The New York herald., 1879-12-08

EXPLANATION OF SKETCH.
-P.nsms Rsrosa wharf the safest in the harbor.
a-Psyann aa-PPoysl mail 4 h.;rons hron wharf; wharf;
s.-psnsma Railroad wharf in ruins and disu.sd.
o.-rncihc mail wharf
s-F::is. s-E::Es ';s'fSs issfS Ss sa;ss. hss's
P-Bsrth where French bark oeorsine discharring
EE.-fpronsh Ef steamship Colombo
$s7s:'s $sH:Is IL II H,sh H,ss ssssi.s ssssis storm
J.-Bark Georgne struck and became total wreck
k-Bieak entirely through wharf. about two hundred
L-stssmship Crescent City.
DETAILS OF DISASTERS.
The French Transatlantic Company's steamer
Colombo was at No. 2 wharf, the royal mail steamer
Midway ct No. and the Pacific mail steamer Cres-
cent City at No. =. As night approached the Goth
1t became evident that heavy nortber might be
pectsd. as tho sea had continued rise since the
night before. All three steamers sought safety in
fight-frst the Crescent City at six P. NJ; then the
Midway at nine. and finally the Frenchman at about
eleven. The sailing craft. however. so for
tunate. AMI had to make the best Tor worst Of it,
First Of all tho French bark Georgine dis
charging coal at pier No. l. broke away and
drifted into all the other wharves in regular
turn after the other. damaging each as
she was tossed like plaything by the fury of the
waves. and finally brought up at about the middle
of the Pacific Mail wharf. where she sank and went
pieces splendu wnerf, Just rebuilt Mt heavy
after its destruction by the norther OF De-
ccmber last. is again in pitiful plight The wreck
Of the Gcorgine has made break of seventy-ave to
hundred feet entirely through It, so that the sea
end is now completely isolated and cannot be used
by the steamers until the gap is restored. which will
take time. there is little material to be
obtained short Of New YorK.
The American brig E. II. Rich. already discharged
and ballasted. lying at wharf No. waiting for
an opportunity to get out when the storm arose.
She broke her fastenings and went ashore in the
berth, where she went to pieces total wreck. The
officers and crew narrowly escaped.
The Norwegian bark Albatros was discharging coal
on tho windward side of wharf No. 4. where she
sank alongside tho heavy masonry of which the pier
is partly constructed. breaking great gap in the
wall. through which the rolled with tre.
mendous force and carried away large
portion of the earthwork forming the ap-
proach TO the pier. Tho piles aud woodwork
destroyed by the wreck of tho American schooner
Lorine. which sank In the spot last year, arc
again badly damaged. The Albatros was only partly
discharged and tho removal OF her wreck from tho
berth will be an expensive matter Besides these
three vessels lost at the wharves the American
brigantino Adele McLoon, anchored In tho bay,
parted her cables and went ashore tho reef near
the entrance of Fox River towards the head of the
harbor. sho had just arrived with cargo of coal.
which. with the vessel. will be total loss.
LOST.
Fortunately lives have bcen sacri6ccd to tho fury
Of tho elements. although 1t IL considered miracu-
ious that all escaped. The of the Georgine,
after that vessel struck the Pacific Mail wharf and
while she rolling alta fearful rate. saved them
selves by jumping upon tho roof OF tho wharf from
tho vessels yardarm at favorable moment. Those
OF tho L. II. Rich and Albatros had an equally mar
escape.
On the 22d inst. the storm still continuing with
unabatcd fury, the royal mail steamer Medway after
scanng to the entrance of the port seeing that
no landing could possibly be attempted left ON her
homcward voyage to southampton via Jamaica and
st. Thomas, without the West Coast and Isthmus
passengers and mails. On the same date the morn
ing train for Panama returned TO Aspinwall, after
proceeding few miles, bringing the unwccome re-
port that the Chagros River booming and tho
railroad track nndcr water for an unknown number.
of miles. The telegraph line also interrupted,
and thus all communication with Panama cut
OIL
ELIMINATION THE
Tho storm eliminated on the 23d. Upon the after
of that from three to six o'clock, IL became
perfect hurricane aud grave fears entertained
that many of tho wooden teneincnts OF which the
town IN iscomposed would be blown down. With the
exception however, OF several hundred sheets Of
zinc roofing which were sent flying through the air.
leaving the inmates of tho houses exposed to au
involuntary. bath from the downpourng rain, no
damage was done. Old sailors and others accus.