Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-24

Hundreds of Lives and Thousands of Dol
lars Worth of Property Lost.

Hundreds of Lives and Thousands of Dol
lars Worth of Property Lost.
The latest advices from Cagliari give an
appalling account of the terrible storm and
flood in Sardinia on Thursday and FRIDAY last a
calamity III which hundreds of lives were lost
and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth Of
property was destroyed.
The plain Of Campidano for fifteen miles
north of Cagliari was affected. The plain
stretches from Cagliari to Crestano, distance
of fifty -nine miles, and is an important vine
and olive growing center.
The first Indications of the approaching hur-
ricane were noticed on Thursday afternoon
The heat of the atmosphere became oppressive
and cattle and other animals grew restless and
burriedly sought shelter. Soon a heavy black
cloud tinged with red appeared. The peasants
working in the fields became terrified 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 light
ming and heavy peals of thunder accom-
panied the shriekiug of the wind while
loud subterranean rumblings added their
terrors to the storm. Rain fell in
torrents and all the lowlands were flooded in
a very short time. The river Manu- and other
streams intersectiug the district soon overflow ed
their banks, inundating an of fifteen square
kilometres.
Among the villages invaded bv the waters
were Decimomannu. Assemini. Elm-a Samatzai
Sansperate and BraZZali, with a total population
Of 5000 souls.
Scores of dwellings and barns were demol-
ished by the raging flood aud hundreds Of
people who had sought refuge on the roofs of
buildings were drowned. In most of the vii
lagos named there we're many huts built of mud
which collapsed in few moments. Other hut,
made of reeds and straw. foated with the cur
rents, forming RATS, to which many peasants
chung during the night until they were rescued.
On Friday morning the work of rescue was
begun in earnest. Dozens OF persons were then
found huddied together on elevations of land
| and in the upper parts OF the houses that were
still standing. Many OF these people were half
dead from terror and exposure. The buildings
still standing were found To be seriously dam
aged. the walls being extensively cracked and
| the foundations undermined. 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 heart
rending shrieks OF drowning human beings and
the terrified cries of sheep and cattle mingled
with the ceaseless din of alarm bells that were
kept ringing in neighborng villages.
The project of Cagiiari, on learning of the
disaster. Immediately dispatched rescue par
! ties TO survivors. These parties worked
with the greatest difficulty. Dozens Of lives
were saved by soldiers. One hundred bodies
have been recovered at Sansperate alone. The
total death roll must reach several hundred.
| An immense number OF cattle and other live
stock persisted. The Cagliari- lglesias railway
has been greatly damaged by the hood