A photo from open sources
Touching upon the topic of the eruption of volcanoes that had the character of disasters, First of all, they recall the eruption of Vesuvius, which destroyed Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stratias (2,000 dead). But few people know that with eruption in 1902 on Martinique of the volcano Mont Pele killed the city Saint Pierre, and then the number of victims was more than 10 times the death toll in Pompeii is 28,000.
Pearl of the Caribbean
The island of Martinique is located in the Caribbean. Founded in 1635 in it, the city of Saint-Pierre was administrative, economic and cultural center of the island. By the beginning of the 20th century there were developed port, electric street lighting, horse-drawn trams, opened a botanical garden and a theater with 800 seats.
Located 8 km. from the city the Mont Pele volcano was hectic the neighbor. In 1747, 1753, 1756, 1766, 1788. – he repeatedly reminded the townspeople of his existence. In 1843, Mont Pelet erupted 12 times! People are already accustomed to the “pranks” of the volcano and not perceived them as a serious danger. But in vain.
The terrible awakening of Mont Pele
A photo from open sources
In April 1902, Mont Pele came to life again. A rumble came to the city tremors became stronger and stronger. At night you can there was a glimmer of flame over the mountain, ashes flew in the air. Some curious, visiting the top, said that deep Crater water is boiling.
On May 2, Mont Pele threw out a stream of red-hot lava, rushing along slope down. The sugar factory on the way disappeared in a matter of seconds, only a brick pipe was left of it. 150 workers died. The roar of the explosion came to Guadeloupe, Grenada and Trinidad
The next morning, the city and surroundings were covered like snow a layer of gray dust. Saint Pierre was covered by such a thick cloud that not a single one the ship could not enter its port and land on the beach. The earth covered with dead birds.
May 8 tragedy
May 8, a bright sun rose over the island, the wind dispersed the clouds. Everything seemed to be behind. At 7 am in the city cathedral began solemn prayer on the occasion of “forgiveness from the Almighty.” A at 7:50 the volcano spoke again.
Three explosions rang out one after another. Mont Pele threw a pillar smoke and ash covering the sun. Black cloud – a suspension of incandescent up to 800 degrees of gases and stones at a speed of 150km / h hit the city and literally swept it.
Ship escaping from hell
After 9 hours, English entered the harbor of Saint Lucia the ship “Roddam”. Always distinguished by beauty, and even by gloss, the blackened ship was covered with 20cm. a layer of ash. Mast and rigging were tattered, burnt corpses of dead members lay on the deck crew. Captain Freeman himself stood on the steering wheel. With a burnt face, without skin on the hands, he ruled the forearm with the helm. It is Freeman the first to report the eruption of Mont Pelet and the death of Saint Pierre.
Freeman was the only captain who managed to bring the ship to moment of disaster from the port of a dying city. The remaining 40 ships forever stayed at the bottom of the harbor of Saint Pierre. Subsequently freeman received the Lloyd’s Silver Medal – the highest award for sailors British merchant fleet.
Pompeii of the 20th century
A photo from open sources
Due to the cloud of poisonous gases covering the city, only on the third day arrived rescuers were able to enter Saint Pierre. The city was destroyed to the ground. Stone buildings swept flush with the ground. Only the city cathedral survived. Hands on his tower clock stopped at 7:50. The vast majority of residents died during a few minutes, poisoning with gases, covering the city dense a blanket.
A photo from open sources
Of the total 28 thousandth population, only two survived. These were a shoemaker who lived on the very edge of the city and Augusto Siparis – criminal sitting in a municipal prison. Thick walls of the punishment cell saved his life. Rescuers arrived in the city on the third day dug up the cellars of the local jail and pulled out of stone a bag of a charred but living prisoner, whom May 8 should were to hang. The newly appointed governor of the island has pardoned sentenced, deciding not to oppose the will of the Lord, who kept Augusto’s life.
Memento mori! (memento Mori)
No less massive was the eruption of June 9, but in the destroyed the city was simply no one to die. June 30th the last volcano just reminded of himself. This time the wind changed the “direction of impact”, as a result, 1,500 people died on the other side of the island.
Years passed. Life returned to the slopes of Mont-Pele. But today’s Saint-Pierre is just a shadow of past greatness. According to the data for 2009 in 4.453 people lived in the city. The city that died on May 2, 1902 never managed to be reborn.
Volcanoes Island Life Sun
