Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-21
TIE GULF HURRICANE.

pendent of the New York Herald writing from
Havana on the 10th says:
On the 9th inst, the barometer fell rapidly
at the same time the wind commenced to blow
| increasing in violence until evening. when th'
| storm increased. The wind was from the
| northeast 1t continued to blow heavily al
night, In the morning it lulled little, bul
in the afternoon it broke forth again with re
doubled violence. The Captain of the Porl
| signalled the approaching danger. The yes
sells in the harbor got up steam and moved It
| secure places, where they dropped their storm
anchors, and thus they reposed IN comparative
safety,
On the night of the 9TH it blew perfect hur-
ricane, though it did not equal the. storm which
blew over the island in 1865. The greatest
CONSERVATION prevailed among the inhabitants
All the doors and windows of the houses wer,
barred and the streets were deserted ut an
early hour. No person was abroad. The
bowling of the wind was terrific.
In the morning the storm had much abat'
and the people ventured forth. visit to ont
of the whayes in the harbor showed much less
damage had been done than was expected
Several vessels had dritted ashore during the
night but sustained no injuries beyond some
damage to the rigging which can be repaired
ut little cost A number of lighters had also
gone aground.
In this city several small houses were com
pletely unrooted. The window blinds and
caves of others were torn Oft by the violence
of the winds. All the trees in the park were
blown down and the greater portion of the
flowers and shrubbery in the various gardens
and places in the city have been destroyed.
Fortunately no lives were lost. The railroads
out of the city are not running any cars as
the roads have been greatly damaged by water
al
A messenger from the city of Alatanzas says
that the heavy rains and winds which prevailed
there caused junction of the San Juan and
Yumuri rivers, which run at different sides OF
the town, submerged the suburbs of Versailles
and overfowed the adjoining country.
1t is estimated that two thousand persons
have been drowned.
The bridge San Luis, Baen and Yumur
have all been swept away. The warehouses
situated on the San Juan river have been des-
troyed. The city has been rendered COM
pletely desolate.
Reports which have come to hand from Car
denas say that great damage has been done
there. The lower part of the city was laid
waste. The interior of the island back of
Cardenas and Matamoras is desolated AT
Guines many houses have been unroofed. a
church tower blown down and the trees in the
plaza Frustrated. The rice fields in the vicini
ty of the town have all been destroyed. There
was great loss to cooperage and stock in the
warehouses on the low ground at Matanzas,
which was all destroyed. The influx of the
sea caused great rise i'll the rivers; when
the sea receded everything was swept away
| by the returning food.
Reports from various places throughout the
country say that the plaintain groves and
thousands of trees have been completely des-
troyed. The cane being somewhat backward
this season, sustains less damage than other
crops. In the estimation of some the hurri-
cane was the most severe which has visited
| this island within century.
The steamer Villa Clara went ashore at Key
Hacka. 1t is expected she can be got off.
Other coasting steamers are reported safe
A despatch f ON Santiago de Cuba dated the
10th, reports the loss of the French steamer
Daricn. All on board were saved. The pas
sengers and correspondence have arrived at
Santiago de Cuba.
The City of Merida from Vera Cruz, and
the Tyne, for St. Thomas, sailed from here on
Sunday, and the Missouri left last evening,
but they had to return this morning in conse
quence of the violence of the northwest wind
which was blowing at the time and which has
ragged since yesterday.
The following is list of the total wrecks
at Matanzas
Portland; brig Charles f., of Portland !;
schooner Edwin, of Bridgeport.
The following vessels were damaged:
Schooner Palmer, of Bath; bark Mary.
Another correspondent writing on the It'll
from Havana gives more particulars Of the
destruction at Matanzas.
This morning the city was startled with the
news of the frightful results of the storm III
Matanzas, a place of about forty thousand in
habitants, about sixty miles east OF Havana.
1t is situated on sort of peninsula, facing
the bay, the Yumuri river flowing upon the
north side and the San Juan upon the south.
Across the former is the suburbs of Versailles
and the latter the Pueblo Ninos, both upon
low alluvial ground. That portion of the city
bordering upon the bay is also very low. Ac-
cording to the accounts which have been re-
ccived here the heavy rains which have fallen
there, combined with the effects of the wind,
causcd the overflow of the two rivers, the
waters of which met in crossing the city,
causing immense destruction of life and prop
erty. All communication with Matai ZaS, both
by telegraph and mail, has been cut off since
the hurricane, and the news was brought here
by messenger to the Captain General, who
came on horseback, arriving last evening.
But few of the details have tranSpircd. 1t is
known that the subj BIS mentioned were over
flown. and the estimated number Of those who
persisted is two thousand. The warehouses
on the banks of the San Juan river were en-
tireiy destroyed, and the bridges Bailew and
| the San Luis over the San Juan and the Yu-
muir over the rivers of that name washed
away. 1t is safe, moreover, TO conclude that
millions of both public and private property
| have been lost.
Owing to the want of communication but lit
| tie is as yet known of the effects of the storm
! throughout the island. A gentleman recently
! arrived from Guines states that in that place
the roofs and windows of many of the houses
were partially destroyed. One of the towers
| Of the church was thrown down and the other
! greatly injured, while the debris falling on the
adjoining houses caused much damage. The
quarters of the Guarco Civil suffered greatly
and the trees on the Plaza were thrown down.
Many Of the poor are suffering greatly from
want of shelter. Therice fields in the vicinity,
which were ready for harvesting, have been
completely ruined. Ont the estate "Mendoza"
all the houses save the one occupied by the
overseer were thrown down. Reports from
the country generally as far as received in
] "A IL, 10