Omaha daily bee., 1892-10-24
SARDINIA'S FRICHTFUL STORM
Hundreds of Pe:ple Fall Victims to the
Fury of the Elements, -
VILLAGES AND CITIES INUNDATED
Vast Expanses of Country Flooded and
Death Rode ON Every Ripple of the
Waters-Great Damage Done
to Growing crops.

LONDON, Oct. 23.-The latest advices from
Cagliari give an appalling account of the
terrible storm and flood IN Sardinia on
Thursday and Friday ast-o calamity in
which hundreds of lives were lost and nun
dreds of thousands OF dollars worth OF prop
crty were destroyed. The plain of Campidano
Tor fifteen miles north Of Caglari was af
fected. The plain stretches from Cagliari to
orstono, distance Of seventy-fvs miles,
and 1t is an important vine and olive growing
center.
The first intimations of the approaching
hurricane were noticed on Thursday after
noon. The heat OF the atmosphere became
oppressive and cattle and other animals grew
restless and hurriedly sought shelter. Soon
heavy black clouds tiuged with red ap-
peared. The peasants working in the fields
became terror-stricken and took refuge in
their homes. AS the darkness of night came
on. the cyclone burst upon the plain with
full force. Incessant flashes of lightning
anu heavy peals of thunder accompanied the
shrieking OF the wind, while loud subtcr-
ranean rumolings added their terrors to the
storm. Rain fell in torrents and ali the low
lands were flooded in a very short time.
Ihe river Manuand and other streams inter-
sectlng the district soon overfowed their
banks, inundating an area OF fifteen square
ki'ometers.
.ho NiiascS luNd'lcu w Uuo waters
were Decimomannu, Assemini, Elmas and
BrazHall, with total population of 6,000
souls. Scores OF dwellings and barns were
demolished by the raging flood and hundreds
oil people who had sought refuge on tho
| roofs of buildings were drowned in most
OF the villages named there were many huts
quilt OF mud, which collapsed IN fcw
moments. Other huts made of reeds and
straw hoated with the current, forming
rats to which many peasants clung during
the night until they We're rescued
Cn Friday morning the work of rescue
was begun in earnest. Dozens of persons were
then found hudd!ed together on elevations of
land and in the upper parts Of the houses
that are stu standing. Many of these people
were hall dead from terror ana exposure
The buildings still standing were found to be
seriously damaged. Most of the furniture
they contained was, of course, ruined.
| Survivors say that the experience OF that
night was terrible in the extreme The
whole night long the air was filed
with the beartrending shrlets of drown
Ing human beings and the terri
| fed cries of sheep and cattle, mingled with
| the ceaseless din of alarm bells that were
| kept ringing in neigh boring villages. The
| project OF Caglari upon learning of the dis
| aster, Immediately dispatched rescue parties
| to save survivors. These parties worked
| with the greatest difficulty. Dozens of lives
| were saved by soldiers. Ons hundred bod
| les have been recovered ut San Sperate alone.
| The total death roll must reach several hun
| dred. An immense number of cattle and
| other live stock Derished. The Cagliari-
| iglesis railway has been greatly damaged by
| the flood.