The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-23
MARTINIQUE'S DISASTER.
ITS FULL EXTENT CANNOT YET BE
DETERMINED.

Universal Havoc and Devastation
Wrought by the Elements - An
Earthquake Shock Added to the
Horror of the Night-Manv of the
Superstitious Thought the End of
the World Was at Hand-People
Spent Long Hours in sleepless Sus-
pense.
Special CG5legrGns TO the associated Press.
ST. PIERRE, MARTINIQUE, Aug. 22.-
Tho full extent Of Tuesdays calamity can
not be determined. From many parts of
the island only vague and indefinite reports
have so far been received. The mountain
roads were in many instances obstructed
by the fallen timbers and other debris, thus
rendering many villages extremely difficult
Of access. Every fresh report brings new
details of the universal havoc and devasta-
tion wrought by the fury Of the elements.
THE HURRICANE STRUCK THE ISLAND
about7 o'clock Tuesday night. 1t continued
80 rage until nearly IL O'clock. Hardly had
the terrific storm died away when G sharp
earthquake shock added TO the horror OF
the night. Many of the superstitious
blacks verify thought that tho end
to convey an adequate idea of the terror
and suffering OF Tuesday night. Poo
pie hocked to tho open spaces
and spent the long hours until day.
light in sleepless suspense. They
knew not what moment a severer earth
quake shock might complete tho destruo-
ton Of their homes. Morning brought
little sense Of relief. On ell sides
TIE EVIDENCE oF DESTRUCTION
greeted anxious eyes, and as death after
death was reported the awful character of
tue disaster was made more and more man
ifest.
Then news began TO come from other
parts Of the island. Everywhere the same
dreadful tale Of suffering and loss and death
was repeated. No place on the island so far
heard from has escaped without serious
damage.
1t is impossible as yet 20 give any esti.
mate OF the money value of the damage to
crops, forests, houses and shipping. The
grand total will be something enormous.
Neither can it be told how many people
perished. Tuesday the indications were
that some 60 to 100 persons had lost their
lives. Friday the death roll had mounted
to 2lS. To-day it is known that
250 MET INSTANT DEATH.
IL Is not at all improbable that more ac-
the list of the dead. No attempt has been
made to ascertain the number Of those who
were injured by falling walls and flying de-
bris, but the probability Is that thousands
received injuries more or less serious.
Efforts are being made everywhere to
| repair the damage Here in st. Pierre
| the first endsavor is TO get new roofs, for
hardly roof,in the entire city remained In
| tact. But many people are finding 1t ex-
| tremely difficult to mako repairs. The stock
of roofing material on hand is not sufficient
to meet the general demand, and prices
have beon sharply advanced.
IN THE HARBoR.
| The American brigs Ned White and
| Jenny Phinney were among the ships lost.
| Both are total wrecks, but their crews es-
| capped unhurt. Not single craft that was
in the harbor when the storm struck the
island remained efoat. The village of
Mornerouge Is O total wreck. The number
of lives lost there was about thirty.
Fort de France. the second city of the
island, was nearly destroyed 1t will be
months before the ravages of the storm
can be obliterated. Meanwhile there Is
great suffering, especially among the
poorer classes.
THE NEWS AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.-The West In
dian hurricane has, without doubt, changed
the direction given by the government and
passed. toward the Bermudas. No informa-
tion of it has boen received since yesterday
morning, when it was north of Hayti.
Reports from Haytl and the South Allan
tic coast give no Indications Of its ap-
proach.