The New York herald., 1879-12-08

toned to the dread effects of tropical tornadoes. de-
clared that for the three hours above mentioned
they recognized the unmistakable aud fatdl brool
OF the tempest. which means destruction. But as
night came ON lalthough all the afternoon had been
almost dark night there a feeling OF re-
iiei; for although the sea still kept up it's terrible
battle with the shore the OF which like the
battle boom of a thousand cannon. the wind be-
came less furious.
MAILS LANDED.
All day Monday, the 2lth. tho storm continued,
although by great exertions the mails from the in
coming ro, al mail steamer Don safely landed.
but it was not until the morning of the 25th that
passengers could be fcly transferred IRON the
steamer to the shore. The captain of the Don.
old aud careful commander, saw that 1t was safest
to keep away from the wharf even then, and
therefore landed passengers and baggage in boats
und proceeded at noon on his voyage to Carthagena
and savanilla without waiting to discharge the
European cargo for Pauama and Pacific ports. The
same morning tho German steamer Bavaria and
French steamer Colombo came their b, rths. and
knocking about outside the port, waiting for tho
norther to end. The Don had taken refuge one day
and night at the safe little harbor of Porto Beo but
the Crescent City did not know the way.
FLOOD ON THE PANAMA RAILROAD.
whiie these events were TRANSPORTING ut Asptnwall
OF the most tremendous flood ever known. Very
little could be learned further than that about thirty
miles OF track was under water until the evening of
the 26th inst, when well known gentleman, inter-
ested in the canal question All engineer arrived
by boat from through tour OF observation. He
brought word that the Chagres had been about forty
feet above low water Matachin and rapidly
falling all the way down, still over the track to
the Mindi four miles from Aspinwall. heavy land
slide had occurred near Paraiso station and deep
wash near Matachin. The worst, however. was the
giving way OF one of the piers to the iron bridge
across the Chagres at San Pablo. The water still
too high to permit an examination. but the bridge
had canted about q foot. showing that the
foundations were injured The water had been a
foot more the floor of the bridge.
At Frijoli nineteen miles from Aspnwal. three out
OF four iron water tanks the tops of which were
fourteen feet above the track and which believed
to have been full OF water foatcd of and
ried away, while at Buenavista, q village Of about
nifty houses three miles nearer Aspinwal. not sim
gle honse was left. All swept away, their In
mates barely escaping with their lives to the hills
HOUSES WASHED AWAY.
At Yatun, seven miles out where the railroad first
strikes the Chagrcs River, sixty-ono houses have
been washed away and the people reported desti
tute and suffering from hunger In short, all the
native villages and river farms have been inundated
live stock of all descriptions swept away and
drowned and the poor Inhabitants left to AS
subscription was raised and several boat
loads OF supplies sent out. but reports
came ,u back that the relief. though timely.
further Immediate help necessary. 1t is quite
impossible to estimate the losses sustained by these
poor people. for although they may seem insignii.
cant, 1t must be remembered that their means of
living all gone and that therefore they must be
reduced to extreme destitution.
COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED.
Another adventurous gentleman from Panama ar
rived at Colon on the forenoon OF tho 2Sth inst,
bringing the Panama Star and Herald of the 9th.
which contains an account of the experiences Of Mr.
Mattison, road master, in his efforts find thu sub
merged railroad, and other information concerning
the sad state Of things the line 1t is the opinion
Of this gentleman that 1t will be three
weeks. at least. before trains can be run. Tho
water was still over the track for several miles
the morning of the 2Sh although 1t was falling at
all points, and train from Panama had reached
Sana mules S Large number
for the transit to be again opened and naturally
very anxious to know the prospect Of getting for
ward but the retcence Of the officials IL great
that very little information can be obtained In fact
there is probably little more to be known than that
there is TO be somewhat indefinite interruption
aud consequent delay. Men aud materials for pur-
poses Of repair reconstruction are not, It is
feared to be speedily obtained since prevalent
olnies In management make no provision for such
an emergency as the present.
SO far as the norther is concerned this latest ex-
perience Is only repetition Of an almost yearly
occurrence for the past twenty-five years. and it is
considered wonderful that wisdom has not been
gained by SO long line OF disasters Enough pro-
substantial breakwater half dozen times over.
Nothing less than such work can avert the annual
calamity OF wrecked vessels and ruined wharves.
abundant warming. yet owing to the suddenness
and violence OF these storms there is usually
no time in which to make everything secure. The
great and increasing Importance OF the transit Of
the Panama Isthmus to the commerce Of the world
imperatively demands that protection should be
afforded to property in ships and cargoes arriving in
the port. and that can be done only by building q
breakwater.
Nov. 29-5 p. M.
Portions Of the railroad are still under water Re-
ports or serious damage TO the BarbacOos iron
bridge across the Chagres fully confirmed.
Two piers are undermined and bridge set
tied six feet and in danger of falling
into the river. The wash ut Mindi will require sew
eral days repair and 1t is thought that It will be
fully thirty days before trains will again be run.
The English mails and passengers which arrived on
the Gath inst. still here also those by the Colon
arrived yesterday. No arrangement has yet been
made for sending the mails forward. aud passengers
must get on as best they bde where they are.
All is confusion and uncertainty.
WRECKS
Tho wrecks of the American brig L. H. Rich Nor
wegian bark Mbatros and French bark Georgine,
destroyed by the recent storm. have been sold ut
auction. the first for $76 the second for Sl2 and
the last for $50. The Albatros and Georgine had
each ON board when they went to pieces over four
hundred tons Of coal. which be recovered The
Adele McLoon will be sold Monday. December /.