The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-21
HURRICANE AT MARTINIQUE.
ALE THE SHIPPING IN TIE BARBORs
DRIVEN ASHORE

DRIVEN ASHORE.
A Large Part or the Crops ana Forests
Swept Away-At Least sixty People
ki1ed-Seenes In the Harbors as the
ships broke from Their Moorines.
PARIS. Aug. 20-ofIlcial advices received
this afternoon announce that the calamity
which has Visited Martinique 10 the most So
we're since the yenr 1917. The disaster is said
to equal the famous cyclone which swept over
the island Of Antigua In 1871. There have
been nearly sixty deaths rs . result Of the
cyclone. At Fort dc France twelve lives were
lost and in both Fort dc France ard ST.
Pierre. TO say nothing Of the country districts.
largo numbers OF people wore injured.
At s.. Pierre five persons are known to have
been killed, but 1t is feared that this number
does not represent the entire loss OF life In tho
capital Communication with the different
ports OF tho island was mover An easy matter,
and 1t Is difficult to get detailed news now.
At Francois sixteen people have been killed
and large numbers injured. and at Rivisre
Photo thcre have been two or moro deaths.
From all parts Of the island comes the tale Of
woe and desclation.
About two-iifths Of the island was under cul-
tivation and the mountain slores were covered
with forests. All the guilty a.ion and all the
forests in the Path OF the hurricane appear to
have been swept away. The numerous sugar.
coffee. cot on. and cRcao plantations which
have felt the force al the tornado seem 10
have teen utterly destroyed. Houses and
barns. s,orchouses and stables. have been
crushed out OF existence. and a considerable
period must elarse before the island RECEIVERS
from its terrible visitation. Some OF the poorer
classes OF reople have lost their all. and the
same may be said OF number OF the richer
planters
The scenes In the harbors whom tho hurri-
cano struck the shipping can DO easily mag
ined. OF course. there was some warning of
the approach o! the terrible wind. and thus
many OF the sailors ESCAPED with their lives.
But even in this case the loss of life Ia not
known. Some OF the vessels appear to have
been carried bodily up the beach BY the fear.
Jul wind and waves. others foundered at their
anchnrnge and Others stu alonsids their
the ress-l- pound upon the shore;
Tbs heayie,, trse 2, seemed IT, unable to with;
were uprooied or crushed to earth. the
s sI' or sIishter tree, lowed to The wind
matter r' Of ids de.crptinns seemei. IN semo
places. to b. whirn. through the ali; The
bacsest OF clouds seemed 70 NJ wit lightning
81 eed across the island while. in tho distance.
there was heard aterrble rum bling OF thunder.
Ono OF the features Of the hurricane was the
proach OF tho hurricane and the $ GINS Of alarm
and uneasiness manifested by the birds and
The Governor no and Trlvy Council. assisted by
possible to re ieve Distress and to ascertain
or t fsaps :s sna S
lies p in such posi,Sn that
It is liable to receive the full force OF the
dreadful gales that prevail in these lati!udes
ing vessel. while ut Martinique take extraor.
binary precautions 70 secure the safety
OF meornSs either "S .hss. " pe9ts
and. MS rule. steamers during the
.ad tn seal ' at hs s
OF hurricane. 90 that they may have plenty
OF sea room in which TO ride out the gale This
here mus. have been Of terrific force. Tor OF oil
able to out the hRs
every on OF them was driven ashore. 1t is he.
or s seh aS
that they will be surrendered to the under
Tie following French vessels are among tho
wrecks: Bark Alphonsine Zelie Capt Bachelor.
from Cayenne; probably bound via MART;
Auser CAPT cholet from oD' HAVE H bari
March 81. via Isunion; tark Nsntes:, CAPT:
dean3: bark Anna. Capt Marion from Gran
' I.
Iego., rom .Cadiz April ~: and harS saphir
dat" Josephine) from Marseillrs May %.
The ltann brig Amicizia, Capt MataraZzo.
from Marseiilcs May 70. is among The vessels
driven ashore.
lost in tse hnrrirnre The relor,s say some
exact number + rot known.
H.rASA. Aug. 2o.-rrot. Vines. Tho we'll
known authority on hurricanes and other
nn ia n nan
that has done such great dam age a, Martinique
seems 10 lave n small radius. Its forward
direction is west Invest. aud 1t PROGRESSES
with n velocity of fifteen miles Per hour. 1t
lhas crossed the south of the Island OF 81.
Thomas. and its influence will probably be felt
In the eastern portion OF Cuba tomorrow.
The island OF Martinique Is one OF the
French West India islands. 1t is thirty miles
south by west OF nomi Mica; and Is twenty
miles north OF s.. Lucia. The island Is OF
IRREGULAR formation, high and rc%,cky: about
wide: Its lnf'iest peak is Mount l,elee. 4,+5O
the island, and ono OF the CRITTERS Ia OF large
Between the volcanic rocks which |
the mountains e the sea arc, broad valleys
q great fertility, and highly cultivated.
primeval fore,ts and many streams some OF
lhem nRvigable. flow from tho heights. Tho
island has several good harbors. the best OF
DOCK was opensd at Fort '' ' France in ls67.
and a telegraph line netween thai rort md ST.
Pierre was orened IN 1856. Since that time |
8ilroada have been established between these
main towns. The exports Of Nnriini1ue OK
m in ncti inn tolf IN ha