p. 17 | West Indies by Mrs. M. E. Van Deusen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 8, 1902

West Indies

By Mrs. M. E. Van Deusen

KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT.—The terror of the people during the great disaster that overtook this place can better be seen than described. The bursting of the volcano and throwing out of fire, smoke, steam, heat, water, ashes, and stones, caused death and destruction for miles around. If we had not had hold on God’s promises we should have been frightened, too; but we were sure that nothing could happen to us unless the Lord saw that it was best. So we went to work to comfort others, and point them to the only Refuge. Whole families were killed. A young man living several miles from his parents, the next day found his father and mother, wife and children, and a cousin dead—eleven in number. A boy fourteen years old was saved out of a family of ten. He could get no one to help bury them but a cousin, about his age. They dug a trench, and buried them all.

On Friday, May 9, a worse outburst than the one on Wednesday, killed many. We are about twelve or fourteen miles from the crater. Over sixteen hundred have been buried, besides those covered up in the eruption, which is thought to be enough to raise the number to two thousand. It has been a time to be remembered. People were afraid to go to bury the dead, and many of them were left until so decayed that they had to be handled with pitchforks and shovels, and put in trenches, fifty or sixty in one place. People have had to flee for their lives, and many were overtaken. Many animals are still lying where they died, as this is quite an island for stock, especially in that part. Probably thousands have been killed.

The roaring and the lightning were something never to be forgotten. Earthquakes followed one after another. But we held on to the strong arm of our Father.

Sunday evening, the eighteenth, just as our meeting closed, a young man

called my husband out to see the volcano. It was belching smoke again, and the roaring and lightning began. It was awful, and it seemed to be coming nearer to us than before. You may imagine the terror of the people, after what had happened. I could not look at it. I felt to go and ask God to have mercy. People began to come in, and I pointed them to Jesus as their only safety. O, how glad I was that I had made my peace with him in my sober moments! How good the Christian’s hope seemed to me—a hope that holds thus all the time, when everything else gives way. I felt so glad for the truth, and I could point others to it.

About eleven o’clock the smoke passed away, and all seemed quite clear. But many never slept during the night. Monday, the nineteenth, about 3 P. M., it began again, and continued about four hours. Everything looked rather dark, I can assure you; but still we did not give up to fear, but with hearts full of courage went about to comfort others who were in such a state of mind that they hardly knew what to do. I went out on the street, and found some who were glad to receive comfort. I received a great blessing in pointing them to the only Source of help. My husband was out in another direction, doing what he could for the poor people.

About eight in the evening the smoke cleared away, things looked brighter, and we had a good night. This morning is fair, but what the day will bring forth we cannot say. We shall trust all to him who sees and knows all. We want to do just what the Lord would have us do. May he give his servants warning when it is time to leave. I could write much more, but time forbids. Do not cease to pray for us.

MRS. M. E. VAN DEUSEN.