The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-12-05
The Terrible Ty phoon in China. Gre ph.
ic Account of the Disaster.


gives the following graphic account Of tn,
recent typhoon on the Chinese coast, O
which some imperfect reports have beer
published:
VI intended 10 write 10 you last Sun
day, but the day was very Different,
spent. 1t was one which will long be re
membered here. In the carly morning i
was dull, with fresh breeze blcwing
and we thought we were going to have Z
nice, cool day. After breahra there
being no sun, We went on The Red Fort tc
get the air. After being there liul,
time, we noticed that the wind ireshened
bu',rain beginning TO fall, we were obliged
TO return to the house. The wind sill in.
creased, and the liver got quite rough
We were watching the boats flying by
before wind and tide, when the wind be.
gan to blow with fury, and we saw one
boat pass by bottom upwards. We had
scarcely time TO notice this, the wind ever,
moment getting more furious, when the
mating flew off the houses Ike paper
shavngs, and the tiles seemed TO fiutlel
about like sparks the rain was swep
along, and the river itself like dust, and
then in rapid succession dashed by iunks
tiowcr-5oats, cargo boats and every kind
OF boat, but all perfect wrecks, most oI
ITEM bottom up, some on their side,
dashing against each other, and either
sinking or being heaped up in one con
fused pile on shore.
Then came floating by long line Of
wrecks, nearly a mile ong-spars, lmbers,
tops OF boats, disabled boats many with
people still on board, but very many
more without one still living of their late
occupants. The river rose rapidly unit
it overlooked into the houses, and 10 some
OF the streets was from three TO four feet
deep; the rain all the time descending in
torrents, and the wind raging as il i! were
mad. This continued for about an hour
and half, when il suddenly fell quite
calm, and the sun appeared. This did
not last long. The wind in an instant
sPrang up from another quarter, and blew
with greater fury than ever. The wind
being now against the tide, the river ap-
peared like sea, the waves dashing over
the wrecks.and sending the spray twenty
TO thirty feet high. This continued un.
I'll evening, when it moderated 20 an or.
dinary gale.
The following morning the scene Of dc.
slrucIon which presented itself was be-
yond description YOU cannot imm agiue
il, and, trust, will never witness such
thing. Houses were blown down in ev-
cry direction, verandahs torn off others
Trees, some with roots bigger by far than
our drawing. room, and more than three
hundred years old, wee rooted up like
carrots. But sadder still was the fright
ful loss Of life. 1t is estimated 10 be over
twenty thousand. and fear there is no
exlggeration in this. ln one house nearly
opposite to us one hundred and twenty
people were killed by its falling. Hun.
dreds were drowved by tie tide rising in
their own houses, and preventing their es-
cape.
Sixty war junks had anchored about
half mile from us a few DAYS before
these were new and fully manned, and on
their way 10 the North. OF these iunks
only ten are left, ,and these perfect wrecks,
and upwards Of Eve hundred of their
crew have persisted, The mandarins,
immediAtly alter the typhoon. issued proc.
lnmations Offering one dollar for any body
brought TO them, in order that il might
be cluimed by relatives, or, if not, buried.
There were several stations appointed
where the bodies were 20 be brought; a.
one only, within mile Of this, in less than
twenty four hours, twelve hundred were
brought and within three days upwards
OF six thousand. II this occurred at one
place, you can imagine that the estimate
of loss is not overdrawn. Dozens OF boats
must have gone down Immediately, with
every soul on board and until the decks
break up the bodies will not escape.
"rhe sights we have had the last few
days are very dreadful. At Whampoa
the destruction Of property and loss OF
life have been equally great. Baurboo
Town and New Town are entirely de.
stroyed. and nearly every soul in them
must have perished. Ships in dock are
overturned ; many ale stranded. One
steamer is now quietly lying in the midst
OF paddy-feld, and chop boat is driven
more than mile from the river. This
may seem incredible. The Consul read
10 me the official report, and it stated
these facts, which | also heard from others.
The river rose ten feet higher than it has
ever been known 10 reach in the highest
spring tides, and it vas impossible 10 dis
tinguish where the rivers channel was
With the fury of the wind, this wide ex.
panse of water became like sea, driving
all before il. 1t was thus that the boat
was left far from the river when the water
subsided.
"lhe official report quoted an express.
ion Of the consul's boalman TO show the
loss OF life; it was, that the bodies were
as plentiful as shrimps.' An American
missionary was killed by the falling OF his
house, and four Europeans iu the Wham-
poa custom house we're drowned. With
these exceptions, foreigners have escaped
with merely good deal OF discomfort;
their houses have been knocked about, |
and many have been drenched by the
rain. Ny bedroom was like a sieve; the
water poured in in every direction, as if
from a water spout. expected every
m oment that the roof would be lifted off, |
but it was not; we were a good deal
sheltered by the other houses"