The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-03-26

ground that the terrible heat and sui
phur fumes did not reach him. The
natives Of Dominica informed US that
on the evening of the eruption they
heard the detonations just as plainly
as II 1t had been next door, and could
see long flames Of lurid fire which
threw the people in a panic and cover
ed their island with a layer of fine
volcanic dust several inches thick.
The writer was one OF the first to
get ashore at ST. Pierre. and what an
impressive sight to walk about In this
city Of the dead. The houses had
been built OF rubble masonry and few
walks were left intact. Save for
tropical growth partly covering the de-
bris, everything is practically in the
same condition as on the morning af-
ter the eruption. Five or six shan
ties are built up and perhaps Is or 30
people live here, making a living sell
ing relics" 1 walked about in the
ruins and came across all kinds of
curious things and stacks of ruined
merchandise. strolled through the
old cemetery, where slept the buried
dead whose graves were mounted with
marble and metal head stones OF more
or less artistic design, according to the
wealth and station OF the deceased,
and looked into the long row of, for
the most party empty, family tombs''
OF the more wealthy and read there
the names and record of birth and
death OF those who had been occu-
pants. st Pierre today is dead, and
unlike Phoenix. the tabled bird of
Heliopolis, II may never reproduce tt
self. unless in time the agricultural in
terests viii demand it and the fear OF
Mount Pelee is lived down. Cane and
cocoa or cocoa plant raising appears
to be the principal industry. Before
concluding this narrative about Mar
Unique. It might not be out of place to
note that although it is a long time
since the great Napoleon got his wife
here, the island seems unable to pro-
duce another Josephine.
Dominica, British.
This island interested the writer,
perhaps, more than any other, not be-
cause of beauty. but on account Of it's
rugged wildness. It is terribly cut up |
by. deep abrupt canyons. high peaks |
and sharp ridges. The natives inform |
ed us that there are about 5000 white |
settlers. mostly British, living back in |
the hills. The principal attraction |
seems to be the climate, which, savel
for an excess Of rain, is said to be I
ideal. The temperature ranges be-
tween IS to 70 degrees Up in the /
cocoa raising was also |
said to be very profitable, and 500 /
plants or trees can be set out on an
acre, and at four or five years old will
net about S. per tree at the price then
about seven cents per
pound. The English market rules the
price. A few years ago they got as
high as Is cents. Undeveloped crown
es se1' M, ,..s' acre LINES ana Fuli
- rrofusion and are Of practically no
,-ss,,a save for Iime- juice think aii
f-,,s+ ard nearly every known spice
esn he raised on this magic little nle
- sneck in the ocean, almost 700
s-,.sil to be dignified by the title Oh
island.
Ttte Dominica. a very small tslano,
h,1f much more regular and level -
has two prominent peaks-Mount mis-
CIV and Monkey Hill, the nrst SO
named because in the dry season
avcits mournful sound, due to escap-
ing ras from the old crater on It's
s,1nnit but which is condensed In the
rainv season. The second Is caieo
Monkey Hill because of 1t sresemoience
n a climbing money. I did not learn
much about this place beyond the rae.
that cotton and cane are the principal
nrodncts. The English system OF leas-
ing Is In vogue here and the natives'
mostly negroes, complain that tne
british are trying to drive them away
The place we stopped at Basse IeI,e'
IS one of the prettiest spots on .ne
whole island. veritable little saruel
Of Eden. There was symmetry any
beauty in every outline OF those senls
sloping hills and with It's rows an'