, 1892-07-02
CYCLONE IN MAURITIUS.
APRIL 20.
From a letter of Mr.. Eyare Hatson, Private
Secretary 90 Acting Governor.

10 me general QlSttSIeT, Olt-lulIQ VI L OIO
Louis is fiat, with many churches and main
buildings among them destroyed. The num-
Der Of victims in town has up 20 date, May
10th. reached Cos and with about the same
number in the country districts. No English
civilians have lost their lives. Besides the
killed there are over 1000 wounded now being
treated in the public hospitals and other
places which have been turned into hoSpl-
tails; our Protestant Cathedral being the
chief Of the auxiliaries. The Rev. Pendants,
tho friend | have written often abou was
taking the duty Of the Ar2hdeacon in town
for , months and hld his house destroyed and
lost every thing he possessed. Turned into
the streets during the hurricane he set to
work with the help Of some plucky officers
of the Regiment and native Sepoys to rescue
the wounded from the fallen buildings and
opened the Cathedral to receive them. They
soon had over 500 proof houseless and wound
ed persons in it. l always knew he was the
right sort.
The cyclone burst on us very Unexpectedly
and suddenly, the former because our hur-
ricane season has alw tys been rcckoned here
to begin December lSt and end on 10th April
or thereabouts. We had received reasspring
teleerams from the Meteorological Observable
nv as to weather. but the wind suddenly
increased in fury and the Barometer fell IN
iumrs, 80 we made everything snug and pre-
pared to FIGHT tie wind. Redu t lthe Gov
ernor's residence is a large place containing
over 200 windows and doors and 1T IS no
small task getting it tight. This we begun
about 10 a. IN. and by noon it was impossible
to live outside; the fury of the wind was
terrible aud branches Of trees and shingles
and peioes Of wood were flying in all direc-
tions and The house began 10 leak like a
sieve. Tai, lasted until , p. N. when a calm
ensued in delthlika stiffness. On going out
we found that the trees were lying in all
directions and that half the roof ofone Of the
wings was gone. We had suspected this
as the rooms (Lady Lees and Sir Ch1rIesl
were early in the day Quilted. My pavilion
was a wreck inside with three quarters of the
roof gone. With the help Of my brave Indian
servant | saved all my clothes and everything
valued much. SO ! am q. H.. with the
Barometer at this time at 1880 we OF
course recognised this respite to be attrlbu-
table to the passage OF the centre over US ana
40 we set to work to make secure any weak
points in our defence. Sure enough as sud
denly as the storm hld ceased, did it rush on
rs AGAIN with terrific fury. AT this time the
velocity Of the wind reached III miles an
bour. This lasted for two more hours. Mr..
birmingham facting Governor and myself
stood together m~anfully and fought the wind
at the door and windows and when 1t WAS
over we retired to rest on two sofas IN the
Ball room which was the only dry spot III the
bouse. OF course there has been considerable
damage to the furniture in some of the rooms.
Next morning the scene was one of 'abomln-
alton and desolation.' The beautiful garden
reduced to confused masses of fallen trees,
tubs, &c. Meanwhile the tragedies
that were going on in the town were many
and startling. You will gather them from
the papers sent. This being a crown colony
with a regular maternal government the work
that falls on the Governor is not to be
ssneezed at" but in times like these 1t
il stupendous. The amount of energetic
work of visitation and inspection as well as
writing that Mr. birmingham has gone through
during the la. ten days IS wonderful and
Won can we'll understand what the anxiety
and mental strain has been with every one
looking to him for help and order. lie
has done we'll and is receiving praise on all
sides.
1t has been a great disaster to the colony.
The crops which were splendid are much
damaged and a deduction of SO P. ct.
in weld is expected. We have been living
in town since the cyclone, so as to be on the
spot. Pendants is with us, the assistant
Colonial Secretary and sonce ladies who are
doino laborious and devoted work at the Hos
u;4oi or3 .Na+hedral We shall have q dull