The New York herald., 1877-10-21
THE CURACAO CYCLONE.

A MEMORABLE DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE
DUTCH ISLANDS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA
IMMENSE DAMAGE TO PRoPERTY-THE SAME
HURRICANE THAT VISITED ENGLAND.
CURACAO, Sept 27, 1877.
on Saturday last the 22d, the barometer announced
q strong gale but no one supposed 1T TO be augury
of hurricane. on the night OF that day at eleven
O'Clock it began TO blow a strong north wind, which,
with some variations IN Its direction, continued
increasing up to nine o'clock on Sunday
morning. at which hour tho began to
make its first furious attacks. At the same time u
raned heavily. From nine to hafpas eleven o'clock
invaded Pitermaay; the houses, breaking away IRON
their stone foundations, were carried OIL by the In
These hours were the affecting and horrible. 1t
Is fearful to relate the spectacle which the entire town
presented Children aged ana destitute persons INC
dcspared, impioring mercy and clcmoncy from tho
heavens TO calm the loosened elements, They sought
refuge the yards and IN the raised part oil the town.
at every moment the gale increased and the entire
lard OF Curacao seemed the eve Of being lost IN the
immensely OF the Caribbean Sea
TERRIBLE SCENES.
At every moment fresh assailed the houses
that were yet standing being seemingly bent their
destruction The debris accompanying the waves was
thrown high on the land, and, dashing against the
buildings which had not vet succumbed, accelerated
dcscribable To attempt II would bo an Impossible
task The furics OF hell seemed to have conspred
to convor. Il into Pile Of fragments. Al Pltermaay
destruction of property Is ncalcuable; happily
loss OF Ito is small when compared with the mag
nitude of the catastrophe. Up 10 now we have only
been informed OF the death OF fifteen to seventeen
persons Many houses have been completely de-
stroyed to make it difficult to find out where they
stood Others arc in a deplorabe state.
The Two markets have disappeared; the
butchers entirely, and OF the vegetable and
fruit market there is scarcely wall left
standing. There many families without shelter
who have been already living three days In different
houses where they are charitaby lodged Yesterday
the Thetis entered port dismasted, and the man
of-war Cornelius Dirks in dcplorablo state. Both
vessels encountered the storm some distance from
Curacao. II was not until tour O'Clock OF Sunday
At i've O'Clock p 81. the appearance OF Pitermaay
that OF q city In ruins.
OTHER ISLANDS.
Bonaire has also suffered exceedingly. The ship
ping anchored in the harbor was blown out. A boat
manned by sailors belonging to American schooner
which was loading salt ut Bonare, entered this har-
Dor yesterday, the wind having driven the schooner
from her anchorage and stranded her on Curazao
Chico. Among the vessels lost at Bonaire the
sloops Libcrlad and Francesca The crew OF the Lib
who miracuously escaped. On the coast OF the
country Santa Marta capsizcd schooner Was
found. To-day the Midas has returned after
fruitless search at sea for tho schoonors
Juliet and Sarah, which blown from their
in2s The Midas reports that while of coast of
a dismasted and depiorable condition. on her course
Aruba. The Mdas has again started In search of
| the missing schoopers
4 OF SCHOONER.
| Aruba escaped entirely
i Orchila suffered severely. The houses and works
are all blown The schooner Bouquet, used for
running from the island ST. Thomas for yeuezuaa.
lost. The loss oil life has been small