The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-05 00:00:00

THE HURRICANE AT TORTOLA.

We have been favoured with the following despatch,
which was received on Wednesday at the Colonial Office :
Tortola, Nov. 12, 1867.

Sir,—With reference to my despatch, separate, of 31st
October, I have now the honour to report that in the town
of Road Town, consisting of 123 houses, 60 have been
entirely destroyed, besides all the public buildings, with
exception of the one hired for public offices ; 24 are
severely, and 39 partially, damaged.
In the country parts of Tortola most of the dwellings
of the labouring population have been swept off the face
of the land; all the sugar works except two are destroyed,
all the crops are blighted ; the only country residence that
was left in Tortola, Joe's Hill, is entirely carried away.
Thirty-seven persons have perished, viz., 23 in Road
Town, 6 in the country districts of Tortola, 6 in Spanish
Town, and 2 in Peter's Island.

After the cessation of the hurricane the face of nature,
as by a miracle, was transformed ; it appeared as if
winter had visited the tropics, for the few trees that stood,
and all vegetation, were withered by the desolating blast.
Anegada has escaped with little or no damage, and
forms an excepticn to the tale of woe.
I hoped to be able to visit the different islands on Cap-
tain Vesy's return from St. Thomas in her Majesty's ship
Doris, but an overwhelming pressure of business has kept
me in Tortola. The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Potter, has
been of the greatest help to me, but all the other officials
are old and infirm, and there are few persons of intelli-
gence on whom I can call for assistance in such a crisis.
and my presence has, therefore, been indispensable.
About one hundred houses are reported as being de-
stroyed in Virgin Gorda, and considerable destitution pre-
vails there. I had not a boat at my disposal to send sup-
plies immediately after the arrival of the schooner sent to
our relief by your Excellency ; and as Mr. H. R. Semper,
the Scripture reader, and only resident magistrate of
Virgin Gorda, reported to me in Privy Council that there
was no immediate occasion for despatch of provisions, I
prepared a supply to be forwarded by him on his way back
from St. Thomas. Captain Vesy, however, arrived be-
fore Mr. Scraper's return, and I arranged with him that
he should proceed thither at once and give temporary
assistance.

At Jost Van Dyke 25 houses are said to have been de-
stroyed, according to a statement which was furnished to
Captain Vesy by some of the inhabitants. I very much
regret that the impossibility of procuring a boat caused
some delay in supplying them with provisions ; but it was
reported to me that some of their boats had escaped, and
kept running to St. 'Thomas instead of corning here. It
was evident that relief was not urgently required there.
I have sent a supply since they received the stores from
her Majesty's ship Doris ; and yesterday I again sent off
a fresh one ; but the boat returned, having been unable
to communicate with the shore on account of the heavy
ground swell. The obstacles which I have to encounter
in the transmission of supplies, &c., are innumerable, and
the most exorbitant charges are demanded for their con-
veyance.

I feel most profoundly the misery of so many individuals
and families ; but I am sure that your Excellency will
recognise the utter impossibility of immediately applying
a remedy. I have no desire to avert the exercise of just
or generous sympathy, but every one acquainted with the
West Indies must know what gross fabrications the negro
will make where he entertains the hope of gaining bread
without exertion. Many who are not losers by the
huricane, and who were content to eke out an existence in
a hovel rather than to labour for a honest livelihood, rush
forward now with a specious tale of woe, and succeed in
imposing on those who are unacquainted with their true
uositions and real extent of their loss.

I have so far endeavoured to acquaint your Excellency
as to the damage sustained ; I shall now report tho
measures taken to alleviate it. I have, in conjunction
with the 'clergymen and Wesleyan ministers, the Colonial
Secretary, the Queen's counsel, and the treasurer, issued
weekly tickets of relief for food and also for clothing to
the extent to which our impoverished circumstances
admit.

The poor-house is destroyed, and as a temporary mea-
sure the paupers have been placed in the cells of the gaol.
The prisoners were too numerous to occupy the cells with
any degree of regard for their health, but as the paupers
could be placed in them with the doors open, the same
objection as to ventilation did not exist. I have put the
prisoners, in charge of the turnkey, in a fire-proof store.
Two gangs have been employed to cleanse the streets
and burn the offal ; also to clear away the remains of the
ruined houses and to replace others, which had been re-
moved many yards from their original foundation, in their
former position.

The church and Wesleyan chapel have been cleared out,
and sails erected over the remaining walls, so that Divine
service has not been interrupted.
In all cases I have endeavoured to shew an example,
as in the removal of the paupers, who were some little
distance from the town, both Mr. Porter and myself help•
ing to transport those who required assistance. Equally
with regard to the corpses, we have not hesitated to help
to place them in their coffins.
I entertain the hope that what has been done under
circumstances of great difficulty will meet with your
Excellency's approval. I have the honour to be, sir, your
Excellency's most obedient, humble servant,
(Signed) ARTHUR RIIMBOLD.

P. S.—Sincc closing the despatch a boat has arrived from
Jost Van Dyke, and a man was called up before the relief
committee. He states that three boats were saved, two
were damaged, but one kept going to St. Thomas. lie
cannot say why they did not come here for provisions.

(Signed) ARTHUR RUMBOLD.
His Excellency Governor Hill, C. 8., &c., Antigua.

A terrible railroad accident has occurred in Ohio.
Owing to a collision near Cincinnati, a train of passenger
carriages was set on fire and five persons burnt to death,
while several others were injured seriously.
VESUVIIIS.—The eruption of Vesuvius continues
and increases. On the 25th ult. the shocks at Torre del
Greco were so violent that the population were in trem-
bling expectation of a renewal of the disasters of 1861.
In Resina on the night following the staircase of a house
was thrown down and another house opened in the
middle, so that the inhabitants of that street fled. The
spectacle as it is witnessed from Naples has now become
magnificent, as a vast stream of lava is flowing down.
Strangers are coming in daily to see this rare and grand
demonstration of Vesuvius.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT. —On Tuesday night, about
half-past six o'clock, a goods train was due at the Rainhill
level crossing of the London and North Western Rail-
way, near Liverpool. Just before this the pointsman,
named Johnson, who had been in the company's service
twenty years, permitted a string of carts to pass, but,
fearing an accident, he rushed to the head of the last
horse and endeavoured to back it off the line. Just then
a waggonette, containing Mr. Ackerley, auctioneer, of
Liverpool, and some ladies, came from an opposite direc-
tion. At the moment the two horses came in a line the
goods train dashed up, killed the pointsman and the
two horses, and dragged the carriage some distance up
the line. Mr. Ackerley was throws out insensible, and
the driver (Denby) was severely hurt, but the ladies
escaped with a severe shaking. Mr. Ackerley soon re-
covered. The body of Johnson was found in thirteen
pieces,