The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-16
THE DISASTER In BENGAL.
An 0ilcial Statement Concerning Results
Produced by the StOrm-WaTe.

IIUuuCou w bHo ObUEm-WhV6s
The Bombay Gazette thinks the late
cyclone in Eastern Bengal, in conjunc-
tion with the destructive storm wave
which 1T caused, will be remembered as
one of the most terrible events in the
history ofthe present generation, il not
The most terrible event of the kind that
has ever happened in the history of man.
kind the Deluge itself, now that the prob
able geographical limits ofthat great dis
aster nave been estimated, could hardly,
in the early history of mankind when it
occurred, have produced more whole
sale destruction of human and animal
life than did the storm-wave which
swept over large portion Of the coast
Of Eastern Bengal on the nights
OF the 31st October and 1st November.
An official minute by Sir r. Temple re-
specting the efects OF the cyclone and
|,storm-wave says: "Ivisited the islands
of Sundeep, Hattia, Shahbuzpore, and
the western coast OF the river district OF
Backergunge. In all the localities visit
ed took the number in each Of the viii
lagos, and had the precise mortality in
each house asoertained in my presence
on the spot, to prevent the possibility OF
deception. From authentic data thus
obtained, LWas able to check the local
estimates and measure the actual mis-
chief done.
Messrs. Reynolds, Beverly, DR.. Weir
and the local officials accompanied me.
We apprehend that in an area of 5000
square miles about 1,162, 00persons had
been suddenly thrown more or less in
danger, OF whom 2l5, 900 must have per-
ished. This is only an estimate. The
exact number Is notPknowna yet, and
perhaps neverwillibe. The stormIwave
rose to the height OF ten or twenty feet.
The Noakally people think 1t came from
the sea up the Megna with salt water,
and then the cyclone turned it round
and rolled the fresh water of the river
down; the refuence caused the piling
.up OF the fresh and salt water which
rushed over the surrounding districts;
drowned bodies were carried great dis
tances; corpses began to- putrely before
population have no cremation, aud the
masses of corruption of human and ami
mai bodies were frequent, presenting a
sickening spectacle.
Many corpses were seen at sea; the
bodies Of living and dead were borne
across the arm of the sea from Sundeep
to Chittagong, the former clinGing to the
roofs of their own houses. The force o
the inundation appears to have lasted
from midnightto 2u'eloek in the morn
ing. By.daylight there was much subsi-
dence of the fiood, and by noon the sur
yiyors came down from the trees and
'regained terre tirma. The boats, great
and small, which constitute the only
means of carriage In these tracts, are
alllost.
The Noakally authorities were thus
bereft OF resources for moving across the
il.,,
the Hattia Islands, where the people
we're three days suocorless. In the
Backergunge District the boats were
saved, but much wealth was lost almost
entirely, in the form of agricultural
crops or cattle. With the exception of
DoWlutkhan,, a trading town, which was
clean destroyed, eight Thousand iinhab-
itants, a quarter of the number, pes
'ished. On approaching it we ste am ed
for two miles through the creek. Tie
banks were streWn with human bodies.
The India correspondent OF the Lon-
don Telegraph writes that three waves
in: succession, varying from ten to twenty
feet IN height, swept over the doomed
district. Many whO survived the first
shock were overwhelmed In the second
or thifd wave, and drowned before they
reach a place OF refuge. The women
anu cnIlufen HatufHtiy WeFe tne most
victims, though some were
washed into the branches or trees and
thereby saved.
The trees, indeed, were thiekly peo-'
pied that dreadful night until daylight
broke, and then 1t was found that not al
lew had escaped from drowning only to
perish OF cold. Lin one tree a man hug
ging a pig was seen close TO young
woman clasping her babe to her bosom.
The latter vwo were alive and unhurt,
while the two former were stffehed in
death. The long, sharp 'thorns Of the
.uadar tree saveu some'scores Of women.
by catching their dresses and holding
chem fast till the wave had passed on
ward.
------.------.-.- z