, 1898-09-28

49, f''ApAF 'P"N Z" 0ANN
itself have been badly broken and the loot
path on top cracked. The tram cars have
been unable TO pass over it. A large portion
Of the Victoria Bridge at the north eastern
side has cen q rrie1 away.
Every branch of business was suspended
on Monday in HE city, all he stores and
commercial offices being closed.
The land mes Of the W. I. aud ?. Tele-
graph Co. have been demolished and cable
communication with the other islands has
been interrupted.
The newly erected Observatory Of the
United States Weather Bureau on the iOof
of the Ice House was blown down, as were also
all the water mills or aermOters III the city
and suburbs.
On Sunday His Excellenoy the Governor,
accompanied by the Hon. Colonial Secretary,
visited the city and went around looking at
the damage done by the storm. His Ex'
ccIlrncy repeated his visit on Monday and
lie took prompt steps for putting III train
measufe4 for nlleviating the distress Of
the people. lie called upon the local ALL
~tIOrity-the Ve~try-to attend to the wants
Of the people and lie promised to take
steps to assist the Vestry in carrying out
fhtir works Of relief. To this request the
Frstry promptly responded, and a meet
ing OF this body was at once called by the
Dean, the Chairman, Ut which resolutions
were passed having for their OF ject the ameli-
Grafton of the distressed condition of the
Ieoplp. And here we would take he oppOr.
tumity Of referring specially to the good work
performed by the energetic ChurChwaTden,
Mr.. T. N. A. Clairmonte, and the Guardians
Of the poor, MrAsrS. john Burton and 4. A.
Wright. These gentlemen have hnd o hard
time of it in attending TO the hundreds of i'm.
Portunnto applicants for relief. Theirs has
rot been an e"sy task 10y amy means. but
they have uIfinchIingly stuck to II day by
day and they certainly deserve the best
thanks Of the community.
10 His Excellency the Governor much is
due. He has shown himself to lie a man
who when the occasion arises can be depend"
cd on. Action not words has been his motto.
AS Government House is now ndeIgOing
repairs, the Govern"r has, in the present
emergency, opened au Office in the Public
Buildings SO as to be present on the spot to
control matters personally. We think that
His Excellrncy deseiv YES great credit for hav-
ing so promptly seen TO the needs Of the
situation. 1t WINS one which did not admit of
delay, aud the public will, we are sue, ap-
preciate the Governors speedy and effective
action.
The Country Districts.
The news from The country districts con.
veyed a tnle of ruin md dpsolalion. Numbers
of people Lave been killed, but the exact
figures cannot yet be ascertained' The de-
vastation wrought by HE blow has been very
severe in every parish. Thirty thousand peo-
pie have it is estimated, been rendered home
less-Indeed they have lost everything in the
world. Starving, shelterless and with bare
ly a rag on their backs their condition is one
to excite the gCaatest sympathy. a large
number have been given food and Nhelter ut
the estates, but of C urse this is merely a tenn
pornry measure of relief, and something more
effective must be done for them. 1t is sail
to be q pitlable sight to Sc these poor folk
gathered round the sites OF their DIV ellings
gazing upon the wreckage with half dazed
COuntenances and streaming eyes.
The canes have Nuff. red very much. There
are not perhaps II oozer st"ndmg-6elds. The
plants have been stripped by the wind of
their foliage and me lying on The ground.
There is O marked division of opinion on the
question whether the canes will or will not
recover from the effects of the stn,m. Seve.
rOl experienced planters hold that the crop
is absolutely ruined, whilst others equally
experienced, maintain that the canes will
recover themselves md rise from their present
fallen condition. One gentleman who holds
the latter view assured us that he spoke
from actual experience. lie had had to deal