Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-21
A TERRIBLE GALE,
NINE HUNDRED LIVES LOST IN THE
MAuRlTluS STORM.
pecrle Iiftcd from Their Feet and Dashed
to Destruction-The Damage
70 Property Immense.

parliamentary secretary Of the colonial
Office, read telegram in the House oil
Commons this afternoon 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 de
Worms said that one-third Of the capital
CITY. Port Louis, was destroyed.
Among the buildings. wrecked were
the Royal College and twenty-fohr
churches Many sugarmills In the
country were completely demolished and
the valuable machinery employed IN the
grinding of the cane and in boiling the
product, vacuum-pans, centrifugals, &C.,
were badly damaged.
SIX HUNDRED KILLED.
In this dispatch the first estimate OF
the loss Of life was given. 1t was known,
Saws the dispatch, that In the city OF Port
Louis alone 600 persons we're killed. In
the various country districts thus far
heard from 800 persons lost their hves,
and these figures are more than likely
10 be added to when news is received
from the remote districts IN the noun
tans.
1t is believed that whom the death-roll
is completed it will he found that over
1000 persons we're killed in the most
dreadful Of all the fierce hurricanes that
have visited the islands.
The hospitals in Port Louis were filled
TO overlooking with the injured, and
tents were erected on the hospital
Grounds to accommodate those wnoee In
iuries demanded quick attention. Nearly
every house in the city had one or more
of its inmates under treatment and the
physicians suffered greatly from the con-
slant calls made upon them. They re-
sponded nobly. however. to every APP
peal. and day and night they devoted
themselves to the task Of alternating the
pains OF the wounded.
THOUSAND ISJURED.
In Port Louis alone 1000 persons
were injured. There was no loss OF lie
among the British troops stationed on
the island. Though large part OF the
crops we're destroyed no famine Is APP
pretended. The government, which IS
under the direction of Sir Charles Came
ron Lees, has, however, taken measures
TO relieve the distress that prevails IN
every direction.
The devastation was simply enormous.
Business at Port Louis, the capital, and
Mt 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
ND when the hurricane burst, and at
tempted to ride to her anchor
with the assistance of her engines:
The gale blew with such frlghtiul
violence that even with the aid of steam
the situation became extremely danger
GUS from the pitching of the steamer,
that threatened at every moment to
break her chains. The cables were,
therefore, buoyed and slipped and
the steamer was headed for the
opep 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 subsided. She had had
terrible experience, but she had ridden
out the storm with no further damage
than the loss of her mainmast.
THOUSANDS HOMELESS.
Pecuniary assistance is needed. Thou
sands of people have lost their houses,
and though the government is doing all
it possibly can there is much
suffering. Relief for these people
is urgently needed. Baron de Worms
added that Lord Knutsford, the Colo
NAL Secretary, had communicated the
facts of the disaster 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
dependencies of the Seychelles, Rod
rhymes. and several other small island
groups. contains about 713 square miles,
and its population is about 36O, 600, an
average of about 500 to the square mile.
OF the total population about 249,0Oo
are coolies.
THE TERRIBLE WIND.
LONDON, May 20.-Advices from Maui
ritius are to the effect that the devasta-
ton caused by the recent hurricane was
simply enormous. Some time before
the gale burst the baromeer gave
warning of great atmospheric
disturbance. The mercury fell IN
one hour to 1896, and in short
time the sky took on a dull, reddish
tinge, and every indication pointed to
the coming OF the storm. Suddenly a
great wave, driven by the gale, broke
upon the land, and storm Of appalling
violence burst. The wind-gauges we're
blown 10 atoms, but those best calcu-
luted to Judge state that the wind blew
at the velocity of 100 miles an hour.
PEOPLE DASHED TO DEATH.
None who have not seen such storms
can form any idea of the terrible energy
Of such a wind. 1t was utterly impossi-
BILE for human being TO stand against
it. Many of those who lost their lives
were killed by being lifted bodily from
their feet and dashed against trees, walls,
and houses.
Most of the lighters and tugs in the
harbor were blown high aud dry on the
shore, and the scarcity of these vessels
is great drawback to business. The
stIanding of the lighters and tugs also
caused great delay in floating the
stranded sea-going vessels, II being im-
possible to Tighten them.
STEAMERS MISSING.
Every craft afoat was driven ashore,
except few steamers, which had steam
up and slipped cables and stood out to
sea. One of these has returned, having
suffered no damage beyond the loss of
one mast The others have not been
heard from.