Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-05-28
1900 LIVES LOST.
The Terrible Effects of the Cyclone
at Mauritius.
Fully 1000 Injured in Port Louis Alone
al Many of These Will Die-The
Coming of the storm.

Fully 1000 Injured in Port Louis Alone
AL Many of These Will Die-The
Coming of the storm.
A cable dispatch from London, Eng, says:
Baron de Worms, Parliamentary Secretary of
the Colonial Office, read a telegram in the
House of Commons fully confirming the ter
rible d saster at Mauritius.
The despatch read by Baron De Worms said
that one-third of the capital city, Port Louis,
was destroyed. Among the buildings wrecked
were the Royal College and "a churches.
Many sugar mills in the country we're CON-
pletely demolished, and the valuable machin-
cry employed in the grinding of the cane and
In boiling the product, vacuum pans, c%entrifu-
gels, &c, were badly damaged.
In this desI atch the first estimate of the
loss OF life was given. 1t is known, says the
despatch, that in the City of Port Louis alone
600 persons we're Killed. In the various coun-
try districts thus far heard from 800 persons
lost their lives, and these figures are more
than likely TO be added to when news is re-
ceiyed from the remote districts in the noun
tains. 1t is believed that when the death.roll
is completed it will be found that over 100
persons were killed in this most dreadful of
All hurricanes that have visited the island.
The hospitals in Port Louis were filled to
overlooking with the injured, and tents were
erected on the hospital grounds to accommo.
date those whose injuries demanded instant
attention.
Nearly every house in the city had one or
more of its inmates under treatment, and the
physicians suffered greatly from the constant
calls maze upon them. They responded nobly,
however, 10 every appeal, and day and night
they devoted themselves TO the task of alleyia-
ting the pains of the wounded.
In Fort Louis alone 900 persons were in
lured. There was no loss of life among the
British troops stationed on the island. Though
q large part of the crops were DESTROYED. no
famine is apprehendfd. The government.
which is under the direction of Sir Charles
Cameron Lees, has, however, taken measures
TO relieve the distress that prevails in every
direction.
Peeuniary ASST lance is ne dcd. Thousands
OF people have los, their houses. and. though
the g ,vernment is doing all it possibly can,
there is much suffering.
Maurilius. which includes the small depen.
denc'e3 of the Seychelles, Rodriguez and
several other small island groups, contains
about 713 square. miles and its population is
about 500, 0DO, an average Of about sos TO the
square mile. . the total population about
249, 0C0 are coolies.
Some time before the gale burst the baron.
eter gave warning of a great atmospheric dis.
turbance. The mercury fell in one hour TO
2I.95, and in a short t me the sky took on a
dull reddish tinge, and every indication
pointed TO the coming of the storm. The air
was motion 'ess and the heat was oppressive.
almost sitting.
Swiftly coursing lundward there came a
solid mass Of water looking like a wall OF
green. AT its top was n mass of froth, which.
lighter than the water. was lifted by the gale
that was following close behind and blown far
IN advance of the onrnshing sea. Quicker
than the story can be written the forerunners
OF the gale reached the islnnd. FIRST a little
puff of wind waved the foliage Of the trees.
This WIS quickly followed by another and IN.
other, and then the storm burst.
Amid the roar of the gale could be heard
the crashing Of thunder that was appalling in
its violence. The whole black canopy of
clouds would give way to a flash OF lightning
that would light the sea, sky and earth with
n brightness that almost caused blindness,
The people were panie-stTieken and sought
safety in their houses, many of them only to
lind death shortly attefward in the falling
buildings.
The winA-aauges were blown to atoms, but
those best calculated 10 Judge state that the
wind blew at the rate of 100 mile an hour.
No one but those who have seen such storms
can form any idea of the terrible energy of
such a wind. 1t was utterly impossible for a
human being to stand against il. Many of
those who lost their lives were killed by being
lifted bodily from their feet and dashed against
trees, walls and houses.
The latest official estimates confirm the pre-
vious statement that ! 200 were killed. II is
thought that many Of thoss who were injured
will die.