Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-20
SWEPT BY A STORM.
Martinique Visited by q Terrific
Hurricane.
Loss OF MANY LIVES REPORTED
Revolving Scenes at the Hanging
of a Murderer.
THE PRESIDENTS PROGRESS.
THE PRESIDENTS PROGRESS
THE MARTINIQUE HURRICANE
Thrilling Details Of the Disaster Received
Many Ships Wrecked.

Thrilling Details Of the Disaster Resolved
Many Ships Wrecked.
PARIS. August Notwithstanding that
Martinique is French colony and that news
has reached here from the United States show
ing that hurricane has swept over that island
Zone Of the French West India Islands), causing
considerable damage. only the most meager de-
tails have been received in this city
The first information received here was to
the eject that every vessel in the harbor Of
Fort de France, the principal harbor OF the
island, situated on the southwest side of Mar
Unique, had been lost. 81. Pierre, however, is
the capital and is on the northwest side. 1t
was also said that the houses at Fort de France
and atSt. Pierre had been damaged by the hur-
ric ,ne and that many lives were reported to
have been lost.
The only additional information received
here is that the number Of vessels lost is over
twenty and that this number includes the Bieu-
faiteur aud Ned White.
The Bienfaiteur is a French bark, Capt. Gar
nier. eS1 tons. She left Rio Janeiro on June Is
for Martinique. The Ned White is an Ameri-
can brig, Capt Elwell, 52S tons. She left Ha-
wanna on June Is for ST. Pierre. Further
particulars are anKiousiy expected here.
ADDITIONAL NEWS FROM MARTINIQUE.
Another dispatch has been received here con-
frming the report that all the vessels a: Mar
Unique were iost during the terrible hurricane
there. As is well known Fort Defiance and
st. Pierre are important ports of the Lesser
Antilles. They are not only ports of destina-
tion for a large number of vessels from all parts
OF the world, but are ports Of call for hundreds
of others.
Martinique lies in such position that il is
liable to receive the full force of the dreadful
gales that prevail in those ATTITUDES during
Ma of
sells while at Martinique take extraordinary
precautions to secure the safety Of their ves-
sells while lying at anchor or moorirgs
at either Of these ports and. as a rule, steamers
during the hurricane season lie with steam up.
ready to proceed TO sea at the first indications
Of hurricane so that they NAV have plenty Of
sea room in which to ride out the gale.
This last hurricane, to judge from the short
and exceedingly unsatisfactory dispatches re-
ceived here, must have been of terrific force,
for Of all the shipping there it is reported that
not o single vessel was able to ride out the gale
and every one of them was driven ashore. 1t
is believed that a large number Of these vessels
are SO badly damaged or lie in such bad posi-
tions that they will be surrendered to the under
writer's.
ing French vessels are among the wrecks: Bark
Alphonsine Zelie. Capt Bachelier, from
Cayenne (probably bound via Martinique for a
French port; bark Emmanuel Auger.
Capt. Cholet from Havre, June 2;
bark Souyerain, Capt Bourdaze. from
Nantes. Capt Pasques from Paimboeuf via
Guadeloupe; bark Berthe Collet Capt. Poumet
from Bordeaux; bark Anna, Capt Marion. from
Granville, March "a: schooner Perseverance,
Capt Zego. from Cadiz, April 10, and bark
Sephir 0ate Josephine), from Marseilles, May
25. 1t is also known that the Italian brig
Amicizia. Capt. Matarazzo, from Marseilles,
May rs. is among the vessels driven ashore.
The dispatch makes no reference to the loss
Of life among the ships crews, and there is
great anxiety among the families Of the officers
and crews of the vessels well as among the
ship owners, to receive fuller particulars Of the
disaster.
EQUAL TO THE CYCLONE OF 1871
Later.-Oficial advices received here this af-
ternoon announce that the calamity which has
visited =, Martinique is the most severe
said to equal the famous cyclone which
swept over the island of Antigua
in 1871. So far as can be learned there have
been nearly, if not quite. sixty dea tbs as
a result OF the hurricane visitation; but il will
be some time before the full extent of the dis
aster is known.
At Fort Defiance alone there have been twelve
lives lost, and in both Fort Defiance and st.
Pierre. to say nothing of the country districts.
there have been large numbers Of people in
jured.
At st. Pierre five persons are known TO have
been killed, but it is feared that this number
does not represent the entire loss Of life in the
capital.
Communication with the different parts of
the Island was never an easy matter, and it is
excessively difficult to get detailed news at
present.
As the reports from the various sections
reach st. Pierre it becomes evident that the ex-
tent OF the hurricanes devastations has not
been much exaggerated. Destruction of prop
erty and loss Of life is reported from all parts
OF the coast.
The latest report received at st. Pierre from
Lamentir shows that the hurricane counts ten
victims in that place alone, in addition to q
large number of injured.
At Francois there have been sixteen people
killed and large numbers injured and at Riviera
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 Trenite sends in the list Of its dead at ten
and numbers of moro or less severely injured.
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
The damage done to shipping and property
may safely be classed as stupendous. About
two-ffths Of the island was under cultivation
and the mountain slopes were covered with
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 Houses and barns, store
houses and stables have been crushed out Of
existence, and considerable period must
elapse before the island RECEIVERS from its ter
rible visitation.
Every hour adds to the List of horror already
long enough TO startle anybody. Some of the
poorer classes Of people have lost their all and
the same may be said Of . number Of the
rich v,la fara