Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-23

Terrlbie hurricane az 81. Thomas

NEW YORK, Nov. 11.-By arrival from
St Thomas we have particulars of the
great hurricane, which lasted about
| four hours, tearing mp trees, lifting
houses from their foundations, dashing
them to pieces Ships, steamers and
smaller, vessels were dashed together
and sunk. Fifty or sixty vessels have
been dismasted or sunk. A number of
crews lost. Thousands on land are
homeless and suffering. The excite
ment is very great, and it is impossible
now TO estimate the loss; bat 1t must
be immense. On the morning OF the
29th there being Indications of storm,
the passengers of the old steamer Con-
way did not feel safe To go to sea on
her, aud wished to be transferred to the
Rhone. a new steamer of the line, where
thew might consider themselves safe in
case of a storm; they were accord
inRlv transferred and both vessels
put to sea, but during the storm the
Rhone struck on Peters Island, her
boiler exploded aud ali we're lest
with the exception of twelve or fifteen.
The Conway was thrown on TontOla
Island and all hands were saved. Moth
ing definite In regard to the other
islands had been heard with the excep-
ton of TOntoia, of which report says
that the town Is entirely destroyed and
a number of lives lost.
The steamer Columbian came in at
about ii o'clock aud at 2 O'clock was
sunk and six persons lost. Her cargo
was valued at from ZOO. 900 TO 2,OOO,-
| 900. The track of the hurricane seems
to have been narrow, as the Marmion,
from Rio and the North America from
New York arrived the dav after, neither
having experienced moro than stiff
breeze.
NEW YORK, Nov. 12.-The Herald's
st. Thomas correspondent gives fur
Their particulars of the destruction by
the terrible hurricane. There is not a
dwelling on the Island that has not
suffered Many houses have no roofs;
the small houses of the poorer classes
were leveled to the ground, and there
have been buried already over one hun
dred persons who were killed on shore,
and a like number have been wounded
| aud MANNED. Every few minutes tie
harbor throws mp the dead, ana it Is
one continual string Of collins that
throng the streets. Over five hundred
persons were drowned. la some cases
not soul is living to relate word re-
Qarding their vessels. The steamer
Wepe lost 80 souls. From the steamer
RhOne, out of $50 only 81 were saved.
The Spanish steamer Cemeguey,
whose heroic captain, Aquilar, saved
many lives, lost II ont of 30. The
American ship Charles Sprague had
but the captain and Que man saved. Ia
fact hardly 2 vessel but can report
some of their men missing. Men were
lifted bodily from the shore aud carried
to q watery grave. Not a wharf nor n
| lighter is left. Houses were carried
one Thousand feet in the air. The
streets are six inches deem with bricks,
tiles, splInteTs and doors. Neatly every
tree Is uprOOted. The English steamer
Columbian had just arrived with 5000
packages of dry goods, and vas sunk
IN less taan three hours after anchor
age.
Eight million dollars will not pay the
| loss. The merchants suffered heavily
/ with the ram as the tops of a good
many stores were of. Up 20 date 800
| persons have been buried of these who
lost their hives IA the hurricane. This
awful visitation has inflicted severe
| suffering upon all the inhabitants OF
/ tins island, the poor especially.