Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-05
Terrific storms.
KEY WEST ALMOST WHOLLY DEs-
TROYED Wreck OF Brig Perry-T0-
tai Loss OF Revenue Cutter Norris.
From the N. O, Picayune. DC, %.

From the N. o, Picayuue. Oct %.
Terrific Galo in The Gule-Ufeck Of IT, States
Brig Perry-Loss Of Rereute Gutter Morris
-1oial Destruction Of Ken Wea-FGluI ises
Lost-Immelse Destruction Of Property.
The schooner Sarah Churchman, Capt
BAYMoRE, from Philadelphia, via Key West,
for Brazos Santiago, arrived at the North East
Pass on Wednesday morning. the 2lst, and
landed Commodore SLoAT and son from tho
Pacific, and Lieut. WILLIAM G. PEAsE, Of the
revenue service, bearer Of dispatches 10 Wash
ngton. They came up TO New Orleans on
the evening ofthe 22d instant, on the tow boat
Jefferson.
To Lieut.. PEAsE we are indebted for the do =
tails OF terrible gale in the Gull, of a fury
unexampled, and from which we must not
expect to hear all the deplorabe effects for
many weeks. We will begin with the gale
as il was felt at Key West.
The gale commenced blowing from north
east on the morning Of the 18th instant BY
O'Clock 1t blew a perfect hurricane. The
tide rose rapidly, and the storm ragged with in
credible violence until near midnight, when il
abated. On the 18th it blew moderate gale,
and gradually subsidized Every dwelling
house, save FIVE or six, at Key West, were
destroyed or unrooled.
The Custom House was blown down. The
Marine Hospital unroofed, and it is supposed
the Government property DESTROYED 10 the
amount OF 100000, Taffe's wharf disap
peared, and the Salt Works DESTROYED
The U. s. Barracks were injured, but suffer
ed less than any other building. Many laml-
lies were turned out houseless, but the United
States Quartermaster came promptly to their
assistance.
The loss Of life is great Many were drown
ed, and many killed by falling buildings
Key Westlight house and buildings are entire
ly gone. The spot Were they stood is covered
by white sand beach. Fourteen souls per
ished in these buildings.
Sands Key light house has totally dsap-
peared with the buildings connected with it,
The occupants of this too have persisted.
The light ship in the northwest passage
dragged her moorngs and went TO sea, but she
was recovered, and returned 10 her position.
The agent of the underwriters was doing
everything in his power to save property
Very great danger is to be apprehended from
the loss of the light houses to vessels from Eu.
rope, and the north, bound to the Gulf
The loss of the cutter Morris is described to
us in letter from an officer on board
The United States brig Perry was in the
same gale, or tornado, driven with resistless
force before the wind, but was finally run
ashore after all hope of saving her was gone,
and in all probability will be saved.
All the lives on Indian Key and Key Bacas
are saved, and it is hoped all the crews OF the
wrecking vessels.
The captain Of the cutter Morris saved the
produce, the cargo of one schooner and DIS
tributed it. through the Methods, minister, 70
those in need the necessaries of life.
All the warehouses are either blown down
or unroofed al Key West. The streets are iuil
of lumber, and not six out of six hundred
houses but what are either unroofed or blown
down. The currant ran six miles an houl
through Key West.
The lighthouses at this place and San hey
are washed away, and not yestige OF them
TO be seen. Some cotton has drifted into lhs
harbor, and some vessels, loaded with cotton
and not yet heard from, must have been IN us
hurricane, and suffered from its violence.
A schooner with a new lanthern for Toru,,
gus light house, is lost, with her cargo. An
hands saved.
The white water now extends sixty and Sc
venty miles to the soothard of Tortugas. Inc
Government will loose by the storm the reye'
nue. cutter Morris and brig Perry, two lsh'