Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-02-10
FOREIGN NEWS.
AWFUL CALAMITY.

tofore prosperous and even sun beautiful island ol
Madeira.
Throughout Europe generally the present win
ter was ushered in by frequent gales and heavy |
rains, and the inhabitants of Madeira, usually ~
the enjoyment Of the most equabe anu delicious
climate, had Witnessed with surprise coninu
ance of heavy showers from the commencement
OF October when on the 24th the heavens ASST
med an appearance sill more dismal; the rain
fell copiousiy all the forenoon between 3 and q
O'Clock the light of day became suddenly obscur-
ed heavy black clouds hanging as a compact mass
above aud around the whole island, involving in
the darkness OF night both the land aud the ocean,
while the glare from repeated flashes OF lightning, |
with the heavy rolling of thunder, and IFS reech |
oed peals among the mountains, rendered the
scence terrifcally grand, aud seemed to threaten
to submerge the devoted island down to the very
caverns of the sea- which, ioamng, had tor days
already been beating It's shores like the proud ana
roaring lion around an ungUardod sheepfoId.-
With the repeated aud awful clups OF thunder, so
heavy u mass ofwaers poured down The gloomy
armament above, that no force no industry, or
hope, could resist il. IL was as II new ocean
were outpourng itself into the sea, aud upon the
land. For more than three hours, without slack
ing did this stormy wonder continue. The springs
became brooks-tbese streams, aud they as
large rivers, while the vallies turned into muddy
lakes cries of Distress shrlekng ia win for help,
from opposite points and various distances, pierced
the ear, even overlapping The nose like lunhllng
thunder, of rolling rocks dushng against each 9th
er in their course Along the torrents. An unusual
tremor of the earth was felt under the feet, even
the sense of smelling here contributed also to pain
the Imagination for the vapor arising from the
troubled waters and torn aud iietled earth linpreg
mated the air with a cauaverous ielidness, which
increased the terror of man and beast. This aw-
full dispensaton, if not equal III loss OF lives TO that
which occurred in the sane island on the distress
sing 9th of October, 1903, is painfully greater in
the loss OF property which is valued nj over 81
100000, not including irrepafable losses and the
destruction of life Ivy last dates, was ascertained
to exceed fifty souls.
The water-power of ST. Louis, though not over
flowing It's banks below, came rushing with such
fury TO carry off immense logs, capped with
masonry, which were placed at various distances
TO stay lis force That of Cahao rushed forth,
cerryng away the bridges, overlooking the neigh
boring lands and sundry streets, the water rising
TO The second floor of the houses, aud carried off
headloDg into the ocean the new market, part oil
the Academic Square, and the very bauks al its
outlet. 10 complete The calamity Of this district
of the city of Funchal, The Nora brook which at
all seasons is nearly dry, became swollen, over
flowed, damaging all that INSTRUCTED ills course /;
many houses were swept away from this quarter,
others were ruined much stored wine was lost (;
horticultural gardens and others laid waste with
out tree left wall Standing and, in lieu OF soil,
the earth covered with stone and pebbles. The
inhabitants were in imminent danger, saving them
selves in boats where before they walked and,
had the inundation continued an hour longer, few
persons could have escaped aud no houses been
left standing.
In the western Part of the city, the small stream
Reibeirnho broke forth inio three swollen bran
ches, invading the quarter Porasnoyas, the streets
of Reibeirnho Baxo, Laranjeira, the lane Malta,
down to the Polourinho square. Here also the
damage was great, and the scenes which occurred
in the eastern part would have in this been enact
ed, had it not been that outlet found 10 the
waters by the walls of fort ST. Philip giving way
Notwithstanding which The water rose Twelve feet
and with difficulty the archives OF the Adnnstra
ton of the District were saved. The causcway
of ST. Clara, which from its elevation was fhoug
to he one OF The securesl points, ana which 'ht
deuge OF 1913 had respected, from the fallen an'
swollen waters above, precipto'ing themselves
from bank TO bank this time, with It's pavemen
torn up, became the bed OF n furious stream, exca
waiting along its course the foundations of all build
ings III its way, even that Of the church OF ST. Pc
ter. This was not all streams from other quar-
tiers increased this already swollen one, and will
it the devastation down to the new street OF ST. Pc
ter, breaking in DOORS and overfiowing stores q
wine and other merchandise, hndng an Quite
near to the franciscan garden, sweeping ava
the sheds, oyerurniDg walls, around down 10 .
Johns market, inundatlng the houses on the sout
side.
Althoug the waters from 81. Luzia and >
John did little damage in the city, they swept o
into the ocean wlndmIlls, hayslacks, whole par
taons of canes, yams, and other rural wreck
Indeed, II was in the country, the interior village
and other ports of the island ut a distance iro
the city, where the greater force Of the devas
ting flood was mostly felt 1t is yet too early
learn the whole extent of The disasters, but what
known OF them is most horrifc The skirts Oft
city Of FunchaI, the parishes Of Camacha and q
nco, have undergone misforunes never beio
experienced. In the towns and districts OF
Cruz, Machico, as far us ST. Antonio de Serra Il
calamity was not confined to vineyards. LAND
houses, and roads, but many lives were lost. Fro
them come repeated calls Tor provisions to succ
the extreme misery of hundreds of inhabitan
whose very last root OF yans had been torn up
the wind and swept off 10y the flood the POI
ola Cruz, which from the sea shore to The We
pinnacle of the mountains was as garden lost
wealth in few brief hours The extensive parl