New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-20
'EANS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1871.
THE GREAT HURRICANE.


Ruin and Deselasssnria St. Thouas-Eear
fal Loss Of ife-The RavaGes ef IL
storm In st. k1tts and Antigna.
From the New York Sun
ST.. THOMAS, September 8.-The hurri
cane burst out first over the British islan(
OF Antigua, on Sunday, August 20, and lef
1t In ruins with no small loss of life Ther
| it Travelled in q r0rthwesterly direction
and made great havoc on St. Kits From
st. Kits it came over to st. Thomas on its
course north northwest, causing more suf
fering and misery among the poor class Of
the inhabitants than was experienced in
| the weather bore threatening aspect, the
| wind blowing in strong puts from north
| northeast to northeast, which continued all
! night until Monday morning, when the
| squalls increased in violence, and the ba.
| rOmeter indicated 1890 BY nine O'Clock,
A. NJ, the weather gradually became more
threatening. barometer steadily falling.
At l P. NJ. ths-4uicksilver was down to
twenty nine, and the gusts OF wind increased
IN fury, blowing from north northeast. The
hurricane had low complete charge, heavy
squalls continuing until $3.50 p. NJ, when
the wind veered to the north and came
down over the Mills in fearful whiflwinds,
shifting from north northeast to north north.
west From this, time to five o'clock the
worst part of the hurricane was experienced,
and nearly all the damage to the eastern
part OF the town was elected then. The
first part OF the hurricane was now over,
and a calm OF about thirty minutes sue
ceeded. as If the elements were preparing
tor greater outbreak. At 5 P. n the bar
Ometer had reached its lowest point, about
2SlO to %. The wind now changed to
southwest to south, and blew heavily, but
the mercury commenced to rise gradually,
and the hurricane passed away to the west
ward.
The eastern part of the town has suffered
most, and presents desOlate spectacle. In
some streets only two houses are standing.
which are badly injured. Whole squares Of
houses have been blewn down, and the
ruins lie iu1nbled together. The Military
Hospital had the roof blown of; the Roman
Catholic chapel in COcOan.at square is in q
ruinous state The French Masonic Lodge.
Les Cp1rs Sinceres, No. 14l, was completely
blown away, leaving only the walls of the
foundation standing; but owing to the &C
tivitv Of large number Of the members,
lodge have since been saved from the debris,
foremost among which we may record the
library and archives.
The residences of the Dutch consul and
of the acting French consul have been un.
rooted, and otherwise badly injured. At
Madam Bjerye only two or three houses
are standing. This quarter. occupied by
the poorer class. suffered much. In fact,
the effects of this visitation are dreadful.
In 1867 the damage was more general, and
not as concentrated as it has been in this
instance. The lower part Of the town, the
"Back-of-all,' has suffered likewise, but not
go much as the eastern part, already al
luded to. In the harbor the loss has been
tritiing in consequence Of the small num-
Der Of vessels in port.
The American steamer Florida cut away
both masts to ride out the gale The French
steamer Sonora was run ashore after part
ing from her moorings The steamtuc Vice
Governor Berg stranded at the HauI-over,
and two other small craft sustained some
slight injury. The British bark Duke of
Wellington. with a cargo Of sugar in hogs
heads. lying off Prince Rupert's Rock,
parted her cable and drifted toward Water
Island, where the crew were safely landed.
The vessel was then blown about the Tri-
angle rocks to the east Of the entrance to
the harbor.
But what is most distressing is the loss of
life and personal injuries sustained by MANY
in the first blow. Many of the
poorer people living near the parade ground
and other streets were crushed bv the fall
ing houses. In one house five persons were
killed. By the police reports we learn that
thirty bodies have been discovered and
buried, and that about seventy are manned.
The police department acted with zeal and
activity in rescuing the wounded and render
ing assistance to the destitute. Our Colonial
Council convened a meeting on the twenty
second instant, and voted funds for the re-
lief Of the sufferers; and many of those who |
lost everything. and might. under the cir
have been without a morsel of |
food. have been at least placed above want |
BY the pronptitude Of our representatives.