St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-21
DESOLATION AND DEATH.
Reports OF the Martinique Hurri-
cane Are Terrible.

RGpOrtS OF the martinique duffI-
cane Are Terrible.
PARIS, Aug. 20. - Notwithstanding
that Martinique is a French colony and
that news has reached here from the
United States showing that hurricane
has swept over that island Zone of the
French West India islands) causing
considerable damage, only the most
meager details have been received in
this city. A dispatch has been received
confirming the report that all the YES
sells at Martinique were lost during the
terrible hurricane there. Fort de
France and st. Pierre are important
ports of the Lesser Antilles. They are
not only ports of destination for large
number of vessels from all parts of the
world, but are ports of call for hum
dreds of others. Martinique lies
in such a position that it is
liable to receive the full force
of the dreadful gales that prevail in
those latitudes during the hurricane
season. Masters of sailing vessels at
Martinique take extraordinary precau-
tiOnS to secure the safety of their veS-
sells while lying at anchor or moorings
at either of these ports, and as rule,
steamers, during the hurricane season,
lie with steam up, ready to proceed to
sea at the first indications of hurri-
cane, so that they may have plenty of
sea room in which to ride out the gale.
Official adviceS received this afternoon
announce that the calamity which has
visited Martinique is the most severe
since the year 1917. The disaster is said
to equal the famous cyclone which
swept over the island of Antigua in
1871 Co for ha lQarnnd thp
have been nearly seventy deaths as Il
result of the hurricanes visitation. 1t
will be some time before the full extent
of the disaster is known. At Fort de
France alone there have been twelve
lives lost, and at st. Pierre and in the
country districts there have been large
numbers of people injured. At St.
Pierre five persons are known to have
been killed, and it is feared that this
number does not represent the entire
loss of life in the capital.
Communication with the different
ports OF the island was never an easy
matter, and it is excessively difficult to
get news at present. As the reports
from the various sections reach st.
Pierre, it becomes evident that the eX-
tent of the hurricanes devastation has
not been much exaggerated. DeStruc-
blOIl vi DlODClOl anu lOoo VI lllO ~
ported from all parts of the coast. The
latest report received at st. Pierre from
Lamentin shows that the hurricane
counts ten victims in that place alone,
in addition to large number of injured.
At Francis there have been sixteen peo-
pie killed and large numbers injured,
and at Riviere PilOte there have been
two or more deaths, and so on from all
parts of the island comes the tale of
woe and desolation. La Trinite sends
in the list of of its dead at ten, aud
numbers of more or less severely in-
jured.
The damage done to shipping prop
erty may safely be classed as stupendous.
About two-fifths of the island was under
cultivation and the mountain slopes
were covered with forests; ali the culti-
walton and all the forests in the path of
the hurricane appear TO have been
swept away. The numerous sugar,
coffee, cotton and cocoa plantations
which have felt the force of the tornado
seem to have been utterly destroyed.