, 1894-10-31

duoClOn.
The cyclone which visited Cuba in Septem-
Der, 1888, reduced the production 10y % per
cent, as compared with the previous one,
and the circumstances of.this year are similar
to those which prevailed in 1888, as far as
the condition of the cane is concAlned. 1t is
likely that the effects will also be similar in
both cases. q
The Great Inumdations!s. AS announced In
my previous letter of the 28th. ult., the
cyclone which blew over this island on the
oath and 10Th comparatively inflicted but
slight damages upon the fields and property
in general, but unfortunately the. copiouS
ensuing rains caused most Of the rivers in the
central part to swell to a point never before
witnessed and to overflow on all the Jur-
rounding country, inficting I losses
both in life aud property.
The rain fallen in two days reached the un-
precedented height of 400 millimeters, and
owing to this enormous addition to their
natural volume the rivers Sagua, Yaba, va
busita, Maguaraya, DarAiyi, Zaza and others,
smaller.only abandoned their beds at once
and spread ruin, desOlation and death on oil
sides.
Though Several towns were'nundated, none
suffered SO badly as Sagua, i'll whose streets
the depth OF the water varied between Six
and fifteen feet, compelling her inhabitants to
seek security on the roofs Of their dwellings,
the upper part of two-story buildings, the
overs and choirs of churches and the tops
of the highest trees; it is estimated that
about seven or eight thousand persons
are today homeless and destitute Of all means,
owing to the total destruction Of over eighty
houses, damages inflicted to about two hun
dred more, which are to-day altogether uninS
habitablr, and most Of he balance needing to
be thoroughly repaired lsfore tLeir owners
may return tWthem.
Though the first reports announced that
forty person, had been drowned in the town
and abolA twOhnndrod in tho whole district,
the total number Of victims is reckoned to-
day at twenty-five or thirty.
The losses III property are enormous, since
furnlI IRE, clothing and wares in houses, mer-
Uhandiss and provisions of all sorts in stores
and produce in. warehouses, were washed away
or destroyed on the spot by the water; in the
country the greater part of cattle Oh farms and
plantations have persisted; q large number OF
cane fields and several sugar houses remained
five or six days under the water, and on this
account it is generally anticipated that the
sugar production in that part Of the island
will fall considerably below the average Of
several years past.
The total amount OF losses Is, adversely
estimated at from 81, 500, 0OO to 10 81, 900, 0OO,
and owing to the total interruption of COM
munications the e eater part of the inhabitants
remained -four days without food.
The plants of the electric lights, gas works
and railways were also badly injured, and to
add to the horrors of the situation the bad
smell from dead animals and rotten provisions
has caused malarial fever to prevail amongst
the inhabitants of he unfortunate town.
At Rodas, in the district Of Cienfuegos, the
inundation de troyed the railway station and
several large buildings, amongst which the
warehouse of one Of Mr.. Goitizolo's planta-
tions; losses are calculated at about S750,0C0.
At Santa Cruz del San and Tmas de Zaza,
the wharves have disappeared and about fifty
houses were tumbled over.
The inundation has extended as far as
Porto Principe, in whose lower streets slight
damages we also experienced.
Subscriptions for the relief Of the sufferers
were started at different places, and II large
quantity Of food, clothir", bedding and other
necessary articles and medicine ant to Sagua
as soon as commune .tion was re-established.
During the latter part of the week just
elapsed it has again rained copiously, owing
to the influence of another cyclone, which
passed on Thursday last at a great distance
on the northwest side of Cuba.
At the last hour new inundations are re-
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