The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-18

island of Cuba, on Friday last, Of destructive
tropical hurricane, involving the loss Of two
thousand men, women and children at Ma
tanzas-swept away to death in the sudden
and overwhelming inundations. The pressure
of the hurricane was against the northern coast
of the island, driving upon 1t . heavy swell Of
the sea, which of itself caused an unusual in
undation In all the exposed bays and inlets Of
that coast, and especially In the broad-mouthed
bay Of Matanzas. This great swell rolling In
from the sea, 1t appears, was met at Matanzas
by the floods from the interior descending upon
the city by the two rivers which meet near
that point, and thus, with the retiring swell
from the sea, the combined forces Of the rush
ing food swept everything before them.
Hence the fearful loss Of lives involved in the
disaster. There was no time and there were
no means Of escape to the population engulfed
In this resistless wave Of rushing waters. We
fear, too, that in the full extent of the de-
structive effects of this dreadful visitation tho
loss of human life will appear larger, though
we hope it may prove to be smaller, than the
aggregate Of these first reports.
The sad losses Of life and the heavy damages
to property from the recent unprecedented
storms and foods in Virginia, from the James
river to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, are
hardly summed up when the news of this ter
rife tropical hurricane comes to us from the
ever-blooming but unhappy island of Cuba.
At the same time, by the swift winged mes
sengers Of the ectric telegraph, we are in
formed Of rufhoun floods in Australia and
New Zealand, and within the short limits of
month we have had reports Of dcluging rains
in England and over the Battle fields Of Eastern
France; Of runous earthVakes in Sicily, in
India and in Mexico-the news, in brief, of
remarkable succession Of pesthrbations and
commissions 10 the watery elements above and
in the fiery elements under thSkearth. All
these strange phenomena, brought within our
immediate observation from the for quarters
of the globe and the isles of the seq are full
Of matter for and suggestive of much valuable
instruction to scientific inquirers into the
causes Of these mysterious things.
Is it not suggestive coincidence that on
the very night of this fearful hurricane in
Cuba FRIDAY night last) we had over half the
area OF the United States one of the most
beautiful exhibitions of the northern lights that
are vouchsafed to us in the temperate zone?
three nights in succession here we had bril-
liant display of these northern lights, only to
be Immediately followed by those terrible
storms in Virginia thence extending north
ward, in a subdued form, to the British pos
sessions, and westward to the Rocky Noun
tains? Is there not some intimate connection
between the electricity which flashes in the
northern lights in these ATTITUDES and some
heavy tempest near or remote? Have we not
thus q hint from these northern lights, in re-
ference to existing or approaching storms,
which scientific research may turn to prac-
tical account? After this late extraordinary
drought, extending over the northern temper
ate zone round the GLOBE q reaction in the
elements, in excessive storms and floods, it
may be said, might have been expected.
But we think that through the telegraph, by
land and sea, we have now the book of all
these mysteries opened, and that science may
read and interpret it for the general benefit of
mankind. 1t is in this view that we anticipate,
from men Of science devoted to the study,
great and valuable results to seamen and lands
men from the system of electric storm signals
just established by the government. Surely
there can be no more inviting field for scien-
tifc inquiry than the broad and beautiful field
we have suggested covering the law Of storms.
Our NEUTRALITY LAws.-In our Washing
ton correspondence will be found the outlines
of an interesting correspondence which has
taken place between Baron Gerolt and Mr..
Secretary Fish. The result of the correspon-
dence is that Secretary Fish and Earl Gran
vile, the United States and Great Britain,
stand on precisely the same footing. The laws
of Great Britain and America forbid private
expeditions, but the laws of neither country
hinder private enterprise. Lord Granville has
told Count Bernstorff that private citizens may
sell arms to any purchaser, but must also run
the consequent risks Secretary Fish has
given Baron Gerolt similar answer. Is
Prussia prepared to ngnt france, Great
Britain and the United States all at once
Bismarck, we fear, must pull in his horns. We
are glad to find our Foreign Secretary so
clear, so firm and SO decided. The distinc-
ton which he makes is sharp and Ineligible.
THE New ATTITUDE OF THE NEUTRAL
PowERs.-One of our latest rumors, and not
the least suggestive, is to the effect that
Russia and Austria are strongly disposed to
take the initiative in bringing about peace.
Austria has already done her best, according
to her own showing; but although she has
hitherto failed she is not unwilling to repeat
the effort If a fair chance presents itself.
Russia, it is again said, will demand equiva-
lent guarantees if Prussia makes herself mis-
- - he