The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-12

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PARTICULARS OF THE DIsAsTER-TERRIBLE DEsTRUc
TIoN.

Correspondence of the New York Evening Postl
SANTo DOMINGO CITY, November 9.-We are just
beginning to recover from the shock OF the late
hurricane and IN look about us. I he city shows
more ravages than after the famous siege OF twelve
months during Baezs former administration. In
the last days of the recent Spanish occupation it
received some pretty hard knocks from the hber-
atng army outside its walls, but all this was chllds
play compared With the wholesale ucvastaton Oh
the late hurricane.
1t was not SO much hurricane proper az a furi-
GUS drenching storm OF ram. 1t began at about
o'clock A. NJ, and blew in fits and roaring gusts
till past midnight. The great damage to the ship
ping and larger buildings III the city WAS done at
the beginning of the blow. But all during that
terrible day the wind and rain seemed to combine
to continue steadily the work OF destruction Inc
first crash of the gale unroofed whole streets OF
thatch-covered houses, and shook and loosened
tiles on fiat-roofed Moorish palaces, built by the
Younger followers of Columbus more than three
hundred and fifty years ago. Old trees that had
whstood the gales OF centuries fell as II the axe
was at their root. The rain camo down In such
masses that it seemed as if mountain torrent was
running through the air, bearing on its surface
leaves and branches Of trees, fragments OF timber,
hats handkerchiefs, and miscellaneous lot OF dry
goods (dry no longer), and even fruit. Cocoanuts
were whirled through the city like cannon balls,
and added to the fright Of some who thought the
horrors of another siege was to begin.
The poorer classes who were drowned out OIL
their houses snatched hastily what little poor val
nables they happened to possess, and waded
through the flowing streets to the churches
Their blessed doors stood open as usual and never
did more stricken wanderers pass their portals
The grand old cathedral on the government square,
begun as an inscription over its main entrance
informs us, in 1514, and completed in 154O, was
crammed with q weeping, terror-strlcken multi
tnde. There was not living thing to be seen IN
the streets except when, at long intervals, some
desperate adventurer, at the risk OF his lie, wouid
nick or crawl his way along under the lea OF the
walls left standing, from one TO the other OF tne
old churches, in search OF some missing relative
or friend
What added to the dreadful gloom was the pom
derous thump of the breakers all along the line OF
the sea wall of the city, which at times seemed TO
shake the very foundations of the churches, ana
caused cry Of earthquake" IN the crowd; Ihank
Heaven this appalling OF disaster, which mas
been withheld for these many centuries from TINS
venerable and historic city-once the metropolis OF
| the western world-was spared 10 u.s. In the
midst of the universal desolatiOn which prevails
there is sentiment OF gratitude IN the breasts OF
these poor destitute Domincans, that matters arc
| no worse Their churches were comparatively un-
| injured, and this these simple-minded devotees
| regard as Il special token OF remembrance ol
| Heaven.
In this connection let me cite the somewhat re-
markable fact that when the City of Santiago dc
los Cabeleros on the North side of the island was
DESTROYED by an earthquake in 1913, the great
church of the city was the only building lett stand
| ing, and the sorrowful but not disheartened dc
scendants of the gallant hidagoes who followed IN
| the wake of Columbus and founded that fair city
| in what was then u savage though beautiful land
accepted the fact as sign that the Almighty
would not drive them from their beloved site, ano
set resolutely to work to rebuild 1t IN more tnan ies
original beauty aud strength. And afterwards, IN
| 1864. when SPAIN made brutal by a revolt which
she despised, but could not suppress, IN mt OF
impotent rage burned the whole city to its founda
tions: again, as by miraculous interposltion -, o
| Heaven, the old churoi, stood unharmed amid th'
aules and again. with grateful and rustflll nearts
| it's homeless children, with no7aid but their owl
| strong arms and resoute purpose and unshakeL
faith, have erected q new and prosperous city;
| rode through its streets last May, and was aston
ished at the evidence OF thrift comfort, ana even
| luxury which its thronged and busy streets pre-
| sented. ~,
Before this late visitation SantO Domingo Cit.
was famous chiefly for its magnificent runs, ant
one revisiting the city to-day would not, at q mrs
| glance, be impressed with any sudden change
wrought in the fortunes of its inhabitants, All th'
prominent cditiccs remain standing. But tn'
desolation is in the cabins of the poor. thousands
are houseless. The roofs of their dwellings, belnt
blown off in the first heavy gust, the RAIN after
wards deluged and spoiled everything IN the shap
of furniture, wearing apparel, bedding, etc, 81
| that large numbers have saved nothing Dut TN
clothes they stood in. Some OF these poor peopl
owned ''burrow" or donkey their only treasure
with which they did kind Of slow-express busl
ness ABOUT tOWH, OtileIS hept Il lcM HSHo VI iI
goats, or a COW. great part OF these domesti
animals were killed during the gales
The roads to the interior are in sad condition
being choked with fallen trees. 1t is reported tina
many natives, with their animals, were drowned
in attempting to cross the suddenly swollen river
to their homes. The Niqua river rose TO an unex
amplcd height and swept off large quantity o
copper ore belonging to the Santo Domingo Cop
per Company Of New York. The camels employed
by this company in transporting ore to the sea
| I understand not iuiurol thpy In
fiat, with their long nccks extended on the groun
before them, according to their custom in tn
desert Great expectations arc entertained her
from the operations of this copper company, an.
it is gratifying to know that their operations vii
not be materially impeded by tho late disaster
Don Pedro valverdc, envoy to Hayti, had re
markable and narrow escape. He was passenge
on the brig Alta Graca, whith arrived of the har