The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-12-03
From The 81. L0ais i2ePn5liean.l
THE HURRICANE AT CAPE GlRAR.
UEAC.
CAPE GrRARDeAu. Nov. 81. 1850.

iIon oil the dreadful fate Of the city OF Cape
GIrardeau, and the steamboat Saranak No. 2
About four O'Clock this evening we landed
at this place with the Saranak, bound for =
Orleans, for the purpose OF taking on boait
some passengers who had hailed the boat
Jus. after she had landed and made fast the
clouds assumed the appearance Of storm
and as we were comparatively safe, we
thought best TO hold on for a few minutes un-
I'll 1t would pass at the wind threatened 10
blow hard. Consequently extra lines were
gotten out; but before We had time TO get
those on board who went on the wharf boat
TO make her last, the storm struck her stern
GLOWING up stream at The time and in less
than live minutes the whole entire cabin. fix
lures and furniture, chimneys, pipes. and IL
TACT every thing above the main deck. was
blown to pieces. There was some two hun
dred plows on the rooi-they were blown Tor
hundreds Of yards from the boat; part OF the
railing was carried on the top of the bill, one
mile from the boat. The wharf-boat Cham
plain was also blown TO pieces The hillside
was literally covered with the wreck OF the
boats. But, strange TO say, no one on board
was killed: though nearly all were injured.
Jos. Mccoy, pilot at the wheel when landed,
was blown out Of the pilot-house and fell
through the cabin near the wheel house. his
ribs broken and shoulder cut. but we think he
may recover. Samuel Hill. engineer, was
blown out of his room and fell hetweeu the
boats. badly injured. Mr.. Baly, passenger,
was thrown OIL hog chain and also severely
injured, though the physician think, they will
ali get over it. Many others were slightly
injured. Not one Of the crew, or passengers
in the cabin, but has lost some OF their clothes
and some lost all they had in the world
One lady had her trunk and every thing she
had blown overheard and lost. Almost all of
the cargo above deck was blown overheard,
even barrels OF -four. The BELL weighing
300 pounds, was blown $50 feet from its place.
but not broken. The stoves in the cabin
were blown ashore, after the cabin and chin
neys went 10 pieces. The steam and smoke
Instantly caused TIE alarm of ire VIII ch crea ted
The greatest excitement among all but those
OF the officers and crew who were not injured,
promptly extinguished every particle Of fire
on board and then relieved those who were
helpless ard confined by parts Of the cabin
lying on them. The grOaus of the injured
soon brought others who were not, TO their
aid. Notwithstanding the calamity was great
the scene no tongue can describe. The dan
ger was threatening, but not one of the oil
GERS or crew left the scene or faltered from
ms duty. Every man stood to his post until
either blown away or the timbers knocked
him down.
But have still more painful scene 10 de-
scribe, and that is the destruction of the town.
As have but little knowledge OF the size of
The town, and darkness soon set in. | can
only give you what | learned up TO nine o.
clock. give you the names, perhaps YOU
can understand better how 10 locate them
ST. Vincent College and the beautiful man.
sion OF IL Nj. Horrell are in ruins; the Con
vent is gone ; the Catholic Church and all
the buildings around it are gone the Meth
Odlst Church aud every building from that TO
the Bridge are more or less injured; Mr..
Glboney's warehouse unrooiel; tie wooden
bridge torn up; Mr.. Tomrkins' new brick
house ut the bridge literally Il wreck Mcssrs.
Byrne d Sloan's new three slor, building Oh
the corner Of Main and Theme streets IN
rooted entirely, and the zinc with which il
was covered was thrown for some hundreds
OF yards.
Mr.. Sarrell's three story house, thirty by
fifty feet, the upper story hall of the Sons
Of Temperance. dedicated yesterday. now!lies
a shapeless mass OF ruins. Capt. Surrell,
wife and child, were in it when il fell. but
were not killed. though badly injured.
The CASSIDY warehouse, the Lacy build
ings, roofs of and walls shattered Mr.. Pen
ny's new three story house, gable blown in.
roof damaged. Some twenty more houses
names not recollecied, injured-some bad
ly.
The telegraph poles and wires are all
blown down. The people are still running
about town, and some mothers, with children
in their arms, may be seen seeking places
of shelter from the storm and rain. can find
no language 10 describe this awful scene
the heart-rending cries of the distressed
mothers and children were agonizing ia the
extreme.
Those who have houses left are offering all
the comfort their circumstances will admit of.
and cannot but admire the friendly DISPOSE
ton shown to the unfortunate by the citizens
oil Cape Girardeau. | have never seen as
much kindness and friendship displayed TO-
wards any people as Tie people oil this city
have shown towards each other. and 10 Us,
through entire strangers to them. None
have been forgotten. They kindly invited us
10 their homes, and gave us some thing 10 eat
and place TO sleep. Our sick and crippled
are at the Johnson House, well provided for
The house is uII of people, and many more
yet 10 come.
Ten O'CLocK.--Have just heard the sor-
rowul intelligence that one man was killed
at the College. and one lady (Mrs. Kinr)
down town. Rumor says six deaths As
yet, only certain of ttree-lifteen badly in
lured-some will de-ten or twelve slightly
injured. Physicians are doing all they can !
but fear some will suffer. though every Ell
to"t will be made 10 render them comfortable. /
The rain is yet falling in torrents. cannot
say any more.
will he up 10 st. Louis on the first boat. /
You will hear from others, who can describe |
the scene better than can ut this awful time |
and during the present excitement.