The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-07-02
How the Wind Blsws in Barbados.

The 10th Of October, 1880, was a day
famous in the history of Barbados, ON ac-
count of a terrible hurricane which devas-
tated the island for three days, involving
the less of life and property to a fearful ex-
tent, and which was yearly commemorated
by special religious services almost up to
the 18th of August, 1881, when another
similar scourge, far more disastrous in its
consequences, though providentially shorter
in its duration, swept over the Atlantic
Ocean, carrying death and destruction in
its course.
The season had been unusually favorable
to vegetation; and on the evening of We'd
nesday, the 10th Of August, the sun set on
as fair and verdant landscape as it is pos
sible to conceive of; but on the morning of
the 18th it rose on a scorched and blasted
wilderness such as no pen can adequately
portry. Far as the eye could range, neither
house nor tree could be seen, save as
their rufus marked the course Of the storm.
Cornfields and cane-patches, which the
evening before were rich in all the beauty
of tropical luxuriance, were brown and
withered as though burned by fire.
was young man then, not twenty
years of age and was on visit to planter
who, with two elderly maiden sisters, re-
sided en- his estate about ten miles from
Bridgetown, the capital of the island. The
house, two stories high, with frontage of
about eighty feet, was built of the limestone
peculiar to the country, the walls being
three OF four feet in thickness. The base
ment consisted of dining-roem, about
forty feet long, with veranda in front,
facing the north; at the eastern extremity
was billiard room; and at the western
side were the drawing-room and entrance
hall, from which rose the staircase, leading
to corridor the whole length of the house,
with the bedrooms on either side; and at
the back were harness room and coach
house, over the former of which was spare
bedroom with paper Of a blush pattern,
from which circumstance it was called the
Blue Room; above this, again, was store
room, in which all the choice iquors-old
rum, brandy, wines, bottled ale, &c.,
were deposited. give this description of
the premises, because it is necessary for I'M
Outstanding subsequent portions of this
narrative; and l should add that, while
this Blue Room communicated with the
other portion of the house inside, there
was also stone flight of steps outside,
leading to the passage through which you
had to pass in order to get to the store
room.
We retired to our rooms about ten
o'clock. Snow, an English dog belonging
to my friend, something between fox
hound and TERROR, followed me into my
room,-a thing she had never done before.
Having tucked my mosquito-curtain Sc
curely round my bed, lay down, but not
and Numbered and lightened. About mid
night, 1 was startled by Snow springing
bang through the mosquito-net on to the
bed. kicked her off; but in about ten
through different part of the curtain; and
at the same time became conscious of a
most strange noise mingling with the in
creasing roar of the rain on the wooden shin
giles of the roof, and the bowling of the wind,
and the booming of the thunder. Il may
state here that this gong-like sound was
occasioned by some sheet-copper, leosened
from portion of the roof, Tapping against
fha do oft \ fho 70,
the other end of the room, l sprang out of
bed in alarm, and thought of arousing my
host, to ascertain what this horrible din
could mean, for l began to suspect that a
hurricane was brewing. Accordingly, I
dressed myself; but concluding that the
other inmates of the house must be aware
Of all that was occurring, and fearing lest
should be laughed at next day for having
been unnecessarily frightened, again lay
down, though with my clothes on, ready
against any emergency. Till about three
o'clock, | thus remained in terror, reprOach-
ing myself for having so ruthlsssly repealed
the poor animal, whose instinct had
prompted her to give me warning Of ap-
preaching danger, when my host came to
the door and advised me to get up, as the
window-shutters of the dining-roon were
nearly all blown in, and the principal door
was also burst open.
l lost no time in going down, and found
the whole household at work with hammers
and nails, trying to secure the shutters and
door; but all in vain. The dining-ta
and chairs, and the heavy billiard-table,
were all huddled up together in one corner.
My friend, on being asked if there were no
more nails, told me he had some in his
bedroom, and asked me to accompany him
up stairs, which did; and just as we were
about to leave his room, he said, 81 may
as well lock the door, in case the wind should
force the window in your roem," both
chambers being at the eastern end of the
corridor, and opposite each other
Strange" said he; GO cannot lock it.
What can be the reason? 1t always locks
SO easily. You try" It's of no use,"
said, after making several attempts; "and
| think we mad better not stop here any
longer" "Let me have one more try"
said he. "No," exclaimed; 81 shall not
remain any longer" He begged me NOT
to go. l do not know why, but stubborn
ly refused, and moved along the corridor
towards the staircase. Reluctantly, he
followed; and he afterwards told me that
he saw the whole of that portion of the
house fall in as he reached the end of the
passage. The wind now, however, drown
en- all other sounds. Just at that instant
we met his sisters, and all the servants with
their children,-in all about twenty; and
the two ladies at once suggested that we
should take refuge in the Blue Room, as
being, in their opinion, the strongest, yet
the oldest part of the building. We went
to the Blue Room, and was then asked to
read from the Prayer-book; and bawling
out at the top of my voice portions of SER
vice appointed to be read during storm at
sea, was suddenly brought to stop by a