RE RPE IST IISTSIOT OSS aaa 
178 BEFORE AND AFTER ITS FALL 
“ Over the entombed city the volcano from a dozen vents yet 
pours its steaming vapors in long, curling wreaths that mount 
thousands of feet aloft, like smoking incense from a gigantic censor 
above the bier of some mighty dead.” 
From the story of a Herald party, who explored the ruins of 
St. Pierre some ten days after its destruction, we extract the inter- 
esting details next given. They picture clearly and graphically the 
state of affairs visible in the stricken city. 
“With little difficulty a landing was effected on the Marina 
directly in front of the ruin of the large rum warehouse of Lasser 
Freres. The wharves in front were littered with an inextricable 
tangle of rum casks, barrel hoops and staves, heavy iron anchor 
chains, piles of conch shells and other maritime debris. The 
heavy masonry walls of the building, falling outward, had tumbled 
great masses of stone and shattered snachinery over the entire area, 
andthe powdery coverlet of fluttering dust had swathed the whole 
in a cloak of neutral gray. Up to the second story above the 
ground the thick stone walls of the front still stood, though seamed 
and tottering. 
STRUCK DEAD AT HIS POST 
“ Here in the main doorway, at the very threshold of the place 
where he had toiled, was seen the first mute relic of human tragedy 
—a negro, broad-shouldered and strong; he had been a stevedore or 
warehouse porter probably. The stone arch of the doorway had 
saved him from being crushed under the falling walls and the 
masonry had shielded the body partially from fire. The sleeves of 
his shirt had been rolled up to the elbows. Death had found him 
‘at his daily task and struck him down where he stood, or, per- 
chance, had caught him in one desperate effort at flight through the 
doorway toward the harbor so close beyond, whose waters were