The Portland daily press., 1891-11-11
RACED LIKE BEASTS
COnVicts Faced Death in The Howl.
ing Of the Storm.
Three Hundred Killed in the Indian
Penal Station.
Female Prisoners BraVei The Seas
Fury to Save Lives.

LONDON, November l10.-Further partic-
ulars received here this morning from CAL
cutta show that the cyclone which swept
over the Andaman Islands, British con-
yict settlement In the Bay of Bengal. on
Monday last, caused a very much larger
loss Of life than was at first reported, and
that the damage done was far In excess Of
the amount first telegraphed here. In ad-
dition to the drowning Of nearly all Of the
crew of FL. M. S. Enterprise, the govern
ment steamer engaged in conveying the
conyicts to and from the settlement, by
which rs out Of 81 men lost their lives, it Is
now officially announced that the total loss
of life is nearly 300. and that about $50 peo-
pie In addition were severely wounded.
The first approach Of tho cyclonic disturb
ance was denoted by the deadly stiffness
which settled over the islands and by the
fact that birds and animals seemed to be
trembling with fear, seeking shelter every
Wnere, and apparently having entirely lost
their dread OF mans approach to them.
Inen the air became most oppressively hot
and banks OF dark clouds began to gather
on the eastern horizon. while in the dis
tance could be heard the low rumbliDgs of
thunder, the clouds now and then being
broken by flashes of vivid lightning. Soon
after the thunder rolls and lightning were
noticed, rushing sounds were heard In the
air, ana these Increased until a fierce gale
was bowling across the islands. whipping
the water into foam and bending trees like
whips before its breath. But this was as
nothing to what followed Suddenly the
Jury OF the storm seemed to be redoubled
and wild burst of wind bent down, up
rooted or cracked III two great numbers of
trees, unr0ofed numbers Of buildings, sent
planks, small trees, clouds of foliage and
even heavy beams whirling through the air
which, by this time, seemed to be charged
with electricity and TO be thick with an Op-
pressive, damp heat.
The convicts who were not In confine-
ment, nearly all of them being East lndi-
ans, ran, panic-stricken, here and there.
seeking places of shelter or falling pros
trate upon the ground. They resigned
themselves helplessly to their fate and,
muttering prayers, prepared to die. With
the convicts in confinement the Situation
was much worse. The shrieking 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 Ia their eff
lorts to Tree themselves and at least meet
death at liberty. Then came the sound of
railing buildings, crashing roofs and shrieks
OF agony as scores of helpless conyicts
we've crushed beneath falling beams and
tOppling masonry.
On all sides was the air filed with yells
Oh agony or despair, and mDgling with the
fearful sounds of the cyclonlc fury these
lamentations caused scene which happily
rarely. II ever, has been equalled In that
part of the world.
Right here let most gallant example of
womah,s pluck and strength be noted and
credited to the account of those who e.in
eastern countries, especially looked upon
as too weak and lowly to be worthy of any
thing but the right to live and bear chill
dren. In the present instance, In the midst
OF this terrible disturbance of nature, when
the Dravest and strongest men quailed with
apprehension, 1t was noticed that build
ing standing near the seashore had been
crushed down and actually hurled into the
surf by the fearful force of the wind. Some
convictS escaped befere it was blown into
the water; Others were drowned in spite
S these 70 eeG1ets nps
clamoering upon the roof Of their crushed
quarters, and there loudly appealed for
In this emergency gang OF female con-
Vlcts displayed great bravery. Undaunted
Dy Inc shrleking cyclone and listening only
to the frantic appeals for help uttered by
the men IN danger, they boldly Joined
nanas tOgetner IN long line, a human
rope, the bodies Of the women at the head
facing the water, and In this manner the
female convlcts slowly but steadily VEN
tured into the raging surf. Thsy finally
succeeded In rescuiDg six native convicts
who would otherwise have perished. for
their companions had been swept away
ana drowned: This is only an instance Of
the courage displayed upon this occasion
by the female convicts. On all sides they
won the highest praise by ministering to
the dying and nursing the wounded. While
the men seemed cowed down with terror
the women, as rule, displayed the most
remarkable courage. The Governor Cen
eral OF the penal station will recommend
that number of them be pardoned. and
that the sentence Of large number OF |
others be commuted to short terms of i'm |
prisonment.