The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-11-30
THD CALAMITY IN INDIA,
Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pers,

Two Hundred and Finy Thousand Persons
LONDON. Nov. 1.%The TIMES has
q dispatch. from Calcutta annoilicing
that the Islands of Hattiall, Saudeep,
and Dakhin ShahabaZpore, and the
smaller ones were submerged by a
storm wave on Oct. 81. These islands
lie in an arm of the Bay of BENGAL,
between British Burmah and Calcutta.
They form different groups belonging
to the Backergunge, Nookholly, aud
ChittagOng districts, the larger ones
just off the mouth of Megna, by which
name the Brahmapootra il known for
the last sixty miles of its course. The
largest, Dakhin Shahabazpore, covers
an area of 800 square miles. and, until
the terrible calamity of the 2lst ult.,
had a population of 25O,O 600 sOuls.-
Aattiah in the Chittagoug district, had
$4,000. 1t contains IA square miles.
Sundeep, once in the possession of the
Portuguese, is little larger than Hat
tiah, and had about the same popula-
ton.
Between IL and l2 o'clock on the
right of October 81, with hardly q sign
OF warning, an immense wave rolled
up from the south, and with irresisti-
bic force swept over the islands, over
the estuary Of the Megna aud the wa
ters of the east, and in an incredible
short space of time reached the MAIN
land, and rushed over the level plains
on its mission of death. In many places
the wave was twenty feet deep, and
every living thing in its course that
failed to reach higher elevation was
and swept away by the
overwhelming flood. Many of the in
habitants saved themselves by climb
ing into the cOcOanut and palm trees,
but those who took refuge on the house
tops were secure for only q moment,
for the light bamboo buildings were
burst asunder by the water, and their
occupants swept out to sea. Some
were carried thus across the channel
ten miles to the Chiltigong district,
but the vast majority were never heard
of again. ThecOuntry is perfectly flat, |
aud almost every one perished who |
failed to reach the trees. There is !
a household in the island and |
OH the adjacent coast but lost many |
members.
The loss of life was terrible. No
fewer than 25U,OOO men, women aud |
children perished. The cattle were all |
drowned; not house was left stand
ing i'll the track of the devastating |
wave, aud as the boats were all swept /
away, all means of communicating
with other districts were destroyed.
The survivors Of the calamity are in /,
great distress, but the Government is |
relieving their wants as far ~ possible.
The Government Gazette says wher-
ever the storm wave passed it is be- /
lieved that not third of the popula-
ton survive. The islands have barely
of their Inhabitants.
The stencil from the putrefying bod
les, scattered over district hundreds
of miles in extent, is intOlerable and
there is great fear that the cholera
pest, that has just appeared in Nook
holly, will spreadOve the whole cOun-
try east Of the PuDiaub, and perhaps
find it's way to the pop.lous Calcutta
district and the crowded regions be-
yond.
News from the districts of Madras
threatened with famine is somewhat
better. Rain has come in time to do
some good. In Bombay the prospects
are still gloomy. Actual famine in
two or three districts seems probable,
and great distress I'm four or five more.