The dead were buried.
I have omitted to mention that out of twenty-one black laborers that I
brought from Grenada to help in stevedoring, only six survived. Most
of the others threw themselves overboard to escape a dreadful fate, but
they met a worse one, for it is an actual fact that the water around
the ship was literally at a boiling heat. The escape of my vessel
was miraculous. The woodwork of the cabins and bridge and everything
inflammable on deck were constantly igniting, and it was with great
difficulty that we few survivors managed to keep the flames down. My
ropes, awnings, tarpaulins were completely burned up.
"I witnessed the entire destruction of St. Pierre. The flames enveloped
the town in every quarter with such rapidity that it was impossible that
any person could be saved. As I have said, the day was suddenly turned
to night, but I could distinguish by the light of the burning town
people distractedly running about on the beach. The burning buildings
stood out from the surrounding darkness like black shadows. All this
time the mountain was roaring and shaking, and in the intervals between
these terrifying sounds I could hear the cries of despair and agony from
the thousands who were perishing. These cries added to the terror of
the scene, but it is impossible to describe its horror or the dreadful
sensations it produced. It was like witnessing the end of the world.
"Let me add that, after the first shock was over, the survivors of
the crew rendered willing help to navigate the ship to this port.
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