The New York herald., 1871-09-01
SHOCKS OF EARTHQUAKE.
One Bark Wrecked and Two
Steamers Aground.
THE ISLAND OF ST. KITS IN RUINS.
Description Of the Hurricane-HOW II Alter
nately Ragged and Lulled.
HLEGRAGs TO THE NEW YORK HsnaL2

The HERALD special correspondent at st.
Thomas has forwarded us the following de-
spatch via Halifax -
ST THOMAS, AUGUST %,
Via HALIFAX, n S., August 81, 1S7l.)
There was terrible hurricane on August
81 In and around this port. It swept along
the neighhorng islands, but prevailed with the
greatest fury in St. Thomas.
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
The destruction of lives and property is
awful to contemplate Trees were uprooted,
houses unroofed and merchandise scattered in
lall directions. The docks are strewed with
debris of all kinds.
THE VESSELS PREPARED FOR THE HURRICANE.
A heavy sea indicated the coming of the
hurricane and most vessels were prepared for
Ut, so there is comparatively little damage to
shipping.
SAD HAVOC IN ST. THOMAS.
cerned this was one of the most destructive
Hurricanes on record. 1t was fully as bad as
the last one. Although the inhabitants lashed
down and secured their houses in anticipation
Of it thousands are left without roof to
shelter them.
STRUCK DEAD BY DEBRIS.
Several persons were struck dead by flying
fragments of roofs, trees and other debris.
Buildings are laid waste and impetuous tor
rents of water washed away part of the docks.
The damage inflicted upon the inhabitants is
yncalculable.
TREACHERoUs CALMs.
The hurricane ragged with alternate lulls.
AT times a calm ensued for q few minutes,
after which the wind recommended with addi-
xional fury.
THE SIGNAL STATION AND FLOATING DOCKS
The signal station on Water Island has been
seriously damaged. Grave fears were at one
time entertained that the floating DOCK which
was sunk shortly after the last hurricane and
raised last fall, would be entirely destroyed.
Eurther Particulars Of tho Hurricane-An
Awful GnIc and EnrthQunke-Death and
Desslation all Over the Isand-Onc Hundrcd
and Fifty People Killed-Not a Hous Left
Standing Undamaged.
ST.. THOMAS, W. l., August %,
Via HALIFAX, N. s., August 81, 1871.
Another hurricane has swept over this un-
fortunate island, overturning every house and
laying the place in ruins. Yesterday, at about
one A. NJ, a gale broke from the east, shortly
afterwards shifting to the northeast, from
which point it blew more fercely until noon,
when the wind veered round slowly to the
north, and fell upon the island in terrific
hurricane.
eVIoRTER THAN THE PREVIOUS HURRICANE.
It chen shifted to the northwest and blew
with great violence until five P. M, when
there came lull, which lasted until six P. M.
At this hour the hurricane again swept over
the island from the south. Its duration was
not so long as on the previous visit, but its
violence was equally great. Its term of
greatest fury lasted only two hours.
THE GALE AND EARTHQUAKE.
Closely following in the wake Of the hurri-
cane came an awful gale from the south and
southwest, which ragged for several hours.
During the hurricane, in the afternoon,
several shocks of earthquake rendered more
dreadful the situation of the people who were
hearing overhead the crash of roofs torn by
the hurricane, and had to feel at the same
time under foot the foundations Of their
shelters shaken by the earthquake.
THE KILLED AND HousELEss
Hundreds of dwellings have been swept
away and not house has been left standing
undamagcd on this distressed island. Some
six thousand people have been left houscess
and destitute, and nearly one hundred and fifty
persons have been killed aud manged or dis
abled by houses blown down or bricks and
tiles flying thickly all around during the hur-
rcane.
THE ooRPsEs UNDxR THE RUINS.
Already some thirty corpses have been
dragged from under the rains which, in the
shane of trees, fences, shattered houses aud