The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-25
FLOODS IN JAMAICA.
Fearful Less Of Life and De-
etruction Of Property.
OVERWHELMED By TIE WATER.
Peasants and Mules Drowned While
Returning from Market
KINGSTON, Oct. l6, 1879.

the streams around Kingston has resulted in q
fearful destruction of life and property. The main
arteries of communication from Kingston. the cap
ital. rendered impossible. the railroad train
lines imoedded in sand. the former of which are
still unworkable Telegraphic communication with
the outside world has been suspended, but the
newly opened line TO St. AIMS Bay. the north
side. has since been repaired. The loss Of life among
the peasantry Saturday. when the storm
was at it's height. terrible. Many returning to
their homes after disposing of their produce
in Kingston attempting TO cross the "gullies''
which traverse the Liguanea Plains and spread out
far and wide like in such weather. were swept
out to in many cases. in others their bodies
have been found deposited on the banks Houses
have been swept away. bridges destroyed, chasms
opened in the roads, and in the streets of Kingston
water and gas pipes exposed Among the nu-
merous casualties one instance will suffice Some
peasants attempting the Dry River. seven
miles to the east of Kingston. found themselves at
length upon island with a raging torrent before
them. Huddled together with their donkeys and
produce they awaited with heartrending shrieks tho
incoming of the waters. which. rising gradually. at
length overwhelmed them all. Not one single human
body has been recovered.
SWEPT OUT TO SEA.
Another account ys:-"The injury to property,
caused by the floods. in Kingston. st. Andrew and
the Port Royal mountains. is immense. Some thir-
teen lives lost in Kingston, while horses.
mules. sheep goats, huge trees and timber bridges,
houses and sacks Of coffee and plantain trees
swept out to Great distress prevails among the
poor. The telegraph land lines have been thrown
down and communication with many districts
trely stopped No accounts have been received in
Kingston from Of the other parishes business has
been almost entirely suspended in consequence.
Captain Webster. of the Atlas steamer Ena. reports
that the morning of the 18th. about twenty miles
northeast of Morant Point. he passed numbers Of
dead horses, sheep. COWS. goats logs Of mahogany
and Of cedar.
Bishop Tozer. Of Zanzibar. is expected here on
Monday next in the packet steamer from Southamp-
ton. Formidable preparations foot for his
public reception on landing. He is to be the guest
of the Lieutenant Governor for time
FURTHER DETAILS or THE CALAMITY-PEAs-
ANTS WASHED AWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO
REACH THEIR HOMES.
KINGSTON. Oct. 16. 1879.
The one absorbing topic occupying public
attention is the recent heavy rain. Commencing on
Saturday the 18th inst. and lasting almost without
cessation until Monday evening it has been prolific
of disaster. Old residents remember that in 1SA8
there a somewhat similar experience but every
whose memory extends SO far back agrees with
his fellows i'll admitting that not even during that
historical downpour was there such destruction OF
life and property has been caused by the just
Saturday is the general market day through
out the island Early in the morning the
peasantry gather in large numbers in the
several towns and villages where they dispose
during the day of their fruit and garden produce
turning to their homes in tho cleaning. This
city, the metropolis of the colony is. of the
great centre Of this weekly trade. From daybreak
on Saturday tho open space in front Of the hand
Victoria Market presents scene Of indescrib-
able confusion and activity. By dusk the noise il
over, the peasants have sold their produce. made
their purchases and their return journey.
Although it had been very rainy week large num-
Der of people collected in town Saturday
last as usual. and many of them had come long dis
tances. The day they trooped out OF the city.
Fastening home
CAUGHT by THE FLOOD.
Just at this time began the heaviest rain Of the
year. Drenched to the skin the poor people hurried
on the rain came down and more heavily; the
already saturated earth refused to absorb 1t. and
every mountain valley became stream Of
water. which. discharging into some ravine.
transformed 1t into a raging water course. Situated
at the foot of chain of lofty mountains. Kingston
has not only many of such ravinos or 'gullies.
ON its northeast and west but several discharge into
the harbor after running through the city itself IL
these places that the majority of the fatal
cdents occurred. In attempting to cross them tho
people, with their donkeys, were hurried away by
the swiftly rushing water. and man and beast alike
carried to watery graves. On Sunday morning IL
was found that many of the lower classes OF tho
townstok had met the same fate either in attempt
houses SO having been washed away No less than 81.
bodies found in various parts OF the town and
we're ON Monday and Tuesdsy
Sandy Gully. dry at ordinary seasons, WAS deep
that many were drowned there. Some OF the bodies
have been recovered. Others are still being searched
for and 1t is impossible to estimate the number OF
people who met their fate at this spot.
DESTRUCTION.
party returning to the east were swept away
at the crossing Of the Dry River. but few
miles from the city and seven OF these are
said to have Locn drowned. But it is too early
- yet to attempt to sum up the deaths. for we
still cut OFF from most parts of the island. In
Kingston itself the damage to property has been
enormous. Huge chasms have been cut in some OF
the streets many thoroughfares being impossible
i'm places water and gas pipes have been laid bare;
houses and walls have fallen: the roadways have
been denuded OF metal; the tramway lines have becn
much damaged, in short the havoc has been fearful
Railway traffic has been suspended. owing to tho
overflow of the Rio Cobre which has covered the
line with muddy deposit for miles. The Cable
Company's overland line from Holland Bay to this
city has been broken. and we have had news from
the outside world since saturday last 1t is extremely
fortunate that there was but little wind with tho
rain otherwise the damage would have been
greater than IL has been Accounts from such parts
OF the island have their communication with this
city rcestabishcd are to the effect that the damage
TO the coffee and pimento crops is very great. and
that both-a fair yield having been looked for-wil
now be very short.
GENERAL NEWS.
Tho Spanish steamer Sanchez Barcaztequ
which has been lying here for some time past, has
shown no signs of intended departure. 1t may bc
that rumor OF Cuban expedition to be despatched
from this island has something to do with her con-
tinued presence. although IL din. cult TO under
stand Why il that be the she should lie idly in
Kingston Harbor. Tho overland telegraph lines in
course of erection by the government are nearly
completed. one or two places being already in COM
muncation telephone as well as telegraphic, with
this city, and days will sec every town OF
Importance united to The lines Will be under
the control of the General Post Office, aud MESSAGES
will be sent at very cheap rate The route Tor tne
extended line OF railway has been surveyed. and
hopes are that the rails will soon be laid
When that ~ done marvellous impetus VIII Dc
given to industry.
SUDDEN DEATH IN A THEATRE.
A startling occurrence took place about eight