St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-08-28
Terrific Cyclone.
TEXAS, AND MATAMORAs,
MEXICO, LAID IN RUINS.


MEXICO, LAID IN RUINS.
SHOCKING LOSS OF LIFE AND DEsTRUC-
TIoN OF PROPERTY TO THE AMOUNT
OF MILLIONS.
Especial to the n. O. Times.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, August 20, 1880.
The wires were just opened to-day
for news from the cyclone. The hurrl-
cane at Brownsville and Matamoras
damaged property to the AMOUNT OF
800. 900. Extracts from the Browns
Vile Cosmopolitan OF the 14th say one
of the most terrible hurricanes that ever
visited this section was experienced
day before yesterday. The center passed
directly over BrOwnsvl lie and Mata-
mOras, causing immense loss OF property.
The rain fall for the whole storm was
1900 inches. Buildings were unloofed
or completely blown down, fences de-
moIisbed, trees uprooted and shipping
ali DESTROYED. The telegraph lines are
generally prostrated, and all means
Of communication with the outer world
interrupted. Matamoras looks as il it
had been bombarded, brick buildings
heing torn out of the centre OF the long
block. frame houses completely wrecked
and the streets filled with torn and
twisted remains of trees and tin roofs.
Brownsville is in but little better
condition, and at Point Isabel and
Brazos the storm was most disastrous.
In Brownsville streets, alleys, bear
every evidence of the wind. At the
ferry Latimer's machine shop is com
nletely wrecked. The opera house and
harroom belonging to this gentleman
are in ruins. Leyee street is full OF
trees and rubbish. Elizabeth street
presented the appearance OF general
desolation. In the garrison eleven build
ings occupied by the quartermaster as
store houses, and others for dwelling
houses, were blown down.
The infantry barracks are badly shat
tered, and considerable damage done to
the officers quarters. Seventeen horses
belonging to the cavalry, and seven
mules and eleven horses OF the quar-,
termaster's were killed. The fence and
tin roof Of the convent were carried
away, and the Jail was partly unroofed
and the floor covered with water. The
prisoners were taken out. The artillery
barracks are unroofed and the cavalry
stables blown fiat. The lagoons around
Matamoras are perfect young seas, filled
mn and extended until number OF
houses are almost entirely submerged.
All the people who had sheds on their
PREMISES have not got them now. 1t is
said the only dry places III the garrison
were in the cisterns. The total damage
Inv the storm in this section fOots up
many millions of dollars.
Subscriptions arc being started for
relief fund.
Any quantity Of window glass was
blown to flinders windows were blown
out of the Episcopal church. Mr..
Ytl1ria's hide and lumber yards were
completely destroyed.
Houses were blown down upon the
occupants, and great many families
lost all they had, and the suffering
among the poor will he very great unless
Immediate relief is rendered them. The
Blue Club House is thrown open to
them as place of refuge.
Terrible as were the effects OF the
storm in this city, in Matam0ras things
are much worse. The velocity seemed
greater over there. 1t is estimated over
800 houses were blown down or un,
rooted and rendered uninhabltable, and
the city is damaged at least to the ex'
tent Of $500,000. Hardly gallery Is
left In town.
residences were torn and twisted up
Whole stocks of goods are completely
destroyed, and it is almost Impossible
| to itemize the losses. -,
In this city brick buildings. in the
| middle Of solidly built blocks were
blown as completely out as if a battery
| Of artillery had played on them. Struc
tures that before the storm looked
strong enough to be used as forts arr
now shapeless heaps OF ruins:
MANY streets are rendered lmpassabl'
bv trees and debris. and telegraph wlre
| lie twisted up in the streets, a grea
many persons are injured; just nov
many never can be known.
Six persons who were in their resi-
dences when they fell are now in th'
hospital. It is said one woman wa
killed by a piece Of timber that strncl
her in tie head. A number OF person
we're buried under the ruins OF thel
houses and could not get out until as
sistance arrived.
A detachment of troops did goo
service in this way. All the officers Il
hatamoras have given ten days pay to
the relief of the sufferers. Eight pei
sons, at all accounts, are klIlel. =
traffic on the river was interrupted.
The tug Ethel broke loose from he
moarings, and with the steamboat JOB
Scott, was blown across the river an an
sunk. The Leo Brown was aisO EaqI
damaged and sunk. At Point lsaof
the full fury of the storm was felt.
The Petuto sank at her moorlpg an
is a total wreck. The schooner Julia /
White is high and dry on clark lslane
The Bravo went to pieces ON the way
The pilot boat, Ado, is missing. III
= quarantine station is entirely. gone, an
the old lighthouse at Brazos is gone.
The French bark Maria Theresa,
gone to pieces, and no yestige OF ht
left. The Laura Lewis, a lumbt
schooner, is high and dry Oh the beacl
The steamer Sellers sank at her moo
ing at the wharf, and three OF her ere
are reported lost.
A number of small boats sunk, and
is reported several Mexicans arc drown
ed, The wharf at Bra1os is ainlo
utterly demolished, and its railroa
nearly destroyed. -=. ....
A gentleman just up from the town
plaauemine, in Iberville parish, inform
us MIR. Charles H0rtaire llupuy Gangl