The New York herald., 1871-09-04
THE HURRICANE In THE WEST INDIES
Loss Of Life and Property-Danage
to Shipping.
ST. THOMAS, August %, 1871.

ST. THOMAS, August %, 1871.
On Sunday the 2ist, at about seven p NJ, IL be-
gan to blow from the north, and continued quite
gale till one A. M. OF the 22d. There was then
ul, and Monday morning came calm and pleasant.
At about ten A. NJ 1t commenced to blow again, but
steadily and little fear was shown. The barometer
had only fallen about three lInes the wind cohtinu-
ing however, stores were closed and houses barred
up. Up to O'Clock the wind was steadily blow
Ing rom northnorheast and the barometer still up
AT that hour the glass commenced TO drop and the
gale broke IN all Its fury. Tiles, shingles and zinc
were scattered to the winds and floods o.: water
poured into the houses. About two O'Clock the
wind shifted to the northwest and again due west
the mercury still falling. At four p. NJ the wind
had got around to eastsoutheast, and still blew
with unabated fury. Az quarter 70 five p. NJ. the
wind suddenly ceased ana for three.quarters OF an
hour there was perfect lull. To an observer then
the destruction was fearful. In the eastern
pare of the town all the small houses were nat; the
French lodge, large frame building, was razed to
the ground. The barometer ut this point was at
2s degrees lines steady. AT half-past five p. NJ the
mercury commenced to rise gradually but steadily.
but the gale broke upon Us from the south with re-
doubled fury. 1t seemed as though, exasperated
that Its prey was about to escape, 1t was deter
mined to do It's worst IN che short time left. The
barometer continued to rise steadily until about
seven +. NJ, when It reached 20 degrees lines, and
there stopped We could then feel that the force or
the wind was gone, though 1t continued to blow
steadily anu heavily half the night
THIS morning the destruction Is fearful. The gale
seems 10 nave vented It's fury upon the eastern part
OF the town, and the remainder Is comparatively
good. Many lives III the town have been lost by the
falling houses IL Is Impossible at this hour nine
A. NJ, 22d) to state the number Of lives lost.
In the haro0r there was little loss, there being but
little shipping The Duke OF Wellington arrived yes
terday morning IN Distress having lost both anchors
ana gone ashore inside the harbOr. 1t Is supposed
she VIII 60 to pieces as she was leaking ten inches
per nour on ner arrival. The crew abandoned her
and got safely ashore on Water Island, sma island
| contiguous to st, Thomas The Halifax steamer
| Delta escaped all safe; she had steam up anu two
| anchors down. The American steamer Florida cut
away her masts and rode IL out. The French steam
Vile dc St. Nazaire and Sonora are both aground,
but II IS thought can be easily got on. The royal
mail steamers two OF which, the Mersey and Tyne,
were here, got up steam and came safely through.
The Danish schooner Grassncre, which was about
going on the railway to copper, has been injured in
the top works, but week or twO's work Will set
her all right,
1t Is not Thought here that the force OF the wind
was so great as In the hurricane OF 1857, but It's
longer duration was the cause OF so much destruc-
n0n we nave Just sent some b3, 900 10 the sufferers
By the fire In GuadelOupe and now need all our re-
sources. To show the force OF the wind i would
mention one instance. piece Of iron weighing
some three hundred pounds was lifted over large
wall ana placed IN yard some distance OF.
Al the hour OF writing Il steady WIND Is blowing
from the south, but no danger Is anticipated.
r. S.-The VILE de ST. NaZaife II ls said, IS not
aground. The Duke OF Wellington Is reported sunk.
telegram from ST. Kits yesterday morning
stated:-flaving pad weather, these communications
stopped, Tor what reason we do not know. This
morning the wires are all down, and we have no
telegrapnc communication anywhere.