La destruction de Saint-Pierre (Martinique) en 1902 : antécédents et conséquenses socio-économiques et politiques sur la vie de la Martinique

The destroying of saint-pierre martinique in 1902. Antecedents and consequences socio-economics and politics on the life of martinique

• Auteur / Autrice : Léo Ursulet
• Direction : Lucien-René Abénon
• Type : Thèse de doctorat
• Discipline(s) : Histoire
• Date : Soutenance en 1994
• Etablissement(s) : Antilles-Guyane
• Partenaire(s) de recherche : autre partenaire : Université des Antilles et de la Guyane. UFR des Lettres et sciences humaines

Mots clés

Mots clés contrôlés

Saint-Pierre (Martinique) -- 1902 (Catastrophe)

Conditions sociales

Conditions économiques -- Martinique

Rhum

Mémoire collective

Résumé

Le 8 mai 1902, une eruption volcanique de la montagne pelee a detruit la ville de saintpierre et cause 29000 morts. Le monde entier, profondement trouble par l'importance de l'hecatombe, a tres genereusement manifeste sa solidarite a l'endroit de la martinique gravement sinistree. Apres un suivi exhaustif des fait de l'eruption, nous analysons les circonstances et les donnees n'ayant pu permettre aux autorites locales de percevoir le risque qu'encourait saint-pierre, en depit des signes presurseurs particulierement marques du phenomene. Un rapport datant de la crise phreatique de la montagne pelee en 1851, sans valeur scientifique au regard des acquis de la fin du 19eme siecle, concluait a la nature inoffensive des eruptions de ce volcan. Il servit malheureusement de reference pour l'approche du phenomene naturel, aux profanes sollicites par le gouverneur pour l'eclairer sur la situation. Cette eruption s'est deroulee en outre dans l'entre-deux tours des elections legislatives passionnement disputees en martinique. S'appuyant sur les afis optimistes des gens "competents", on s'est efforce de rassurer la population pierrotine en panique, d'autant plus que l'echeance du 11 mai etait proche. L'histoire sociale de l'apres catastrophe constitue ensuite la deuxieme partie de cette these. La colonie n'ayant pas recu les moyens d'occuper les sinistres evacues dans les parties epargnees de l'ile epargnees, le gouverneur p. I renvoya inconsiderement les gens du nord dans la region du volcan. Il s'ensuivit la nouvelle hecatombe du 30 aout 1902 avec plus de

On may 8th, the town of saint-pierre was completely destroyed by a volcanic eruption and 29000 people were killed. The whole world was deeply pertubed by the importance of the hetacomb and generously signified its sympathy to seriously damaged. Martinic. After describing the events which occured on the day of the eruption in everydetail, we are analysing the circumtances and the facts which didn't allow the local authorities to detect the risk saint-pierre was running in spite of the precursory signs which were specifically marked. A report from the phreatic crisis of the mount pele which took place in 1851 and which had not got any value in the sight of the knowledge of the 19th century, concluded by recognizng the harmless nature of the eruptions of the volvano. Unfortunately the report was used as a point requested to the approach of the natural phenomenon by the laymen (the uniniciated) who were requested by the governor in order to explain the problem to him. Moreover the eruption happened in the period between the polling day of the general election which was passionately contested in martinic. Leaning on the optimistic opinions of the "competent" people the authorities had strived to reassure the inhabitants of saint-pierre all the more because the fatal date was imminent. The social history of the past eruption years constitutes the second part of this thesis. Because the colony has not received the means to accommodate the victims into the areas which were spared by the eruption the interim governort thoughlessly sent back the northern people to the volcano area. It followed that a new hetacomb occured on may 30th 1902 and more than 1300 people were killed. Finally martinic is presented in its colonial reality, battling