The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-31
AWFUL CALAMITY.

AWFUL CALAMITY.
We have been obligingly furnished with the an
nexed account translated from the Reris,a Of Lisbon
Of an overw helmIng calamity which has befallen the
beautiful island of Madeira:
most awful calamity has fallen upon the hereto
fore prosperous and still beautiful Island Of Ma
deira.
Throughout Europe generally the present winter
was ushered in by frequent gales and heavy rains,
and the inhabitants Of Madeira usually in the enjoy
ment Of the most equabe and delicious climate, had
witnessed with surprise continuance Of heavy show
ers from the commencement of October when, on
| the oath, the heavens assumed appearance still
more dismal the rain fell copiously all the forenoon
between and O'Clock the light Of day became sud-
denly obscured heavy black clouds hanging as
! compact mass above and around the whole island
| involving in the darkness of night both the land
and the ocean, while the glare ON repeated flashes
of lightning, with the heavy rolling Of thunder, and
/ its re echoed peais among the mountains rendered
the tcrrificaiy grand and seemed to threaten
to submerge the devoted island down the very cav
erns OF the sea- which, framing, had for days already
been beating its shores like the proud and roaring
| lion around an unguarded sheepfod.
With the repeated and awful cIaps Of thunder SO
heavy mass of waters poured down the gloomy
armament above, that no force, industry or hope
could resist it. Ii was as IS a new were out
pouring itself into the sea, and upon the land For
more than three hours without Stacking, did this
| brooks-these streams. and they as large rivers
while the valleys turned into muddy lakes cries OF
distress, shrieking in vhin for help, from opposite
points and various distances, pierced the ear, even
overlapping the noise like rumbliDg thunder Of roll
| ing rocks dashing against each ether their course
along the torrents An unusual tremor of the earth
was felt under the feet; the of smelling
hereonributed also TO pain the imagination for the
vapor arising from the troubled and torn and
fretted earth, impregnat,d the air with cadavefous
| c-..I- -
beast. This awful dispensation, If not equal in loss
Of lives that which occurred in the same island on
| the distressing 9th Of October, 1903, Is painfully
greater in the loss of property-whch is valued at
over So 500 000 not including rrepsrabe losses and
the destruction of ife by last dates was ascertained
| TO exceed fifty souls.
The waterfall of 81. Luzia, though not overflow
ing its banks below, came rushing with such fury as
| to carry off immense logs, capped with masonry,
which were placed at various distances to stay its
| force That of Caihao rushed FORTH carrying away
the bridges, overlooking the neighboring lands and
sundry streets the rising the second floor of
the houses, aad carried off headlong into the ocean
the market part Of the .4cademic Square and the
very banks at its outlet. To complete the calamity
OF this district Of the city Of Euncha the Nora brook
which at all seasons is nearly dry, became swollen,
overlooked damaging all that INSTRUCTED its course ;
many houses were swept away from this quarter
others ruined much stored wine lost hor-
ticulural gardens and others laid waste, without
tree left wall standing, and, in lieu of soil, The
earth covered with stone and pebbles. The inhab-
tants were in imminent danger, saving themselves in
boats where before they walked and, had the mum
dation continued an hour longer few persons could
have escaped, and no houses been left standing.
In the western part of the city the small stream
Reibeiinho broke forth into three swollen branches
invading the quarter Porfas nords, the streets of Rel
beirinho Bairo Lnanjera the lane Malta, down to
the Poiourinho square. Here also the damage was
great and the which occurred in the eastern
part would have in this been enacted, had it not been
that an outlet was found to the waters by the walls
Of fort ST Philips giving way; notwithstanding which
the waters twelve feet, and with difficulty the
archives Of the Administration Of the District were
saved The causeway Of 81. Clara which from IFS
elevation was thought to be of the securest
points and which the deuge of 1909 had respected,
from the fallen and swollen waters above precpita-
ting themselves from bank TO bank this time with its
pavement torn up became the BID of a furious
stream, excavatng along lis course the foundations
Of all buildings in its way, the church of ST. Pc
ter. This was not all streams from other quarters
increased this already swollen one, and with il the
devastation down to the street of ST Peter
breaking in doors and overlooking stores of wine
and other merchandise, finding an outlet near to the
franciscan garden, swe ping away the sheds, over
turning walls, around down to 81 Johns market in
ubdang the houses on the south side
Although the waters from ST. Lu-ia and 81 yobn did
little damage in the city, they swept off into the
ocean wDdmills, haystacks, whole plantations of
cans, yams, and other rural wrecks. Indeed il was
in the country, the interior villages, and other parts
of the island at distance from the city, where the
greater force Of the devastating food was mostly felt
1t yet too early TO learn the whole extent Of the dis
aster, but what is known Of them is most horri6c-
The skirts the city of Iuneha the parishes of Ca
pacha and CAMEO, have undergone misforunes never
before experienced. In the towns and districts of
S. Cruz, .uaehoo, as far s.. .1nonio da Sierra, the
calamity not confined to vineyards lands houses
and roads, but many lives were lost From them
come repeated calls for provisions to succor the ex-
IRENE misery OF hundreds Of inhabitants, whose very
last root OF yams had been torn up by the wind and
swept off by the flood the Porto da Cruz, which
from the sesshore to the very pinnacle Of the noun