Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-11-11
HUNDREDS KILLED,
am NUuH LARGER NUMBER SERIOUSLY
INJURED AT AND AROUND
Tia British Csn7ic. Settlement in the Bay Of ben
CALI Was an awful Storm, and
swsp. All Before tt Remarkable
Bravery Of Female Prisoners

1T
.icnIars received to-day from Cslcusea'
sbovy thar the cyclone which swept over
49, Ardaman Islands, British eoh'icS
settlement i'm the Bay Of Bengal, eauSeu
,nncb larger loss Of life than was do
first reported. Of rearlv
all the crew OF II. NJ. ). ENTERPRISE 'ne
Government steamer engaged IN CONVEY
tro the convicts to and from the settle
-nert nv which IS cut OF 50 men iost
tbair lives. il is now officially announced
+bat the total loss OF life is nearly zOo'
and that about $50 people were severely
injured. .,o,o dis
The first approach OF the cyclonic as
tnrbance was denoted by the Geauiy
stiffness which settled over the lSiahus'
end nv the fact that the birds and anil
,naIs Seemed TO be trembling win lear'
seeking shelter everywhere, and appa,,
rently having entirely lost their ofeau
of mans approach. Then the ar oe
came oppreSsively hot and DahKS oI
DARK black clouds began 10 gather on
the eastern horizon, while In the ais
lance could be heard the low rumollng
Of thunder, accompanied by nasheS OF
lightning. ,.Lo,,,.ds
had come 10 the conclusion that Sc
we're tropical storm was approaching,
but nobody imagined that a disaster
,yas Dending. The fishermen and coast
inc vessels were hUrriedly making Tor
shelter. and the crew OF the Enterprise
began 20 batten down and get ready TO
haf
The Andaman Islands, il should be
explained, form a group OF lSiahus
in the Bay OF Bengal, about $50 miles
southwest Of Cape NograiS, o mead
land on the coast OF British bur
nah. The Great and Little And
aman Islands compose the group,
and they are separated by Dun
cans passage, where num-
her OF native coasters and fishing boats
foupdered, or were driven ashore during
the cyclone. Port Blair, on Chatham
Island, is the headquarters OF the con-
vlct settlement, the latter being natur-
ally the most important Industrial CEN
ire of the islands. 1t was az Port BAR
that the greatest loss OF life occurred,
and il is believed here that when the
final returns come in it will be found
that considerably over 200, and possibly
800, were victims OF the cyclones Jury,
for the population Of Port Blair, or
Blair Station, is over $4,000 souls.
Suddenly the fury OF the storm seemed
to be redoubled, aud wild burst OF
wind uprOoted or broke in two great
numbers Of trees, unrOOfed maRy build
ings, sent planks, small trees, clouds Of
foliage, and even heavy beams whirling
through the air, which by this time
seemed 10 be charged with electricity
and TO be positively thick with Cypress
i've. damp heat. The cOnvictS who were
not in confinement, nearly all OF them
being East Indians, ran about panic
stricken, seeking places OF shelter, or,
falling PROSTATE upon the ground, re-
signed themselves TO their fate, and,
muttering prayers, prepared TO die.
With the convicts in confinement the
situation was much worse. The shrek
ing cyclone, the fearful thunder and
lightning, and the shouts OF command
or warning to be heard on all sides,
spread such terror among them that they
ragged like wild beasts In their efforts 20
free themselves, and at least meet death
or liberty. Then came the sound OF
falling buildings, OF crashing roofs and
Shrieks OF agony, as scores OF helpless
convictS were crushed beneath falling
beams and topping masonry. On all
sides the air was filed with yells OF
agony or despair, and, mingling with
the fearful sounds of the cyclOnic fury,
these lamentations caused scene which
rarely, il ever, has been equaled in that
part of the world.
The guards did their utmost to release
the imprisoned cOnvicts, but during the
awful sweep Of the storm over the
islands every man, woman and child
had all they could do to look after their
own personal safety.
In the midst of the storm, however,
there was remarkable illustration of
woman's strength aud bravery. While
the strongest men quailed with appre-
henSion, it was noticed that q building
near the Seashore had been crushed
down and actually hurled into the surf
by the fearful force Of the wind. Some
Of the cOnviCtS confined in this building
succeeded in escaping before ii was
blown into the water, and others were
drowned in spite OF their efforts
TO escape, but niue or ten OF
these cOnvicts succeeded in clam
bering upon the roof Of their own ruin
ed quarters, where they loudly appealed
for help. The guards and other specta-
tors were too much occupied with other
matters 20 be able to be of any service
TO the imperiled mea, and, in this emer-
~
played great bravery. They Joined hand
together in long line, the boldeSt Of
the woman at the end facing the water,
aud in this manner the female convicts
slowly but steadily ventured into the
raging surf, and those at the extremity
of the line were frequently swept of
their feet and almost half drowned,
they finally succeeded in reScuing six
cOnvictS who would otherwise have per-
iShed, for their companions had been
swept awav and drowned.
The courage displayed by the female
cOnvictS has won the highest praise on
all sides; and it is understood that the
Governor Of the penal station will rec
ommend that number of them be par
doned, and that the sentences Of large
number of others be committed to short
terms Of Imprisonment. After the cy-
clone had passed the female convicts
nursed the wounded and ministered to
the dying.
While all this was going on on shore,
of the coast matters were nearly as bad.
Every small craft, without apparently
single exception, caught at sea by the
cyclone was either Swamped after
short struggle with the storm or swept
ashore and then dashed to pieces amid
the surf. A number Of natives not in
cluded in the present estimate lost their
lives i'm this manner The craru Of IL