The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
HURRICANES IN THE WEST INDIES
Days of Dread and Then tho Realization
OF the Worst Fears.

From he Chicago Record.
| KINGSTON. Aug. 21.-Jamaica mercifully es-
capped this latest hurricane. 1t Is out OF the
| usual track OF these storms. but at various
| times we have experienced them in their most
| terrible form. And whoever has known one
hurricane is always full OF deep pity for any
| neiRhbor who suffers likewise
1t Is impossible to imagine q greater strain
upon human endurance than that i'm posed by
| a hurricane The agony OF waiting is terrible.
| For hours. perhaps days. before it descends
upon the Inflated islands the people know that
| 1t 10 coming. The Weather Bureau warns
| them. the barometer steadily falls. the atmos-
phere becomes close and sitting. a heavy
swell arises on the sea from the westward and
finally the wind begins to blow in heavy. inter-
mittent gusts. Omnous gray clouds, thick
with storm mists. spread themselves over the
horizon. Ships in harbor hurriedly put out to
the open ocean. elecing always to fight the
storm fend In a spacious arena. Too often
they only escape from one island to be dashed
to splinters against the coral reefs OF another.
As the hours wear on and the watchers be-
come haggard with dread the wind rises to I'M
imaginable fury. Inky darkness spreads over
the scene. The sea is lashed into fury and
breaks upon the shore in giant waves that
food the streets OF the port. In Kingston dur
ing one hurricane some years ago. a large
schooner was blown from its anchorage in tho
harbor hundreds Of feet and landed In the
middle OF the main street. where next day ID
was left high and dry by the recedng waves
Suddenly the loodgates OF heaven are opened
The demoniac spirit Of rain. revealing In de-
struction as 1t can only in the tropics. thunders
its nercest cataracts. Dry gullies in few mo-
ments become raging torrents. sweeping all
before them to the sea. Houses. rocked by the
increasing fury Of the wind. collapse as IL they
were built OF cards; and the jewellers. too
trustful OF their frail security. are crushed in
the falling ruins. Roofs are hurled away small,
tenements reduced to splinters by falling trees
or carried away bodily by volumes OF water
which. overlooking the gullies. burst with re-
sistless force upon the dwellings Of the poor.
The unclaimed elements revel in a mad carni.
val OF death and destruction. AS tho night
wears on the flashes Of lightning become inces-
SAINT illumining the ghastly scene with urid
splendor.
But the ultimate OF tragedy is not yet Hear.
above the din OF the storm. the despaIrInR
Shrek OF q woman-a mother! 1t is fierce
command for help. wrung from the heart Of Z
woman whose children are being torn from
her by the pltiless elements. and she is claim.
ing the right to live from the instincts OF ouu
common humanity. She rushes distractedly
about the streets. dashed hither and thither BIZ
the wind-a woman clad In the scantiest. half.
mad. and crying aloud to the storm for the
help OF strong men.
This is. alas a true story. huge mass OF
earth had been loosened from the hill at the
foot OF which she lived. 1t overwhelmed the
house and the five children who were seeking
shelter beneath 1t. She was holding the young.
clutehed the tiny body with the tenacity OF .
landslide. The terrible agony OF the distracted
mother nervsd brave men to action. Headed
by the parish priest they worked heroically
amid the ruins and the still descending earth
and dug out two little bodies. lfeless The
others were never found. The environment
may have strung strong mems nerves to crack
ing point. but the spectacle of these little
corpses. laid out on the bare ground and seen
by weird, blue flashes OF lightning. amid the
crash OF the thunder and the bowling OF the
winds. seemed the most impressive one could
ever witness How true appeared the solemn
words OF the Preacher:
dead more than the living which yet alive Yea,
better he than both they which hath not vet been
who hath not seen the evil work that is done under
the SUM-"
Morning breaks. gray and gloomy. The
storm abates On every side Is devastation.
Euin. death. Tho tale OF fatality Ia made out.
Prompt charity seeks to alleviate the more
pressing want; sympathy vainly tries 70 as
suaRe the more bitter grefs. But the island
community has been struck by a blow too fell
Tor ready recovery. From the country dis
trlcts comes the story OF ruined crops and star.
yation stares the peasantry in the face. Then
II Is that the sym athy OF the great peoples in
more favored climes may become our saliva
ton, And In such a matter he who gives
] quickly gives twice.