The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-07-02

only be compared to the bowling of all the
Lost Souls burst upon our affrighted ears,
and in an instant the window of our ark
burst into the room; the door, which was
opposite, was blown outwards, most provi-
dentially, for thus 4 free current was
afforded to the blasts. The floor Of the
storeroom above us was tilted up at the
farthest extremity, as we discovered by the
lightning. Mortar and rubbish were driven
into our faces, and our eyes were blinded
A wild shrek Of despair from the women
and frantic rush pell-mell for the door
ensued. I shouted as loud as l could
"Come back ~ and having lost their shawls
and handkerchiefs off their heads, and not
being able to see an inch before them, they
unwillingly returned; and well for them
they did, for, as we discovered when day
dawned, the inside staircase was gone.
All that l have narrated thus far occu-
pied about half an hour; but for two hours
and half we stood in darkness, drenched
wind praying for help, but expecting death
as inevitable from one moment to another.
placed myself as near the window as pos
sible, resolved that when found the room
by jumping from the window. After a
while, | became so far calm that l could
look Death in the face without fear, and
had my attention sufficiently drawn off
c,x, - H. of hat
some of those in the room near me were
saying One poor creature repeated the
Lerd's Prayer over and over again; another
recited the Creed, whilst third most
vociferously and earnestly reiterated pas
sages from the Litany. At six o'clock the
hurricane ceased, and the sun rose, and we
fastened to escape from our perilous posi-
ton, though, as we descended the steps on
the outside, We had to slide down on Our
launches, it being even then impossible for
us to stand against the force of the blast.
As we reached the little harness-room,
which was underneath the Blue Room, a
perfect cataract of rain fell for about half
an hour, and then all was hushed, and we
began to peer about, but could not realize
what we beheld, -could not believe that the
noble mansion of the day before was heap
of ruins,-could not understand how it was
that there were no trees to be seen; and
when l ventured into the garden and Or
chard and neighboring fields found the
ground strewed with fragments Of spars,
rafters, and beams, and studded with
wooden shingles, many of them having
been hurled high into the air, and dashed
to the ground with such violence as to be
EMBEDDED in it so firmly that found it i'm
possible to move them.
Poor Snow made her appearance about
half an hour after we escaped. She was
not hurt, but very much scared and bewil-
dered. So thorough was the smash that
the bedstead had slept on was never iden-
titled by SO much as n splinter.
During the following days we heard the
reports from the different districts. Many
rushed from their beds as the houses were
falling. Two sisters hand in hand were
struck down as they fled !: in the morning,
enc found that the other was dead. Deli
cate women were picked up with their
clothes literally torn from them by the VIC
lence of the wind. In Bridgetown, the
scenes presented by the colored population,
who are extremely demonstrative under
excitement, were heart-rending, as they
sought loved snes who were missing OF
buried under the ruins for in those three
hours one thousand seven hundred human
beings persisted. Hundreds of dwelling
houses were blown down. Not one escaped
without damage. Out of thirteen stone
churches, eleven were totally leveled with
the ground. l saw some with walls four
feet thick lying in unbroken masses, cut
down about four feet from the foundations.
The vessels in the harbor were driven high
and dry on shore. A piece Of solid mahog
any of about four cubic feet was carried
from the quay ever the roofs of the houses,
and lodged in the middle of the main street.
The chests of linen that placed against
the door were carried the entire length of
the passage, about twelve feet, and one was
jammed halfway up the staircase leading
to the store-room the other was deposited
in the middle of the store-rosm floor.
In one spot you would perceive what had
been an extensive tenement all in ruins,
and beside it, within few yards, still erect
and without injury, some insignificant out
building ; proving that in these tempests
the wind does not blow straight from one
point, but comes in rapid succession of
whirlwinas, or tornadoes, as they are term
observing that trees which were not utterly
destroyed, had their limbs twisted cork
screw fashion, such as the tamarind and
mahogany trees. The cocoa-nut trees that
flourish in these regions, and grow to the
height of forty and fifty feet, were demol-
ished by thousands; and the mountain cab
bage, still more majestic palm, reaching
an altitude of ninety and a hundred feet,
or four yards, was snapped, in many in
stances, dozen feet from the ground, as
though it had been twig whilst many a
stately mango tree was Frustrated, to say
nothing Of the other smaller arborets, such
as the cashew, the bread-fruit, the plan
tains, and bananas.
The gentleman whom knew quilted his
dwelling with his wife and four children
hand clasped in hand but no sooner had
they got outside the door, than they were
all separated, and blown in different direc-
lions. AT daybreak he began his search,
and having first found his wife, they even
tually came upon all the children, one after
the other, all very cold and wet, but not
otherwise injured. 1t is right to record
that parliament voted one hundred thous-
and pounds for the relief of the sufferers.
Had the storm continued with the same
violence for three days, instead of three
hours, there would not have been a soul
left alive to tell show the wind blows in
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