Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-20
NINE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
Awful Effects Of the Terrible Hurricane
the Island of Mauritius.

Awful Effects Of the Terrible Hurricane ON
the Island of Mauritius.
LONDON, May 2O.-Baron De Worms, parlia-
mentary secretary Of the colonial Office, read a
telegram in the house Of commons this after
noon fully confirming the terrible disaster at
Mauritius, many facts concerning which were
told in these dispatches of yesterday and this
morning. The dispatch read by Dc Worms said
that one-third Of the capital city, Port Louis,
was DESTROYED
Among the buildings wrecked were the ROYAL
College and twenty-fOur churches. Many sugar
mills in the country were completely demol-
ished and the valuable machinery employed in
the grinding Of the cane and in boiling the pro-
duct, vacuum pans, centrifugals, &C., were
badly damaged.
SIX HUNDRED KILLED.
In this dispatch the first estimate Of the
loss Of life was given. II ID known that. says
the dispatch, thatin the city of Port Louis alone
500 persons were 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 received from
the remote districts Ia the mountains
IL is believed TINT when the death roll is COM
pleted it will be found that over 1000 persons
were killed in this most dreadful Of all hurri-
canes that have visited the islands.
The hospitals in Port Lonis were filled to
overhowing with the injured, and terIts we're
erected on the hospital grounds to accommodate
those whose INJURIES demanded quick attention.
Nearly every house in the city had one or more
OF its inmates under treatment and the physi-
cians suffered greatly from the constant calls
made upon them. They responded uobly, how
ever, to every appeal, and day and night they
devoted themselves to the task Of alleviating
the pains Of the wounded.
A THOUSAND INJURED.
In Port Louis alone 900 persons were in
tured. There was no loss Of life among the
British troops stationed ON the island. Though
a large part Of the crops was destroyed no fam
inc is apprehsnded The government, which is
under the direction Of Sir Chas. Cameron Lees.
has, however, taken measures to relieve the dis
tress that prevails in every direction.
The devastation was simply enormous. Bust
ness ut Port Louis, the capital, and at the other
towns On the island has been and Is still greatly
interrupted.
Among the steamers in Port Louis harbor
was the Albion, British vessel from Bombay.
She had steam up when the hurricane burst
with the assistance Of her engines.
The gale blew with such frightful
violence that even with the aid Of steam the
situation became extremely dangerous from the
pitching Of the steamer, tina. threatened at
every moment to break her chains. The cables
"ofe, tncIeioTe. ouOyeu ana tnppeQ ana the
steamer was headed for the open sea. As
she started on her perilous voyage she made
dangerous leeway, but finally she cleared the
reefs and rode in open water. She disappeared
IN the storm and no more was seen Of her until
she returned after the gale had subsidized. She
had had terrible experience. but she had
ridden out the storm with no further damage
than the loss Of her mainmast.
Pecuniary assistance is needed. Thousands
OF people have lost their houses, and though the
government is doing all it possibly can there
Is much suffering. Relief for these peo-
pie is urgently needed. Baron de Worms
added that Lord Knutsford. the colonial secre-
tsry, had communicated the facts of the dis
aster TO the lord mayor Of London, and stated
that the latter would at once open fund for
the benefit Of the islanders.
Mauritius. which includes the small depend
encies OF the Seychelles, Rodrigues and several
other small island groups, contains about 713
square miles, and its population is about
800. 900, an average Of about sos to the square
mile: OF the total population about 249, 900 are
coolies.