New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-25
me Storm IN 81. g.eul..

The st. Louis papers Of Monday, the ed inst,
contain lengthy and graphic accounts Of the
storm Of the previous day, From the report of
the Missouri Republican we copy the following.
Yesterday afternoon perhaps the most terrible
and destructive cyclone ever known in this part Of
the country visited this city. The morning was
cloudy and wet but about l O'Clock the rain
ceased the sky cleared, and 1t appeared as if the
afternoon was going to be fine and pleasant. As
the day advanced, however, vast volumes of inky
elonda gathered round the southern horizon, thun.
der rolled In the distance, and the rain fell in
spirits; notwithstanding, however, these threat
enang indications, few persons apprehended any
serious STERN; nor indeed, did the appearance of
things indicate the terrible outbGrst Of elemental
forces which took place.
About halfpast four O'Clock, a black shadow
fell swiftly over everything, a few shert sharp
speals OF thunder were heard, when suddenly, with
hardly q moments warning, q rushing storm of
wind and rain dropped over the city Asceue en-
sued tpat exceeds all description, and is equaled
only by those equatorial tornadees of which we
SO often read Everything was enveloped in gloom
and confusion, the black clouds seemed to rest
upon the house-teps, the rain descending in sheets
of falling water was blown into spray, filling the
air as If a sea had broken over the city, and with
the rush and roar of the whirlwind rendered i'm
possible almost to see or hear, so suddenly and
swiftly did the hurricane, tornado, cyclone or
whatever it may best be called, strike the CITY,
that it seemed 10 bewilder everybody, and there
safety.
The violence of the wind was absolutely ter
rifle, and as it swept through the streets the effect
was the most astonishing we have ever witnessed:
awnings, signs chimneys and roofs were broken
up and carried away. The air was filled with
timbers, bricks and every conceivable material.
For few minutes large hail stones mingled with
the rushing storm, windows were blown in or fell
with crash on the street; the tearing of boards.
the fall of debris of every kind the crash of glass
and the giving way of walls was to he heard in
every direction In fact for about ten minutes or
SO, the storm so completely enveloped everything
as to render itimpossible to ascertain what dam
age has actually been done. The streets were
strewn with innumerable fragmeuts; bricks, tnl-
hers and large masses OF tin roofing were carried
through the air like things without weight or
crashed against the walls Of the houses, Or broke
through windows and doors to the dismay and
danger of the inmates
The storm appeared to rise from the south or
southwest. but on reaching the streets of the city
| it was impossible to tell rom what direction it
came; the whirlnG currents Of air swept up one
street and down anotheF rushing up various alleys
with irresistible violence, upsettng carts, car
Fiages, and unr0ofing houses and breaking M or
displecng every movable in the way. aud play
ing the most fantastic tricks and in many instances
doing the most serious damage i'll the SPACE of a
few minutes. The whole duration of this most
singular and unparalleled storrn-burst was not
much oyer ten minutes, yet in the enormous
amount Of damage done it would seem as if some
destructive agent had been at work unrestricted
for days. About q quarter to O'Clock the WhirI-
wind had passed over the city, and although The
rain still fell, comparative cain and quiet ensued
Owing to the late hour at which the storm took
place, we have not been able TO collect all the
particulars Of the damage done, but the following
are some Of the most serious instances Of damage
and destruction that occurred: Shortly after the
commencement of the storm, a large portion of
the roof of the Polytechnic Institute was blown off
Ihe disaster was occasioned by the falling of one
nh
broke it in and made an opening, through which
the wind entered, and tore off the fiat portion of
the roof, the slopes remaining nninjured Damage
between four and five thousand dollars. The tim
bers and other material composing the roof was
broken up BY the wind, and various portions car
lea long distances, as far as Washington avenue
1t Is said. A large mass fell down on Chestnut
street, almost completely rendering it imDassable
Another portion Of the brick fell on the roof Of
the residence of Father Kelly, west of the Insti-
tlte building and Immediately in the rear of the
Church of the Immaculate Conception The house
was completely wrecked, the roof crushed in. and
the walls cracked and displaced. Father Kelly
was up stairs at the time and was we are in
formed, seriously injured Fragments Of the roof
OF the Institute were dashed against the houses on
the north side Of Pine street. breaking the win
doWS and doors, and IN one instance completely
breaking through the wall all the SQUARES round
the Institute bear evidences of the terrible VIC
ence ofthe wind gusts.
A long listof casualties is then given, not Of
uicient general interest to justify Republication
fhey comprise, however, almost every form of
lamage that the imagination can paint, except
oss Of life, OF serious personal injury. Thereport
concludes as follows:
Notwithstanding the violence and suddenness Of
ne whiriwnd, only few instances of injury
10 individuals are reported. man named Morris
was struck in the stomach by brick and seriously
injured, and some other persons slightly hurt
AS above stated, the duration Of the storm did
not exceed ten or fifteen minutes The quantity
Of water that fell in the brief space of time was
the streats were deuged and the
cutters ran like rivers for time.
The total loss resulting from the storm mnst be |
1ery heavy throughout the city, and will probably
,xceed $3.50, 900.
DqElng the evening nothing was talked about
tut the furious and sudden cyclone which had |
ocked the city to its center and streWn it with
wrecks Of houses Every one had some rev Incl
lent to relate either in the way Of personal adj /
Ientare or witnessed phenomenon andwe have no
lonbt that the storm of Sunday afternoon. Octo
oer 2Ist, 1866, will long be remembered and re-
erred 70 as one Of the most severe and terrible |
Elemental outbursts known in our local history.
ABOUT . clock the clouds had broken and the |
am ceased. but between and O'Clock o strong |
Rlnd prevailed, and some apprehensions were en-,
eIfaned Of areturn Of the storm, but such, hap |
'ily, did not take place. Tie sky was still full Of
lufrghgi kroken clouds, but by IL o'clock the
ylndhad ceased and allwas calm.
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MATAMoRAs.- ACCOMPLISHMENTS ;4Ife rain re +ba 4