Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-11-05

Terrific Gale in the Gulf-Wrcck
OF u. 5. brig Perry-LOss Of Rev.
enue Cutter MOrris-TOtal De-
strIIctiOn Of Hey West-fifty lives
lOst-lmmense destruction Of
property.
The schooner Sarah Churchman, Capt. Bay
more, 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 the
Pacific, and Lieut.. William G.. Pease, of the
revenue service, bearer of dispatches to Wash
ington. They came up to town last evening,
on the tow-boat Jefferson.
To Lieut.. Peasc we are indebted for the de-
tails of terrible gale in the Gulf, of a fury
une xampled, and from which must not ex-
pect to hear all the deplorabe effects for many
weeks. We will begin with the gale as it was
felt at Key West.
The gale commenced blowing from north
east on the morning Of the lth instant. BY
| o'clock it 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 n moderate gale,
and gradually subsided. Every dwelling house,
save FIVE or six, at Key West, were destroyed
or unroofed.
The Custom House was blown down. The
Marine Hospital unroofed, and it is supposed
the Government property destroyed to the
amount of $300,00 Taffe's wharf disappeared,
and the Salt Works destroyed.
The U. s. Barracks were injured, but suffer
ed less than any other building. Many families
were turned out houseless, but the United
States Quartermaster came promptly to their
assistance.
The loss oflife is great Many were drowned,
and many killed by falling buildings. Key
West light house and building are entirely
gone. The spot where they stood is covered
by a white sand beach. Fourteen souls perish
ed in these buildings
Sands Key light house has totally disappear
ed with the buildings connected with it. The
occupants of this too have perished-Capt.
Joshua Appleby and daughter, Mrs. Eliza V.
Willams,) and her son Thomas, also Mrs.
Harris, and an adopted daughter
Cortland p. Williams and WIN. f. Williams,
sons Of Mrs. w. are missing.
[Capt. Appleby, Mrs. Williams, and sons,
except Thomas,) all formerly belonged to this
place.
Il The light ship in the northwest passage
dragged her moorings and went to sea, but
she was recovered, and returned to 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
Europe, and the north bound to the Gulf
LOSS OFTHE CUTTER NORRIS.
The loss of this vessel is described to US in
a letter from an officer on board.
The United States brig Perry was in the
same gale, or tornado, driven with resstless
force before the wind, but was finally run a
shore after all hope of saving her was gone,
nj nd in all ntobabilitv will he 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 Methodist minister, to
those in need Of the nccessares of life.
II All the warehouses are either blown down
or unroofed at Key West. The streets are
full of lumber, and not six out of six hundred
houses but what are either unroofcd or blown
down. The current ran six miles an hour
through Key West.
II The light houses at this place and Sand Key
are washed away, and not vestige Of them
II is to be seen. Some cotton has drifted into
Il the harbor, and some vessels, loaded with cot
ton, and not yet heard from, must have been
| in the hurricane, and suffered from its vo-
| lcnce.
Il A schooner with n new lanthern for Tortugas
II light house ls lost, WIN her cargo. All nands
| saved.
4 The white water now extends sixty and
| seventy miles to the southard of Tortugas.-
Il The government will lose by the storm the
revenue cutter Morris, and brig Perry, two
| light houses, Notifications, custom house and
hospital-not far from 100000.
/ Many vessels doubtless will get ashore,
| ffom the fact Of Sand Key light house being
gone.
II Dead bodies are occasionally dug out from
the ruins, and none can tell how many there
are remaining. As far as ascertained fifty
persons have lost their lives, and it is singular
| that so few are dead or injured.
II Timber, slate, &c, and buildings falling in
i every direction. Stone could not withstand
the gale, and all seemed to be going to dis.
II tructon.
Many persons escaped in boats and held on
to trees, expecting every moment TO be wash.
ed away. The scene was awful in the ex.
IRENE. Among the great number of vessels
Of all classes wrecked, we perceive none be.
longing to this port.l
II Lieut. w. q. Pease Of the Revenue Service,
arrived here this evening in the Southern
boat with dispatches for Government.
Com. Sloat is expected here in day or two.
The potato crops Ia England and Ireland,
though very short, II 10 thought will not prove
1 quito On entire failure.