Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-11-12

tive hurricane, we find published in the New Or
leans Bulletin:
New ORLEANS, Oct. 80, 1916.
| arrived last evening my way to Washing
ton, having landed at the South West Pass yester-
day morning il the schooner Sarah Churchman,
from Key WeM
was on board the revenue cutter Morris, abou.
one mile from Key West, at anchor with one hun
dred aud fifty iathons of chain, with yards down
on deck, and every preparation made for The storm
our riding bits working, and it became nee
essary TO back them with deck tackles The cur
rent was running by at the rate of twelve miles
an hour; the vessel laying broad side to 1t as well
as the wind, made her labor very heavy, and being
in danger Of parting our chains, we were conpell-
cd to cut away our malnmast for the sOtety Of our
lives, as well as the vessel When the mast went
over the side it hung by the triaic stay, and was
in danger of falling upon US every moment A
man could not get aIolt, and we were anxious to
hold on to the foremost the last resort, IN case
the schooner should founder at her anchors. After
few moments man made out to get aloit and
cut the stay, when the mast fortunately fell clear
OF us-lt was a narrow escape. Thirty men toss
ing to and fro on the deck of small vessel, with
a mast suspended over their heads. it were by a.
thread, made our situation any thing but cnviable.
We now bat ened down the matches and all hands,
passed through the ward room. r..
The vessel continued to labor very heavy, and
the made a complete breach 1t was
with difficulty we could keep her free with both of
Our pumps gong, and bailing from ward-room and
berth-decks AT p. NJ the air was full Of water,
and no man could look 10 windward for a second !;
houses, lumber AMI vessels were drifting by rs;-
some large sticks of timber were turned end over
end by the force of the current, aud the sea was
running so high that as it broke us, ii brought
lumber, casks, &c. &c. on board, and carried them
across our decks. At 4 IA p. NJ. the water was
up to our lower half ports, on board, and gaining
upon us, when sarboard chain parted and we
commenced dragging, we knew not which way, as
our compasses flew round in such manner that they
became useless. Now our fears were that we should
90 out over the reef into the Gulf, and before we
got lnt0 the Gulf the vessel must strike and bIlge
But fear would not save her. AT this time, we cut
away the toremast, when sea struck us, knocking
the schooner on her beam ends, carrying away our
bulwarks, cranes, larboard posts, quarter houses,
swinging boom, and every thing movable, off the
decks and to right the vessel, we hove the lee
guns overheard and knocked out the ports, all
hanGs expecting momentarily TO 90 to the bottom
We were IN this suspense for one hour, when we
struck on some reef unknown; our larboard chain
parted aud we made preparation to scute the yes
sci, The hurricane gradually subsidized, although
at II o'clock midnight.we were striking heavy, and
blowing gale from S. E.
On the morning Of the 18th, the scene any
thing but agreeable. We had drilted about three
miles, and half OF that distance over shoal with
only two feet of water on it at ordinary timcs.-
This was the depth of water around the Morris
when left her. Around her lie wrecks of all de-
scrptons; ship on her beam ends !; three briggs
disnasted; also Three schooners; three vessels
sunk IN small channel, and four vessels bottom
up. How many persons attached to these vessels
have been drowned, am unable to say. We have
picked up only two, and one of them young man,
knew intimately. The light ship at the North
West Pass had gone from or sunk at her mornings
The light houses at Key West and Sand Key were
all washed away, and Key West is in ruins.
A white sand beach covers the spot where Key
West light house stood, and the waves roll over
the spot where Sand Key was. Fourteen
persons were either killed or drowned at Key West
light house, and not soul escaped tell the tale
The only veslige Of the light house to be seen is
portion of the iron posts Of the lantern and some
pieces of soapslone, which were washed one hun
dred yards from the spot where they fell. AT Sand
Key six persons were killed or drowned; most like
" the former, the general impression is, they
flew to the storm light house fer refuge, the Key
being very low. Poor old Capt Appleby, Il knew
him very WELL he told me the first hurricane would
sweep all to destruction; and, alas his prediction
Is verified.
AT Key West the tide was five feet high, and
running at the rate of six miles hour through
the centre of the town. The citizens fled to the
back part of the town, which is rather higher than
the rest into the bushes, laid down and held on, ex
pecting every moment the waves would reach them.
Parents separated from their children, hus-
bands from their wives, aud all was confusion, ter
ror, and dismay. The island trembled to It's very
centre; few hours more and white sand beach
would have covered the now desolated remains Of
| Key West. The occupants Of the Marine Hospl-
tai we're expecting every moment 10 90 into etern-
| ty. 1t is large stone building, and being sur
rounded with feet Of water, running by six miles
an hour cutting the sand out from the foundation,
the situation was awful. Thirty feet of the stone
! baj frnut too trOt hn oth
! err and the roof blown off. All Of the wharves are
washed away or injured; not one warehouse es-
| capped the fury of the storm; wood and stone SEEM
! ed all to DE going one way--to destruction. There
is not more than six out of six hundred houses that
are not unrooied or blown down. Three hundred
are estimated to have blown down.
The public buildings at the fort as well as the
wharf, are all gone, and the fort is Of ruins
| 1t is estimated that the Government alone will lose
/ 100000 The Custom-house is much injured, but
the United States Barracks at the east end of the
town sustained no injury. and are occupied by the
crew of the brig Perry, and revenue cutter Morris
and BY the collector OF the customs and those whose
houses have been blown down. The streets anC
roads are impossible, being filled up with lumbe
and the ruins Of fallen houses. Some large stlck
of lumber from the fort are up in the middle OF TN
town.
EFFECTS OF THE GALE AT HAvANA-TREMEN
DoUs Loss OF SHIFPING-NINETY TWO VEssEL
SUNK, DESTROYER, OR OTHERWISE INJuRED-FoR
TY OR FIFTY CoAsTING VESSELS wREcKED-
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE AND Property.
The brig Cybee, Capt. Merrill, arrived at Sa
vannah, on the 29h ult, bringing advices from Ha
vana to the ooh. We are indebted TO the Savan
nah Georgian for extras, containing the account
OF the effects of the dreadful gale of the 10th ut
. The recent gale experienced all along the South
= ern coast also felt with much violence al Ha
vana, and did considerable injury to the city, an
to the shipping in port. 1t was one Of the most sc
we're gales that has been experienced at that Islam
i for many years past.
To Mr. Wells, the mate of the brig Mohawk
. wrecked at Havana in the gale, who passen
ger in the Cybelle, we are indebted for the follow
. ing particulars:
o During the hurricane, in the city it was danger
nns Irnm lnrne sheeis Of lnnl mud tile moi hlnAy