The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-17 00:00:00

FEARFUL GALE IN AMERICA.

The New York papers of the 30th ult. publish the sub
joined despatches relative to a terrific gale in the Routh :

CHARLESTOWN, S.C., September, 29.—The most
fearful gale in this city since 1854, occurred yes-
terday, beginning about daylight with a strong
south-east wind, and increasing in violence until
nine o'clock, when it had become a hurricane. For
a full hour the gale was the most severe ever known
here. The tide was forced up to an unprece-
dented height, inundating the entire river front
of the city, damaging the wharves, and in some
instances sweeping away the pier heads. The long
stone sea-wall known as the Battery, a famous pro-
menade resort, was laid in ruins, and the public
bathing-house was demolished. The shipping generally
escaped any serious damage. Some small craft were
wrecked, but large vessels were only chafed. Through-
out the city theeffect of the gale is everywhere visible.
Fences and outbuildings were destroyed, branches were
torn from trees, and during the height of the storm
the air was tilled with slates and tin stripped from the
roofs' making the streets impassable. The massive
brick walls of the new theatre, which had just
been completed with the exception of putting on the
roof, and from its position in the burned district was
exposed to the full force of the gale, were levelled with
the street. About noon the wind shifted to the west,
moderating the violence of the see. Two houses are
reported as being swept away on Sullivan's Island, and
one life lost. The Inmates cf the bathing house were
rescued with the utmost difficulty. It is estimated
that 250,000 dollars will not repair the damage caused
by the gale.

The Neill York Herald of the 29th says :—The tele-
graphic reports clearly indicate that the last weather
change is due to a very severe cyclone coming in from
the West Indies, and, after impinging on our South
Atlantic coast, advancing north-eastward. After the
Government storm-warnings were displayed on the
Florida coast, in anticipation of the gale, they were ex-
tended on Monday morning as far north as Cape Hat-
teras. Doubtless within CI hours from this time the
storm centre will pass off Sandy Hook on the usual
pathway, and be seriously felt by all vessels encounter
mg it. These West Indian hurricanes have not lost
their sensational and scientific interests since toward
the close of the last century, when Admiral Rodney's
fleet and convoy of ninety ships and 3,000 seamen
perished in one f,f them. The present cyclone was pre
monisbed on Saturday last by the weather reports, but
it bad probably been some time on its way from the
extreme windward Antilles, and we shall look with in-
terest for the tidings of its effects through the whole
region of its ravages. The curvature of the hurricane
track at the Florida peninsula from a westerly to a
northerly course is now so well understood that seamen
on our coast, when apprised of the southern disturb-
ance should be fully warned and armed against the
peril approaching. Vhen the curve of the storm is
west of Florida the storm wave spends part or most of
its violence on the Gulf coast. But, if with unimpeded
sweep, the hurricane glides along the South Atlantic
coast, as in the present instance, its force is apparently
more disastrous near and north of Cape Hatteras.
Let all our vessels southward bound to-slay look out
for the destructive meteor.