The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-11-16

TORNADO AT Sr. THoNAe-Bg the sfriysa OF
the steamer Msrmion, 4om bt. ypmae ist
Inst, We have Additiona pefticulep O the
great hurricane there. The surgeoA of the
steamer reports: We arrived Of 81. Thomas on
'tbe morning Of the 3oth, and found that the
island had been visited the day previous by the
Inust terrific hurriSAns aver known there, the
town being destroyed aud the loss Of life very
great. The amount OF property destroyed at
Il destruction and devastation impossible to
describe.
The wind commenced blowing q pretty sfif
hreefe about eight O'Clock from the northwest,
and about eleven O'Clock II changed round to
the eat And BLEW perfect hurricane, carry
inc everything before Il. II lasted about four
hours, hut during that time ragged With such
p violence that trees we're torn up, houses lited
from their foundations aud dashed to pieces.
Shlls and steamers OF the largest class - wen
a. smaller vessels were hurled together ana
either dashed to pieces or sunk. some nt'y or
aixty vessels are ashore, dismsntled or sunt,
and part of their crews lost. Thousands are
rendered homeless, and the amount pf suffer
Ing, confusion and excitement 10 % impossible
To describe. There 10 nothing doing. Every
- On the morning Of the 18th. there being 10.
dicatious of storm, the passengers OF the old
steamer Conway, Capt. Hsmmack, did not feel
sate to 70 to sea IN her, and wished to be trans
errsd 70 the Rhome, new steamer of the Hoe
where they might consider themselves safe In
case Of storm. They were accordingly trans
ferred, and both vessels put to sea; but during
the storm The Rhone struck on Peters island,
her boiler exploded and oil we're lost with the
exception Of twelve or fifteen. Tho Conway
was thrown on Tortola island, and oil hands
were saved.
Up 60 the time OF our departure nothing
definite In regard to the other islands had been
heard, with the exception OF Eortola, OF which
report SAYS that the town Is totally destroyed
and q number Of lives lost. Hsrbor Master
Stsiuburg Of St. Thomas was drowned while
nnbly attempting to rescue Others. Having
succeeded 10 his first attempt he Was returning
the second time, when his boat. cspsised and
he lost bis life. The steamer Columbian came
In At about eleven O'Clock, and ct two o'clock.
Was sunk and six persons lost. Her cargo was
valued at from 81, 900 900 TO $4,000, 900. The
track of the hurricane seems TO have been mar
low, a. the Marmion from Rio and the North
America from New York arrived the day amer.
and neither had experienced moro than stih
hree,e. The North America arrived at st.
Thomas on the 30th at 2. r. ~, and lett again ut
6o'clock without coaling; reported all right. A
list OF vessel lost has already been publishd.
In addition 10 these are large number OF
British and other foreign vessels. About oil
the coverings OF the roofs Of houses were blown
away, such a. tiles. zinc. sc. All the wharves
were smashed, and the fort barracks are gone.
The light house was destroyed, and about 300
persons have been buried AFTER having been
picked up In the harbor. The loss, both on
shore and in the shipping Is very large. Amer
loan barque Esther blown of from Sombrcro
island, was dismantled and was just coming
into port.