incredible rapdity the tropical vegeta-
ton took root and -fOurished IN the volcanic ma
ter covering the thousands OF dead amid the fallen
walls Of their homes. and nature dec<ed with 10
Iage the work Of her forces Of destruction.
About year ago the people % the ISLAND, treir
fears stiIled by lapse Of time. began returning
to their old homes. This movement vent on by
degrees the tinorous Ally making up u ctr
minds to follow their brokers' until today
the district is resumlng its O1 life Saint Pierre
IS still Stunned by many. though it has a share 81
the movement Of repOpula J.or. bIc Morle F:ouSa.
lie Trecheur. Grand Riviere and AjOupa Bouiilen.
paper readers because of tae stories OF death.
and desoIaton that came from them. nave row
a population which IS increasing each month, and
with the people have come telegraph and telephone
lines, schools. priests 70 mass in the recon
structed churches. and other evidences OF grow
ing rural community.
STEAMERS AGAIN TO CaLI. AT PORT
1t would perhaps be too much TO say that 81.
Pierre Is again become the commercial centre
OF Martinique for other ports on the island, For-
de France and Trinite oner better anchorage 70
ships than did St Pierre in the old days Bur =
Pierre is the hub. it We're. OF the roads the
island. II is easier 10 move merchandise INTO s.
Pierre than anywhere else. and this revival ot
traffic will certain activity There is to-
, day enough movement in and about The city ~
have made II worth while for elterpris'-g
Frenchman open hotel IN the town, rhs
Place Bertin. This house Is frequented by traFs,-
lers who look at the ruins foreign naval
officers and passengers on through steamers calling
at Fort De France or TriEte. A new wharf viii
be completed. and steamers of the Guerin I4na
calling at s. Pierre they did Re-
fore 1852 Already several merchants hcve cleared
away the ruins OF their warehouses and started r.
construction. and they doubtless viii have itato-s
who desire TO get their share OF the local trade
The authorities do not officially sanction this ac-
tivity 81 Pierre. and still warn the people OF
the danger Of Mont PeIes- Still. the presence OF
people in the city has made necessary the estab-
Ishment Of police force and the clearing away
opening up Of several streets. The pavenlsrts.
sidewalks and cutters uncovered were found 20 -
IN excellent condition This excavation brought 70
light large quantities OF human bones. principally
in the Rue de Madeleine. The cemetery also
has been partly uncovered and most Of the grave
stones were found be in a remarkable stats OF
/ preservation.
SCENES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD-
The upper part OF Saint Pierre IS covered with
heavy growth Of guinea grass, and to-day cattle
browse what six years go were the gardens
and parks OF the wealthy. Going further out OF
town one that the vegetation between Rivters
des Peres and lie Pracheur IS almost extinct TIE
soil Is strongly eroded by the eruption and nothing
green grow. IN the upper valley OF the Ffvsr
Blanche there many holes n the earth from
which smoke and vapOr constantly issue. showing
that the volcano is in nowise dead Some OF ths
outlying villages still barren OF foliage. while
others green and Is Iuxuriant they
before eruption; but this makes differences 20
( the people. They have back their Old
homes and resuming their Old occupations
far as possible. in many cases IN the same houses
In which they lived six years ago Many homes
have been reconstru tied from taeir ruins
At Ponds Saint Denis municipal government has
been operation since September - 1901 and tho
population to-day is practically what It was before
returned TO Morne Rouge and the Fathers OF the
saint Esprit have reconstructed and opened their
old church The IS true at AjoUpa-B BouiIIor.
MacOuba, Basse POinte and other minor places.
Where ii is possible the pOpUIa ton IS devOt.1g
itself 70 the cultivation OF sugar cane or elsa 20
their former occupation OF fishing