Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-11-11
FIERCE WAS TIL S1ORN
Terrible Rsvsges Of the Cyclcns
in the Anuaman Isiands.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS
I've as uSrsa o. More Pssssas kiiisa
asd Hundred. Iaiarsd IN the nsis-
eaasI-H~reie Female cenvtetA
Sreps Damaged


lars from Calcutta show that the ey.
clone which sw>ot over the AndamAn
islands IN the bay Of Bengal on Mon
day caused . very much larger ioss
of life than MAS At first report
cd. ana that the damage done
was far in excess OF the amount
first telegraphed here. In addition
to tho drowning OF nearly all Of the
crew of Ii. III. 5 Enterprise. the gov
ernment steamer engaged in convey
ing the conviets TO and from the settle
ment. by which seventy-eight out Of
eighty-thres men lost their lives, IL 10
now officially announced that the total
loss of life is nearly zoo, and that about
ESQ people in addition were severely
wounded
scene Of the Storm.
The Andaman islands form . group
in the bay of Bengal. between latitude
10 degrees and Is degrees north. and
nearly under 93 degrees OF east longi-
tude, about $50 miles southwest Of
Cape Nograis, y headland on the coast
of British Burmah. The Great and Lit
tie Andaman islands compose the group
and they are separated by Duncan's
passage, where o number OF native
coasters and fishing boats foundered or
were driven ashore during the cyclone.
Port Blair. on Chatham island, Is the
headquarters of tho convict settlement.
tho latter being naturally the
most important industrial center Of
the islands II was at Port Blair that
the greatest loss of life occurred, and
1t is believed here that when the final
returns come in 1t will be seen that
considerably over 200 and possibly coo
wero victims of the cyclones fury, for
the population of Port Blair. or Blair
Station is over $4,000 souls.
Terror of the Convicts.
The convicts who were not ink con.
6nemeut, nearly all of them being East
Indians. ran panic stricken here and
there, seeking places of shelter, or
falling PROSTATE upon the ground and
muttering prayers, prepared to die.
With the convicts in confine.
ment the situation was much
worse. Terror stricken they ragged
like wild beasts in their efforts
to free themselves and at least meet
death or liberty. The guards did their
utmost to release the confined convicts,
but during the awful sweep Of the
storm over the islands every man,
woman and child there had all they
could do to look after their own per-
sonal safety.
Heooic Females
In the midst of this terrible disturb
ance of nature, when the bravest and
strongest men quailed withO apprehen-
sion, it was noticed that building
standing near the seashore had been
crushed down and actually hurled into
the surf by the force Of the wind. Some
of the convicts confined in this
building succeeded in escaping before
it was blown into the water. others
were drowned in spite of their efforts
to escape, but nine or ten Of these con.
victs succeeded in clambering upon
the roof, from which they loudly
appealed for help. The guards and
others were too much occupied to be of
any service tolthe imperiled men. In
this emergency gang of female con-
victs displayed great bravery. Un-
daunted by the shriekin2 cyclone
and listening only to tho frantic
appeals for help uttered by the men
in danger they boldly joined hands to-
gether in long line, human rope,
the boldest of the women at the end
facing the water, and in this manner
they slowly but steadily ventured into
the raging surf, and though those at
tho extremity of the line were fire.
quently swept of their feet and were
almost half drowned by the rushing
waters they finally succeeded in res
cuing six native convicts who would
otherwise have persisted, for their COM
panions had been swept away and
drowned.
This is only an instance of the
courage displayed upon this occasion
by the female convicts Of the Andaman
islands: on all sides they won tho
highest praise by ministering to the
DYING and .urSipg the wounded.
While the men seemed cowed
with teiso the women, rs rule. dis
played most remarkable courage. So
much SO that il is understood the gen.
cral governor Of the penal station will
recommend that number OF them be
pardoned and that the sentences of q
large number of others be committed
to short terms OF imprisonment.
While this was going on ashore. At
sea, of III. coast, matters were nearly
a. bad Every small craft without
apparently single exception. was
either swampci afters short struggle
with the storm or swcp. ashore and
then dashed to pieces amid the surf A
number of natives not included in the
present estimate lost their lives in this
manner.
Damage - Crops and Property.
The damage done to crops and other
property must be very heavy, a. IL 10
admitted that oil the crops not in thor
ougi,y sheltered places have been
completely destroyed and that the
number OF buildings damaged or de-
s,royed is very great
The Crar's silver Wedding.
LONDON, Nov. lo.-Serviccs and