The New York herald., 1874-12-03
JAMAICA.

The Island swept by y Hurricane-
Wfdespread Damage ON Shore and
Along the Coast-Tho Losses Estimated
1t $3.50, O,OOO-Industrial Progress and
the supply OF Labor.
KINGSTON Nov. 25, 1874
The event OF greatest importance since the
Transmission OF my last letter TO the HERALD mas
been the occurrence OF q severe wind storm,
hurricane, in TACT, which visited us on the ngnt OF
Sunday, the lst inst. Considerable injury has Deen
done to houses, growing produce, cattle ana otner
properly In all parts OF the island while dinerens
paris OF the coast have been strewn with tho
wrecks OF small craft, through which the coasting
trade Of the island Is carried on. The storm may
be said to have set In on the previous day. Octo-
Der 81 with very heavy rain. lasting through
out the entire day and rendering the streets or
the city very dtsagreeable. On Sunday the
rain continued, almost without interrup-
ton, not in persistent drizzle. but
as Jupiter Puvius had availed him
self of all the buckets that he could muster, and
had set all hands to NIL and empty them for
wager. In this state OF aratrs, such thing
as going to church was not to pe thought
or, and 1t Is doubtful n even the clergy
men OF the several places OF worship put in an ap-
pearance. Toward night the wind freshened, m
creasing In fury as the hours wore on, TILL it was
evident that
was at work somewhere, and that Kingston waA
feeling some OF lis effects. Ever and anon Q
loud, booming sound announced the falling in OF
some roof or the falling out OF wall. Simul-
taneously with this turmoil of the elements above
the sea rose to great height, the waves lashing
the shore in fury. and carrying away such build
ings were in their way and fratl to withstand
their force. What added to the horrors
OF the night was Its pitchy darkness.
ment which was covered with pail
OF inky blackness Trees, too, were torn up
by the roots, large trees being laid PROSTATE, as
II they were so many cabbages, and in many cases
falling on the roofs OF houses, involving them IN
destruction. In fact, there are very few persons
OF any age who remember to have experienced
sucn q hurricane as was now prevailing. At first
the wind seemed to blow from southwesterly
direction; IT then veered round to the southeast,
from which point worked itself round till, after
nghtfall, 1t blew direct from the northward, the
most dangerous point OF the compass from which
a gale can blow IN these latitudes. or course the
range OF the Blue Mountains in the rear OF the
city and some miles distant served as . sort Of
shield against the lu force OF the blast as far as
Kingston and other parts OF the southern coast
is concerned but the north side OF the island
came in ior the full fury OF the blast, and melan-
choly indeed Is the record OF
THE DEVASTATION
or vessels blown ashore and totally wrecked,
houses completely destroyed, buildings on sugar
estates and other industrial centres unroofed or
entirely demolished, cane fields devastated, the
provision grounds OF the black peasantrv laid
waste and the hopes OF their owners entirely
blasted. Indeed. so extensive has been the dam
age IN this particular direction that scarcity OF
native provisions may be expected, ana the
island will, more than ever, be dependent on the
Untec states for Its supplies Of iood-animal As
well ag vegetable.
VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS
There is another phase OF this sad disaster which
will be severely let but which must nevertheless
be looked squarely In the face, and the best en-
deavors used to apply remedy, aud that with
dismanting. and In some cases, the complete
prostraton 0. q number OF places OF wor-
description OF property is concerned, this Is the
more unfortunate, as the government-thet island
brita,n-seems to have at last awakened to some
thing ike proper idea OF Its responsibility In the
Of providing 500 900 per annum NOR FOR that purpose.
In lieu OF the paltry sum OF $4,000, which was the
annual grant ior educational purposes few years
CASH ESTIMATE OF THE LOSSES
II would not interest the majority OF the HRB.
AIDS readers to enter into detailed account OF
the mischief done; Dut persons who are supposed
to know something of uch matters have roughly
estimated the loss AT something ike $350, 000.
This. however seems TO be lar below the amouns
OF mischief DONE especially In regard to the ruined
crops OF the planters. which 1t would be exceed
ingly di1ncult TO estimate, even approximately.
TRAFFIC SUSPENDED
About the most serious Immediate consequences
or the storm was the suspension OF traric on our
short line OF railway, portions OF which between
miles distant were ana o,Ssr
covered with the debris OF fallen trees The
waterway under the railway brioge over the Rio
Cobal was completely blocked up with uprOOted
trees and other obstructive matter brought down
BY the swollen torrent, and the bridge itself was
twisted from the pressure thrown against the
glraers. Other bridges on the line have suffered
living memory, risen so high. In the space OF
hall an hour 1t mad risen upwards OF seventy eet
vicinity OF the river barely had time to escape to
the open road ere their houses were washed away,
properly OF every description. The new rrgatioa
works in course OF construction, and about hich
there has been 80 much newspaper controversy.
have, however, not suffered materially; but the
temporary workshops. laborers' houses tools and
materials have been carried away. Among other
inc0nvenlenceS caused by the storm was delay in
the arrivals OF the mails, IN consequence OF the
manner in which the roads have. been cut up and
oDstructions, IN the form OF fallen trees, DC,
thrown across them. But perhaps one OF the most
startling evidences OF the fury OF the gale is the
almost unprecedented lact OF the sea having
washed
OVER THE PALISADES,
water @ 't to the @ naroor r. Of W Kingston on that runs
from Harbor Head. parallel with the shore Of
Rya ena Of ena apou een w miles, 1ae Town OF
LOCAL Reform AND PUBLIC PROGRESS
The Jamaica Association has had several private
meetings, at which certain matters have been
brought before them and discussed, with the view
OF bringing them to the notice Of the British
government in the hope that measures may be
adopted having in view extensive reforms in
many departments OF the public service. In the
absence OF any transactions Of public nature Is
would be OF no use to cucumber this letter with
Vague conjectures that, alter all, may be wide 0r
the mark.
movement has been set on foot having for its
object the establishment OF line OF coasting
steamers around the island, ior the carriage OF
freight and passengers.
LABOR
Generally speaking, II the Hindoo coolies in this
Island have not progressed a. wen as their cOun-
trymen IN Demerara, neither can tbey be charged
with the murderous disposition that these latter
have manifested from time TO tIme sometimes,
however, the East Indians among us are success
iul IN getting up something like o serb
GUS row. An instance OF this sort oc-
CURED week or two ago at sugar
estate called Gayle. 1t seems that Mr..