, 1922-04-05

Martinique.
WEDNESDAY, March 15.-Mnr-
Unique, we found to be another most
beautiful and mountainous island.
an overnight voyage from Dominica
1t is a French colony. There are
many drives by automobile through
the valleys of dense foliage. down
which now beautiful. clear streams
At a considerable elevation tho
country opens onto beautiful savan
uahs, from which we could look out
over the hills and valleys covered
with jungies, orchards and fertile,
cultivated hands, and beyond the
shihing blue sea- Returning, to
come down to the town. tho road
leads along the edge OF precipices,
overlooking the low undulRting lard,
and lying beyond could be seen the
sea In wide stretches of many coIors,
fading to gray 1t the coast line, to
ocean blue and mist in the distance
Fort de France is the birthplace
of Josephine de Ia Paserie. and she
lived here until Is years of age,
when she went to France and later
married Napoleon. emperor OF
France. In the park is a statue of
the empress
Martinique is one of the largest
Of the Lesser Antilles. being IS miles
by II miles in area
It rained most OF the day on MAJ
Unique but this did not interfere
with the visitors in their quest for
knowledge. A great many visited
the old ruins OF tho city of st Pierre
at the base OF Mont Pefee. Until
May s, 1909. St Pierre was a city of
IS. 1000 Inhabitants, very gay and
prosperous and with commercial &C
tivities unknown to the island now.
1t was in the month of April
1902 that the people of tho island
saw signs Of volcanic activity frOm
Mt Pelee. They did not view It
seriously. however. and continued to
live their usual lives and stay in
their homes.
But on the -sth OF May, 1902. with
terrific ~thunderings. the old man
broke loose and n cloud of molten
ashes and vapor rolled down the
m~ountainside upon the town and in
less time than 1t takes to pen these
lines the town was inundated in tho
mass of lava. and every inhabitant
was DulLO@shAto WIN ZIG t41cPhbAA
OF one lone man, who was in jail
Eruptions continued for sometime
after that and sSf1r villages were
destroyed but the destruction of mono
was so complete as st. Pierre.
To view this destruction CT 1902
We embarked in automobiles at Fort
de France and made the trip of 20
miles over a mountainous road that
discounts any mountain road in
Wyoming or Colorado for short
turns and curves. In truth there
was not a hundred yards of straight
road on the entire trip.
II was a most beautiful drive
through a mountain range almost
buried with a dense Jungle growth
that proved a revelation to those of
our party from Wyoming. If not to
some Of tho New Englanders who
had visited the West Indies before.
Every kind of a tree, plant and fruit
grown in tho tropics was In evidence
on this journey.
Our guide was Emile Ca1gier. a
boy Of Is years. and born of Arabian
parents in Bethlehem, Egypt How
in the world he ever came to emil
crate TO this place I cannot tell.
After arriving at the old ruins OF
st. Pierre the rain disappeared and
we had a very interesting visit. It
was especially SO on account of the
catastrophe having occurred in
day and easily remembered by most
of the tourists
The one soul survivor. the man
who was in Jail. was badly burned.
but for some reason unknown to
mankind. he escaped the fumes and
is alive today and living in Fort
de France.
st. Lucia
THURSDAY, Mafch 16.-St. Lucia
is a British colony. When approach
ing II. st. Lucia resembles Domin-
lea; with a somewhat similar success
sion OF high peaks and promon-
tories. In some respects st. Lucia
is grander than Dominica, owing TO
the great peaks the "Pitons" rising