New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-26
VOLUME IV-NO. l6S.
HURRICANE IN THE GULF
THE GALE AT KEY WEST
FULL REPORTS OF MARINE DISASTERS

The Key West Dispatch, of the fifteenth
instant, received here by the steamship Lib
erty, from Baltimore via Key West, says of
the gale:
Quite a sharp gale commenced to blow
here on Friday afternoon, seventh instant.
at about four o'clock, and only terminated
on Tuesday at the same hour. 1t com
menced at northeast. backing round TO
north, and at intervals blew furlousiy. The
lower part of the city, nearly up TO Caro-
line street. was one complete sheet OF
water Boats from the neig ighborhood OF the
market, at the foot of Front street. sailed
within rcd or two of Caroline street. The
bridges crossing Snnonton, Ann and Green
streets We're washed away by the tide, and
great apprehension prevailed lest the wind
should veer TO southwest. when immense
destruction would have been inevitable.
The water was from twelve TO 1Ittecn
inches over the floor of our press-room Oh
Friday night. at an early hour, and SO con
tinued until Tuesday morning, rendering It
impracticabe to get out the Dispafch on
last Saturday. A walk through the city on
Wednesday morning satisfied us, however,
that but little damage had been done by the
gale. With the exception OF the scorched-
like appearance OF the trees and shrnbbery,
and the prostration of il few old fences, no
10 the city. The greatest sufferers by the
gale are those who have gardens outside the
city. all OF whom have suffered much in the
prOstratiou Of their fruit trees and the en-
tire loss of the present crop OF fruits. Bar
rels upon barrels full Of lines, lemons.
grape fruit and oranges strew the ground;
scores OF banana trees with unripe fruit up
rooted or twisted and wrung of, tell OF the
sad havoc to their owners.
The shipping in the harbor Jared much
better than was expected. Preparations 70
meet the exigencies of the storm commenced
about four o'clock on Friday afternoon:
vessels alongside the wharves We're, about
this time, seen reeting sails, and making
their way up the harbor TO a secnre an
chorage. At five o'clock the Prussian gun
boat Meteor sent down her yards, and
shortly after the United States frigate Con
grcss, flagship of Commodore Green, sent
down her top-gallant yards and housed top
gallant masts. On the succeeding day she
sent down topsail yards and housed top
masts, as likewise did the sloop-ot-war
Tuscarora. Even to the eye of Il landslnan.
the precision which marked the cock-billing .
as sailors term it, of the yards OF both these
ships. and their regularly uniform descent
to the spar-deck, was pleasurable TO behold,
aud evinced, TO the eye of the seaman, the
thorough training and seamanship of each
under steam to relieve the strain on their
ground tackle, and rode on; the gale, as did
all the other naval vessels, without the least
accident.
Reports reach us that the pineapple grove
of Mr.. Baker on Key Largo is completely
ruined by the gale; also great destruction
at Indian Key.
The Liberty reports that the western edge
Of the cyclone swept over Key West, driv-
ing every vessel ashore, except the monitors
and United States man-of-war Congress.
The steam sloop Of war Tuscarora lost i've
anchors and went on q reef, where she re-
manned seven hours, injuring her stern post,
etc. The whole coast, from Jupiter Inlet
down and along the Florida Reefs, is per
feet wilderness of wrecks and wrecked
material.
As large number of the wreching feet
of Key West were either lost or disabled.
but little assistance could be rendered YES
sells on the reefs.
The Key West Dispatch reports the fol
lowing among other disasters:
British ship Sapphire. from Liverpool for
Havana and New Orleans, with heavy
| udcUlutfN. DolltiS. ctC.. lS ol SIloIt
near Elliots Key. The captain arrived at
this port. on the fourteenth instant, in his
boat Consigned to j. J. Philbrick.
American brig (name not ascertained) J,
bound to Galveston, with an assorted cargo,
ashore near British ship Sapphire.
British ship Trinidad, With 1890 boxes of
sugar, ashore at Cape Florida in eleven
feet water drawing eighteen. Consigned
to j. j. Philbrick.
Bark Hansen Gregory, j. B. Gregory, from
RockIand, Maine, bound to New Orleans, ran
ashore on Florida Reef on Monday, the
nineteenth instant, during heavy gale,
and bilged. Cargo consists OF granite.
During the gale, before the vessel struck,
lost three J nen overheard, who were
drowned.
Bark William Brown, from Boston for
Galveston, on Dog Rocks, with general
cargo between decks and ice in the hold.
All hands saved but one man, Frank
Nelson. The Invincible brought a load of
furniture from the wreck; surviving crew
landed here.
Schooner Rapid. Of this port, landed this
morning the captain, crew and passengers
of Spanish bark Thomas de Kesa, from
New Orleans for Barcelona, cargo staveS;
vessel and cargo total loss.
British ship Alexander, 1888 boxes sugar
Seven men, including captain and second
officer lost. Mate, steward and two men
saved. One of these was picked of u
submerged rock.