Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-11-07
Destruoftvs Storm In the Qutr.
KEY Wrsr. October Ia, lSte

AEH w EST, Octopef "a, lcH.
sra 1t is my painful duty to report to you
treadful calamity which has besalen this place,
ond every thing connected with the Florida
Reef SO far as heard from.
The town Of Koy Yves, is now heap cf 'u.
ne. Ofahout 400 houses. large and small
here s not more than 10 or 70 EFF standing
, ina habitable condition, and those much
yhatterei, whilst the general con'usion and dis
'ress can hardly be realized. On Sunday, 1lth
,ns'., we were visited with fearful hurricane.
accompanied with torrents Of rain. The gale
commenced about 3 A. NJ, from the Northeast,
and continued to increase duriog the day. when
- between 3 and 4 p. NJ. the wind veercd to
me Southeast, and tho storm became a tornado
AZ this time commenced scene which dehcs
description. The houses in town (slone and
woody were torn piecemcal, and scattered away
he chafi before the wind, rendering il DANCE
rous to move about-which last was indeed
npossbe, for foothold could not be maintain.
H. The wind gradually changed to the South,
>'ill blowing with the same strength. and hnal.
!: 10 the Southwest, abatisg it's lury about IL
q NJ. Ofcourse the sea was driven into the
aarbor, and against the island with tremendous
free. The lower par. Of the town was inun.
dated TO the depth Of three feet, with strong
rWrent running across it, whilst the public
grounds at the Southwest point were in 9 still
worse and moro exposed condition.
~ IL
s,ruction Of the fort. Tie wharves, bridges,
honses, lighters, boats, tooa, machinery, anc
materials, ordnance stores--in short, sA have
heen swept away, and mixed up with the gene
raj ,nin. The streets Of the town are barri
csded with the timber and debris from The fort
large amount Of which lodged there Even
h,rbette carriages, muskets and crow bars from.
the fnrt are found in the midst OF the towr.
The strip Of land or levee along the shore, on
which the public buildings were placed, being
the highest Of the public ground, has been CON-
rle,ely levelled by the sea. The stable and
blacksmith shop only remain in shattered con-
daion, having been moved from their original
postion-the former about 200 feet, with all
the horses and mules in il, five in number,
which, with the iorsge, are safe. The large
cistern, which was of masonry, founded upon
the rock, remained uninjnred. Upon this the
oysrseer and several others saved their lives
II being Sunday, very few men were on the
ground. Four men, who we're on the barrach.
were lost fifth was saved by clnging 10 ,ht
wheel Of a 6-pounder, after drifting three hun
dred y,rds towards the hospital.
The lighthouse o. the Southwest point in
gliding keepers house, has been swept away
leaving not vestige to mark the spot where i
s'ood At this place, the keepers family ont
friends, fourteen persons pershed and wher'
Sand Key and its hght house stood, is now lei
only shoal. All the vessels in The harbor, tel
or twelve briggs and schooners, have been driver
ashore and wrecked, including the revenue cut
Ter; their crews saved bat as far as ascertain in
ID, about thirty FIVE lives have been los, on tn
Key.