Ludger Sylbaris
publication date: Monday, January 6, 2025 (part of January 2025)
category: 
Disasters
clue: This street fighter joined a circus after one explosive morning changed his life.
explanation: Ludger Sylbaris (sometimes recorded as Louis-Auguste Cyparis) was arrested during a street brawl in the Martinican city of St. Pierre on May 7, 1902, and was confined in a partially-underground cell with limited ventilation. A volcanic eruption the next morning destroyed the town and killed nearly 30,000 people. Sylbaris was the sole survivor, albeit with scarring from the heat. He later became the first Black star of the Barnum & Bailey Circus and toured the United States, telling the story of his survival and becoming a celebrity. more…
intended difficulty: very hard
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, and Samir Mehta
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