| 173 At last, towards three in the afternoon, we were relieved. Fort Royal has been spared. The hand of God had abandoned this spot to all the heavier in other places. The danger over, life had returned its wonted course, except an involuntary terror which reigned every where.-The shock had been so long that they feared to see it renewed, and the sad remembrance of the 11th of January established but too much such fears. The next day, about two in the afternoon, a boat that had arrived almost unpreceived [unperceived], brought a letter, one single letter, from Besseterre, which announced that Point a Petee was no more!
I forbear to describe the awful impression of this terrible information. The catastrophe appeared so appalling, that they doubted it. Yet, the letter was there; every body could read the facts. We entertained the most lively fears for the fate of Point a Petre, when a schooner arrived this evening, confirming the total destruction of that city. Nothing official, however, had arrived as yet, and the captain, in consequence of orders received, gave no details; he knew nothing, had heard nothing. The boat had been sent on a speculation! Can you understand that a man in such a moment, in presence of such an event, could employ the faculties of his mind in the combinations of a commercial operation, whose success is based on the total destruction of a city! This is too awful; no word exists that can qualify such baseness.
Let the report be true or false, we did not wait for its confirmation to prepare the succors. By a spontaneous movement a subscription list is opened at the Exchange, and is in a moment covered with names, and M. Dulieu, mayor of the city, whose conduct deserves the greatest praise, can hardly receive all the donations that crowd on him from all sides. Immediately the place Bertin is crowded by the population; the whole city, old and young, rich and poor, every one brings his mite. A sublime and spontaneous feeling that a unanimous sentiment had brought forth! Generous devotion of a people that forgets its own misfortunes in order only to succor those whose misfortunes are greater still!
Yet it was a most beautiful spectacle to see in this multitude some noble hearts who, in this solemn moment, forgetting their own wretchedness, wished also to contribute to relieve a misery deeper than their own! If we wish to relate here all we have seen of sublime devotion, this article would not suffice. Find anything more touching than the gift of a poor black fellow who brings his 25 cents piece, and begs they should return him two cents to buy him some flour; and of that poor negress who brings two bundles of sugar canes, for she has no money to give; and the old woman who offers two shifts to make lint, she says, for the wounded! What, compared with this modest offering, is the splendid gift of that man who brings handfuls of gold, which he does not need? Find in the whole world a population that will furnish the example of such generosity.
It was necessary, however, to provide for the most urgent wants of the unfortunates which the scourge had spread. Provisions are bought and given, boats are offered to carry them. The news had been known at three only, and at five a first convoy of four boats was setting sail for Point a Petre, loaded with provisions of all kinds, linen and medicine. A young doctor, as distinguished for his learning and his philanthrophy [philanthropy], listening only to the voice of his heart, abandons his patients, his family, his friends, and embarks for Point a Petre, where he thinks his aid will be as useful as the provisions. Mr. Boulin, who has already received a baptism of fire, and whose arm bears the mark of a noble wound, goes also again to expose himself to the horrors of a city that breeds pestilence. He fears nothing-he starts instantly. A sublime self abnegation, whose reward is in its own satisfaction.
However, nothing appeared; our eyes continually turned to the Point of the Preacher, were anxious to pierce through the expanse of the horizen [horizon]. Impatience was at its height. This silence presaged nothing good. The sea showed nothing afar off but the vast mirror of its dazzling azure. All was calm; our hearts alone were agitated with a sinster [sinister] presentiment.-The whole of Friday passed in a frightful doubt. Nothing had been seen. The offerings still poured in. The same eagerness, the same generosity. Zeal redoubled as uneasiness increased! The government had received no official report. All had been active after the letter received at Basse Terre. At last, on Saturday morning, the telegraph reported the Mouche, the colors at half mast . No more doubt. * * * The disaster must have been tremenduous [tremendous]!-The whole population rushed to the Place Bertin. They were numbering the strokes of the canoes that were returning from the vessel.-The people, on disembarking, were surrounded and almost suffocated in relating the details. The catastrophe was awful. The city of Point a Petre was nothing more than a heap of ruins! and to increase the calamity, the fire, as if jealous to see the work of destruction accomplished without its intervention, was raging among the crumbling houses, the stones that smashed
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