St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-18
DEATH IN Gurus BREATH.
Whole Towns Wiped Out by the Cyclone
That Swept Cuba.
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.
Crops Irretrievably Ruined and the
Capital City Converted Into a
Venice.

New York, Sept. IA letter re-
ceived from Havana, under date OF
Sept. s, gives the following particulars
of the recent cyclone which swept over
Cuba.
The most terrific and destructive
storm that has visited the island OF
Cuba within the memory of her oldest
inhabitants passed through this city on
Sept. 6, and swept onward in its wild
course. causing general CONSERVATION
and ruin. The losses foot up millions,
and the number of dead is variOusly
stated at from 500 TO 1000. The cyclone
entered the island by way of Sagua,
and, taking westerly direc-
ton, with a slight northerly in
clination, its center passed al
most over Havana. For fifteen hours it
fearful havoc on life and property
throughout the island. 1t demolished
the principal buildings of the large cit
les, and wiped out whole towns situated
near the seaboard. The water flooded
large districts of fertile land, richly
planted with sugar, tobacco, fruit and
vegetables, destroying the valuable ma
chinery of the plantations and irretriev-
ably running the crops. Going out to
sea, the storm impaired its fury to the
ocean, which rose to great height, and
inundated the water fronts, breaking
down the Wharves and occaSiOning great
losses to shipping and commerce. The
water .--. ... .... -
OVERCAME ALL OBSTACLES,
and made its way into the storage and
manufacturing houses near the coast.
Some buildings gave way under the
great pressure and in all cases their
contents were seriously damaged.
Gigantic waves swept the decks of the
vessels in the harDOrS and crates were
washed overheard. Anchor chains were
snapped aSunder as if they had been
threads, and the vessels, like feathers,
were carried hither and thither by the
wind and hurled against the coast or
dashed against one another. In some
instances craft were carried half mile
into the cities, whole blocks OF houses
and trees being battered down as the
vessels cut their passage through
the streets. Havana presents
novel sight. Its streets and pub
lie spares, piled high with the ruins of
demolished buildings and debris of
every description, give it the appear
ance of a bombarded city. The waters
of Havana bay, beingsclosely pent up
within a small harbOr, acquired ire
mendous force and destroyed every
thing within their reach. The northern
part of Havana was converted into
Venice and many streets were sub
merged. For some time people made
use of boats in their attempts to reach
their houses, but they were soon forced
to desist, as the violence of the storm
rendered it utterly impossible to keep
up traffic of any kind. Many barges,
containing valuable cargOeS, and great
number of sailing vessels, of every de-
scriptI0n, lying in the harbor, were cap
sized. The
WIND PLAYED SAD HAVOC
also. The magnificent set of palm
trees in the public squares and bOule-
wards were blown down. hardly tree
remains in the plazas de Tacon, de
Armas. del Cristo and de la Infanta, or
of the hundreds that existed in a con-
tinuous line from la Punta to the Cal
Zada del Monte. In the artillery school
the ceiling gave way and the doors were
smashed in. The fences and grand
stands of the rival base ball clubs were
DESTROYED. The ceilings of the Louvre
cafe and the IriiOa theater fell, and
those of the Cafe Dominica and TacOn
theater are liable to fall at any moment.
Throughout the city many lives have
been lost. Women and children have
suffered most. The poor people, who,
for the greater part, lived in the low
land near the hay, have lost everything.
Reports of similar damage come from
all parts of the island. The loss at Car
denas is placed at sl,OOO,O0O The rich
Vuetta AbajO tobacco has been ruined,
and it is said S2,0O0,000 cannot cover the
losses. Not single house is lett stand
ing at GuanajayaO. Many vessels were
lost and their crews drowned.
In the district of Rogue, springs
which have been dry for long time are
again flowing, and some estates are in
danger of being submerged. This re-
appearance of the springs excites gen
eral alarm throughout the district.