, 1898-09-28
The Hurricane.
Barbados agricultural Reporter l7M Sept

an awful night the experience of which
struck ierror into the StoutrSt heart. Never
since the memorable llth of August, 1881,
h"s the island been listed by such "a
fearful hur ricnne AS that which swept over
it Oh Saturday night. The storm Of the
18Th October. 1894, wOs mild in comparison
with it. That visitation occurred during
the light of day and WAS only IT some four
hours duration; The present one extended
over IL period of ton hours during The q; tk
and dIeary watches Of the night.
For lays ptevio 8, the weather had bsen
unsettled aud much rain had fnllen. Bur
tn barometer Remained steady, and it was
only on Saturday evening that it gave signs
of the approach Of 8 hurricane. BY :
O'Clock it lad dropped to 1869 and the
bowling, ftful gusts of wind proclaimed the
rapid Mppro ICh Of the stOrm. Previous to
this. His Excsllency the Governor observing
the heavy fall of has barometer sent notice
TO tho central Police Station from which
point the Information WAS telephoned Is far
As possible TO distant stations to be fol wArdsd
TO the fishing Villages. The ~cnrtains 6R the
various craft III port wUrs also warned to be
on the look out. Ii. NJ. s. Alert which
D was in Carlisle Bay raised her AnchSr
aud steamed out about 6 80 for safety. But
the bulk of the citizens at Bridgstown, and
'tho residents in the country parishes, we're
ignoINnt Of til. meteorological conditions
prevailing; and when the storm burst 1T 7.3D
pm. they were entirely unpleparsd for it.
1t being Saturday night, hundreds Of people
in the City were out Ia liking their purchases
for Sunday. They were regularly trapped.
and were compelled t. remain III The Shops
tho entire night. Many Of the Dry Coos,
Stores wee opened aud they. too. Afforded
accumulation to scores Of persons. A
number of people on their way home Oh
being overt"ken by tho blast sought refuge
where they could. the stsi' wHys and pas
ssgnS of several buildings were packed With
refugees.
AS We have said, the blow commenced ct
about $50 on Saturday evening sud con.
tinued until 4 o'clock on Sunday morning.
At mid lshl the barometer had dropped to
29 Az AMI the velocity Of the wind for five
minutes WAS 50 miles per hour-tO q lbs
pressure t. the squa'e foot; but for one
minute til" velocity reached rs miles Der
hour=to 20 lbs to The square foot. Through
the long stretch Of time, which appeared {,
the terror stricken citizens like days instead
of hours, the wind roared about The vast
lone overhead, and ci'oling the buildings,
many Of them solid, substantial atone struc.
lures, shook Them to their very foundations.
AT one time it seemed rs if it were blowing
from all pOQtS of the compass. Doors and
windows of houses were forced from their
fa-teming+, and. rushing in like a thousand
demons the wind wrought havoc and dss-
t~ruction within. the buildings the while
shaking like huge cradles. Lurid flashes
Of lightning from time to time shot athwart
and fired the imky arch overhead, and thu
low, deep rumbIings of the distant thunder.
clouds lent adSciIilious terror to the oc.
casion. Whilst the furious wliirlwind rent
the bowling air, the ocean, grooming from
its lowest bed, heate trmp"stuous to The
sky. 1t WAS a night which never can be
forgotten. As blast followed blast in rapid
succession aud the eleInented war wsxed
6erc ,r and fercer and tho awful possibility
Of instant destruction was realized, tho bold
ext Hnd. nervieSt stood appalled,. aud mauy
IA prayer went forth for help and protection.
Aud thus this weary, terrible vigil was
kept.
At last morning d"wned. and the scene of
desolation and ruin which presented itself
to the inhabitants of BridgetOwn wa+ fearful.
Nearly every tree in the town had been
blown down. The telephone poles with
their hundreds of wires lay on the ground.
Demolished and roOfess houses met the eve
on every side. Bands Of homeless, starving
people pStrolled the streets, frenzy and