Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-11-13
Correspondence Of The ". Y. Herald.
TERRIBLE GALE ON THE GULF.
KEY WEST, October IA, 1876.

! We are here in the midst Of the most awful
visitation. A hurricane, on the / lth inst. swept
over the island, and there is not house that is
not injured. Many have been swept into the sea
Others crushed; and amid the blast Of the storm,
the rush of waters came in to close the scene Of
terror and dismay. Every building is unroofed
families are destitute of every thing-and eve-
ry vessel in port is dsmasted or bilged, save one
schooner. Sand Key West light with fourteen
persons, was swept away, and all of the works OF
the United States now in progress here, entirely
destroyed. The sea roledin from the southward
and westward, and we had to wade amidthe swee.
ping waves, among the ruins of dwellings, spars,
and the timber of the bridges, beams and states,
and bricks, and boards flying through tho air, to
higher ground for safety. God be praised! the
loss of life thus far is small, when the dreadful
character of the visitation is before us. Some
spent the night in the woods. Families were
packed closely in every available spot where a
foot could press. All the warehousesare injured
but one. Tits is PROSTATE; Fior's, Browne &
Graves unroofed; the United States Marine Hos
pital is terribly injured; but DR.. Peabody and the
inmates are safe. The custom house is nearly
destroyed the Episcopal church is level with the
ground; the Methodist a heap Of ruins. The
cutter Morris is in abouttwo leetwater-all hands
safe; the brigColorado, of Boston, ,dismasted; the
Gen. Wilson, do; schooners II. H. Stafford, do;
Gov. Bennett, do; Mississippi, do; Catherine II.
Bacon, do; English schooner Ellen, do. our pi-
lot boats Lafayette and Louisa sunk. The bar
racks fortunately were not injured, and the house
less are there, as many as it will accommodate.
Symington's building is occupied by families, and
every nook and corner where q head can be got
into, is crammed. No lives were lost on board
the vessels from the NORTH Their passengers,
(among whom were several ladies and chidren)
fortunately got ashore. Thus far, we know Of
twenty-five lives destroyed.
May we not hope that the liberal and benevo.
lent will take this visitation to heart, and that in
this, our hour of need, theyw array themselves
on the side of mercy, and do good in the impulse
of brotherly love. Houseless, homeless, the child
and its mother must suffer much.
We raise nothing on the island-and our cat
tie such as they were, are destroyed-hunger
threatens, and should sickness ensue, there is no
limiting the progress of disease with such pabu-
lum to feed onl Yesterday the schoonerS. Den.
is came in dismasted; lastnightthebrig Napoleon
was towed in dismasted; the schooner Exchange
is lost, with the mate--the captain and crew
brought down here large round stern vessel bot
tom up, with tobacco and slaves; the brig Com.
missary is high and dry about six miles from
here; and this morning one of the boats of the
"Perry" came in, bringing the disastrous news of
her loss-all hands saved. We have no news
from Tortugas, and entertain great fears of its
safety. Nothing from our wreckers at the west
ward; it was scarcely possible for them to live;
but yet we hope they are safe. At half past ten
the waters subsided, and like the Dove of old, |
went forth seeking the dry land. God Of Heaven
who can tell the anguish Of that weary, weary
night Thehowling Of the wind--the crush Of
the dwellings--the air filled with miseiles, dealing