The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-21
THE CALAMITY IN INDIA.
TWO HUNDRED IND FIFTY THOU-
SIND PERSONS DROWNED.
Storm Wave that swept Three Islands Of
Thrce-t0urths fthcir lnhabunuis-iiou.-
es Demolished and Cattle Drowned.

storm Wave that swept Three Islands of
Three-t0urths Of thcir lnhn GUS
es Demolished aud Cattle Drowned.
LONDON, Nov. 20-The Times has de-
spatch from Calcutta announcing that the i'll
ands Of Hattiah, Sundcep and Dakhin Shaha-
bazpore. 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
lurmah and Calcutta. They form different
groups belonging to the Dackergunge, Nook
holly, and ChittagonR districts the larger ones
Just of the mouth Of Meena. by which name the
Brahmapootra Is known for the last sixty miles
of Its course. The largest, Daknin Shahabaz-
pore, covers an area Of $50 square miles. and,
until the terrible calamity Of the 31st ut., had a
population Of 10000 souls. Haitian. in the
Chittaeong distrc,, had population Of J000l.
1t contains IA ,qulre miles. .Sundeep, once in
the possession Of the Portuguese Is a little
l,rger than lIattiah and had about tho same
population.
Between IL and L. o'clock on the night OF
Oct. 81, with hardly a sign of warming. an
immense wave rolled up from the south, aud
with irresistible fofcc swept over the Islands.
over the estuary Of the Mcgna and the waters to
tie cast, and Ia an incredibly short space Of time
reached the mainland, and rushed over the level
plain. On its mission OF death. In many places the
thin IN iis course that fted 10 reach a higher
elevation was eugulfcd Gnd swept away bv the
overwhelming Hood. NinV of the inhabitants
saved themselves by climbing into the cocoInut
and y I'm tree. nut those wnD took refuge on
their hpu-etops were secure but for a moment
for the lght bamboo buildings were burst asun-
der by tue water. and teeir occupants swept out
To tea. some were carried thus across the chan
mel ten miles To- the thittagung district, but 4
/ vast 10 i1iity wsrs never heard OF again The
country IL PERFECTLY nat. AMI almost every one
peri>hru VINO failed to roach the trees. There
Is sc icely "A huuseho!i Ia the islands aud on the
acjace coast bu' lost many members.
I tie loss Of lie We terrible. No fewer than
10000 men. Won en-. aud children pclisned. The
catti- Werc oil drowned not "a hukc was lott
standing In tie track Of the devastating W We,
and AS the hotts were all swept away, al means
OF communicating with otncr districts were de-
etrOved The survivors oi the calamity are in
great distress. hut the Government D. rell wing
their wants rs last a. possible. Inc Government
gazette saws wherever the storm wave VI ssud IL
Is believed NOT third % the iOaulatlon sur
! we. The Islands have barely Ohe-fourth Of
/ their inhabitants.
The stencil from the pgtrciying bodies. scat
Tered over district hunGrcts 90 miles IN tx
tent. is iutoitrtulc. aud tnerc great fear that
holly. VIII spregd over thf who'll country east If
the Ptuldut. nu perhaps uud o. way g. the opp
uiuUs lcutti cisiitcl AID the crowded regi n.
! briu. Il.
| Nov. from the district ~ Madras threa. ened
/ with iiuinp j. soinewha better. Rain has cone
/ ia tiuo 10 60 some Rouc. ia u a. Day the pros
poets hfe san gloomy. Actual famine ia Two or
three disiiirta sreir- probable. aud great dis
/ ttess 10 ivAr or five mole.