Complex sentence: In 1875, the city had a population of 5,000, but on September 15 of that year, a powerful hurricane struck, killing between 150 and 300 and almost entirely destroying the town.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1875, the city had a population of 5,000. But on September 15 of that year, a powerful hurricane struck, killing between 150 and 300 and almost entirely destroying the town.