The Sole Survivor

 

Raoul Sarteret

 

At 7:50am on May 8th,1902 the 4,430 foot volcano Pelee gave off an explosion that created a shock wave that went around the world, and was heard 300 miles away. In an estimated three minutes, the city of St, Pierre and other villages were engulfed in flames. It is said that 30,000 to 36,000 people were killed except for Raoul Sarteret, a man serving time in a St. Pierre dungeon for murder. Sarteret witnessed through his cell window, one of the most colossal catastrophes in human history. It was the last thing he ever saw as the explosion left him blind. He was discovered by rescuers after four days had passed. After he recovered,he later became a missionary.

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