In 1902, a huge volcano erupted and killed the 30,000 inhabitants of St. Pierre, Martinique. Only one man survived—a condemned prisoner, convicted of murder, who was protected because of the sturdiness of his prison cell. He witnessed the whole calamity and was blinded by the volcanic ash. Government officials evidently thought he had been punished enough and pardoned him. He was so moved by his second chance that he became a Christian missionary.