The New York herald., 1874-11-16
THE TYpHOON IN CHINA.
Widespread and Fatal RayageS Caused
by the Great Storm.

A Terrible Fire After an Inundation-
The Dead Counted by Thousands.
HONG KONG, Oct, .. 1874
The losses which were caused by the sweep OF
the typnoon were widespread and disastrous to
life, property on land and the shipping.
AT Canton two gunboats were totally wrecked,
besides enormous losses to the native shipping.
The town also Is fearully damaged,
THE SCENE At MACAO.
The following letter from Macao, published in q
give some idea OF this frightul storm and the ter
rible destruction which 1t has caused:-
A MOST DREADFUL CALAMITY
mas befallen TINS town. 1t Is now heap cf ruins.
desoatioD is every where on the evening OF the
22d inst. the appearance OF the atmosphere and
that something serious was brewing aud that .
typhoon was 70 be feared. The wind was not
pe Put tine sea was se ana
moan sound %,,n STlu mace on In the tine
rom the north quarter, and at midnight the inner
harbor began to be scene OF destruction. the
and being smashed to pieces. Chinese gunooat
capsized on this occasion with three Englshmen
gan to move ana tiles new about IKE hall. Every
moment the wind grew stronger, the barometer
steadily falling. Suddenly the wind veered to the
Then the sea which had been rising gradually in
creased to
Overlapping Its usual limits, and struck In body
with tremendous force the whole course OF the
the quays were destroyed, the large granite stones
hurled about, the guns OF the batteries dsmounted
and junks were smashed against the buildings. In
less than an hour the work OF desti uction was
every mouse was invaaea ns ey ne ne
Government House, and the houses to the south
ern extremity Of the praia were reduced to
The desolation or the town now reacned It's
TIE CRASH OF FALLING HOUSES,
the screaming OF tie victims, people running to
and fro in the streets pursued by the rushing
sea, all this was something awful TO hear or see.
Suddenly an ominous glare appeared In the
heavens.
FIRES HAD BROKEN OUT
In dtnerent parts OF the town, and the names
whipped on by the gales, rushed in horizontal
buildings that stood even at great distances IN
their direction. The lurd glare OF these nres was
town in eysrv erectlon on this OCCASION the loss
OF life was fearful. People had only to choose their
death by water, fire or the shock OF falling build
tngs; but death was everywhere. Many persons
who were hidden In the iurtnest recesses OF their
houses found themselves suddenly surrounded oy
the danes, and perished mserabiy.
THE BAROMETER
fell to less than 27.90 and then the confusion and
raging between the elements was indescrbaDle.
At last
DAYLIGHT DAwNED
on this tremendous scene II seemed dream
destruction Macao was not TO be recognized; the
waves sprung like infuriated lions on the smashed
buildings and 1t seemed uncertain II the very
ground had not gone down. BY this time the bar
ometer was already rising, ibut as soon as the first
the Governor, the noble and brave vlscount 5.
Januario, went out with mis- stan and body
robbers who began to assail and plunder the
ruined houses were energeticay put down. 1t is
Q most remarkable occurrence that to this mo-
The Governor, with Mr.. Cunba or the public works
department., alter many heroic efforts vanquished
the fires. Mr.. Cunba was severely wounded in the
hand on this occasion. While this was going on a
body OF soldiers with Mr. r. sampaio, naval
officer, alde-de-camp TO the Governor, and Mr.. Mes
nier were saving lie the sea. Mr.. Mesnier. not
withstanding the tremendous sea, stripped him
drowning, and fortunately succeeded. Mr..
Smithies Of the English navy. who was. on the
The greatest energy and bravery was shown by
the Portuguese soldiers on this occasion. when the
fury Of the waves made It o very % alieut @ matter
Is impossible 10 give In detail every praiseworthy
ACT that was done on this occasion. The cold was
intense, the wind terrible, and the rain struck In
sucn way as to hurt. Toward three O'Clock the
fire was subdued and the sea had returned to Its
wOnted bed, but alas Macao was no more what
1t was few hours before
| 1t is remarkable thing that among the general
CONSTRUCTED
viscount s. Januario remained nearly untouched
as the solitary witnesses Of former prosperity
which seems to be now gone forever.
AT THE FORT.
The new fort was washed over BY the sea, and
the new guns OF 100 POUNDS were washed to q
miserably. The commander OF the guard.
seeing that the water was gaining on his
Sa Io ss s 70 ss4 0s ssS 70 dsa ons
only escaped and gave the particulars or this re.
9Iiao markabe . behavior the police onacess and
among them Mr. Cortreal deserves the thanks OF
everybody. It's q satisfactory thing to see during
soldiers and officers risking their lives and work
| ing against fire, wind and water In the most en-
GLANCE AT THE SCENE OF DISASTER.
The town is overthrown. II the Chinese hordes
had been IL possession OF 1t after an assault It
to see this dire calamity. Everywhere you hear
the lamentations OF the unfortunate victims. TO
give an idea Of the extent OF the loss in native
shipping may say that in the Typa Harbor, IN
the beginning OF the typhoon. there were 600
junks while after 1t only fourteen we're found.
Corpses strew the banks everywhere; wrecks
tons. JUNK j was as thu thrust inss Mr. Ybeie house,
the native villages near Macao have been swept
away. Typa and COOwan are no more.
The loss OF life there is considered to exceed 20o0
persons, In Macao 1t IS perhaps greater.
traordinary cataclysm as this in these regions;
the barometors indicator went on the scale.
clnco tne VpuOOu very StrOuR Westerly WluQ
has been blowing, and but few boats are seen ply.
ing about.
write in the midst OF ruin, death and lamenta-
ton.
SIGHTS or DEATH.
do not think anyone ever saw more CHASTITY
sights than nave seen during the past few days.
A battle 1eld must be horrible enough; but then
that Is mans work, and when man likes that may
be seen no longer. But the sights OF death ana
desolation that are around me now DEFY mans
power TO prevent, and the sense OF one's utter
helPlessness seems to add to the feeling Of pain
which tney cause. But my purpose Is not to
moralize. Having seen all the chief thorough
fares and buildings OF Macao, determined to
visit the spot which one might Judge TO De most
fatal-the Chinese district near the Barra Fort.
over huge mounds OF debris, on which one
can walk only with the utmost difnculty, and,
occasionally, not little danger. No description
! could convey an adequate idea OF this desOating
scene. As you near the place you are almost ar
rested By smell horrid and repuguAnt In the
4 extreme. w 1qya aOo ahpud NOT have known