New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-25
HURRICANE IN OUACHIrA.

Destruction Of Property.
The Monroe InteHigenecr Of the nine.
teenth instant, which did not reach US till
the twenty-third, reports destructive hur.
ricane:
teenth instant, about five o'clock, our town
was visited by one OF the severest hurricanes,
accompanied by hal, that we have ever
witnessed. The storm came from west by
north, and lasted about half an hour, but in
that short time destroyed considerable
property. As soon as possible after it had
subsided we proceeded on tour of recon
noissance. To speak Of the fences torn
down or the trees torn up, we would be
compelled to mention the name of everv
property owner in Monroe, for they all suf-
fered more or less. The first thing that met
our gaze on our way past the public square
was the belfry blown on it's side and the top
completely smashed; the cast iron frame of
the bell was broken to pieces, but the bell
itself remained whole.
Further on up the street we found that
the twO-stOry fire wall on the west side of
Grand street. put up short time before the
blown down, crushing in the roof of Mr.. C.
STEMS kitchen, breaking down his staircase
and knocking the side Of the house out of
line, breaking in all the windows and
knocking the goods out Of the shelves in the
store. The servant had just made fire in
the kitchen when the roof fell in. and for a
time there was danger Of a confagration,
but it was promptly extinguished. The
front of the old shed adjoining the fire wall
was blown down.
Going back DeSiard street. we found the
front Of DObsOn's stable on the sidewalk.
Higher up on Third street about One-half of
the tin roof of Mrs. Gayle's residence was
t'rn Oft and cabin crushed by fallen
tree.
When we reached the railroad crossing On
DeSiard street, We looked for the Wisner
school Use, but could see nothing of it. As
soon as we came past Mr.. Jones' grocery
we saw the repains of it on the ground.
Further out we found nearly all the
cabins and houses unroofed and many of
them leveled with the ground. The Meth
odist Episcopal Church North, on Washing
ton street, was also in ruins
We have never seen such a wrecked ap-
pearance OF a town as the one presented on
Friday evening and Saturday morning.
: The hailstones that fell during the early
part of the storm were among the largest
we ever saw. One that was picked up in
front of our office was larger than q hen
egg, and we were assured that one was
picked up on DeSiard street measuring
three inches by four.
We learn that there was but little de-
structien below town, the storm not extend
ing further down than about the middle of
the Downs plantation. The plantations on
Bayou DeSiard are also reported to have
suffered but little.
On DeSiard street, short distance be-
yond the graveyard, new stOrehOuse was
blown down, and Immediately opposite, two
small stores. A small building belonging
to the cOlored Baptist church was also
blown down.
Across tile river portion OF the roof of
CrOssley & McGuire's mill was torn of, and
a twO-story frame house in CottOnport,
belonging to the Cawthorn heirs, was COM
pletely demolished.
Trenton suffered but very little.
Of the Wisner schoolhouse the Intelli.
gencer says:
The destruction of this building is q
heavy loss to the cause of education among
the cOlorea people in our town. Put up
last year at an expense of over four thou
sand dollars, two teachers had been en-
ployed by the school directors since the |
middle of last December, and during the |
last month the number of children in at |
tendance exceeded two hundred. On |
last Miss Clara benson, teach |
ing the more advanced pupils, had an ex-
animation, at which we attended, and we |
must say that we were surprised and graft |
lied at the progress the children had made. !
We learn that the Baptist church has |
been kindly placed at the disposal of the |
board of school directors, and that no inter-
:uption of the school has taken place.
Steps will be taken to rebuild the school
rouse on different plan.