The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-03-09
TWO GREAT STORMS,

The most terrible storm which has, per-
haps, ever occurred is that which has been
called the great storm. 1t occurred, or
rather it's worst effects were experienced,
on October 10, 1850. Generated probably
in mid Atlantic, not far from the equator
it was first felt in Barbados, where trees
and houses were blown down. At Martini
que the storm overlook French transport
fleet and snti,ely destroyed it. There were
forty vessels, conveying A, 900 soldiers, aud
the Governor ut Martinique reported their
fate to the French Government in three
words-"The vessel disappeared" Nine
Thousand persons pe:ished at Martinique
and ZOO at ST. Pierre, where not IA house
WAS lett standing. ST. Domingo, St. Vim
cent, ST. Eustache, and Porto Rico were
next visited and devastated, while scarcely
asingle vessel nea, this part Of he cyclones
track was afioat ON October IL. At Port
Royal the cathedral, seven churches, and
l, 400 houses we've blown down. aud l. 600
sick and wounded persons were buried be-
meath the ruins of the hospital AT the
Bermudas 30 British ships were driven
ashore, line-of-battle ships went down at
sea, aud $4,000 pe,ished. Perhaps the
most remarkable effects of the storm in
this portion Of its course were those expert
enccd III the LeewaId Islands. The hur-
rIcane drove ye-pouuder cannon a
distance of 400 feet. Those who lived in
the government buildings took refuge III
the central part, where circular walls nearly
yard thick seemed to afford promise of
safety. But at / 90 O'clock the " ind had
broken down parts of these walls and lifted
off the roof. AS III great floods, IA common
terror preserves peace among amin Is which
usually war upou each o.her, during the
great storm human passions were for the
time quelied 10y the feIcer war of the ele-
ments. Among the ships destroyed at
Martinique were two English dr-slIips
twenty five sailors who survived suren.
dered themselves prisoners To the Marquis
of B"uille, the Governor of .Iie island, but
he sent them to ST. Lucie, writing TO The
English Governor OF that island that .'be
was unwilling to retain as prisoners men
who had fallen into his hands during dis
aSter from which 81 many have suffered"
The great storm of 1880 must NOT be con-
founded with the storm remembered for
many years III Great Britain az the great
storm. The latter occurred on November
20, 1103, and its worst effects were expert
ehced not as usual IN the tropics, but III
Western Europe. The great tempest of
November, 1iU3, the only tempest winch,
III our latitude, says Macaulay, has e4ualled
tie rage OF a tropical hurricane, had left a
dreadful recollection III the minds of all
men. No othe; tempest was ever in this
country the occasion Of a Parliamentary
address or of public fast. Whole fleets
have been Cast away. Large mausIuus
have been blown down. One prelate had
been buried beneath the ruins uf his palace.
London and Bristol had preseu. ed Tie ap-
pearance of cities just sacked. Hundreds
OF families were stIil i'll mourning. The
prosLIa'e trunks of large trees, aud the
Iuins of houses sIiil attested, IN all the
Southern cuuuties, the fury OF the blast.
But Macauley strangely omIts To mention
one at the most stI liking events connected
with tins teuibIe stuim--Ihe destruction
ri the Eddy stone Lighthouse. WitEstan-
ley, architect of the first Eddystone Light
house, was confident that II could resist
the tie"cest storm which ever blew aud ex-
pressed hope that lie might be IN 1t when
such stoi ragged. On Nuvembe 26 ie
arrived with a party of men " ho were en-
gagged To repair the building. The great
stoIm soon after began To blow, and ragged
thr"ug h"ut the nj ght. On the morning oI
the 2ith no trace of the lIoii: house was to
be seen.-C0rnhiH Magazine.