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N0KFQ > TODAY 07.05.11 16:34l 49 Lines 2056 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 7458_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - May 7
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<VE3UIL<PI8SNK<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 110507/1517Z 7458@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.0.4
May 7, 1902:
Volcanic eruption buries Caribbean city
On this day in 1902, Martinique's Mount Pele begins the deadliest
volcanic eruption of the 20th century. The following day, the
city of Saint Pierre, which some called the Paris of the
Caribbean, was virtually wiped off the map.
Mount Pele, the name meaning bald in French, was a 4,500-foot
mountain on the north side of the Caribbean island of Martinique.
On April 2, 1902, new steam vents were spotted on the peak, which
overlooked the port city of Saint Pierre. Three weeks later,
tremors were felt on the island and Mount Pele belched up a cloud
of ash.
Caught up in the midst of an important election, residents of
Saint Pierre failed to heed the mountain's warnings and evacuate.
The nearby residents mistakenly believed that the only danger
from the volcano was lava flow and that if lava started to flow,
they would have plenty of time to flee to safety. In fact, some
people came from outside the city to view the action, even after
ash from the eruption began to block roads.
On May 7, activity on the volcano increased dramatically and the
blasts grew significantly stronger. Overnight, there were several
strong tremors and a cloud of gas with a temperature of more than
3,000 degrees Fahrenheit spilled out of the mountain. Finally, a
tremendous blast in the early morning hours sent an avalanche of
boiling ash down the side of the mountain.
The city of Saint Pierre was buried within minutes and virtually
everyone died instantly. There were only two reported
survivors--one was a prisoner held in an underground cell. Legend
has it that he went on to be a circus attraction. In addition, 15
ships in the harbor were capsized by the eruption. One ship
managed to stay afloat with half the crew surviving, although
most suffered serious burns.
Vulcanologists are still unsure about exactly what causes
volcanic eruptions and how they can be predicted.
73, K.O. N0KFQ
Another old retired guy
E-mail: n0kfq@winlink.org
N0KFQ@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
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