Year: 1868




ST. THOMAS, W. l. Nov. -, 1867


Sri beg to inform the Department of an
extraordinary occurrence producing much dis
aster, which took place in this harbor yesterday
afternoon. The weather was clear, though ex-
tremely hot, barometer thirty. Whilst writing
in my cabin, about hslf-past two P. NJ, my at
tenton was called by sudden tremor seizing
the ship, increasing in intensity, accompanied
by sound resembling the grinding of vessel
upon rough bottom, then gradually subsiding
until it ceased the whole lasting about two
minutes | recognized it Immediately as an
earthquake and looking towards the town saw
from the dust and confusion there had been de-
struction among its buildings. Concluding
that it wss now over resumed my occupation
and had been seated about ten minutes when
the report wss brought to me that the ses out
side Of the harbor had risen and was coming in
huge volume, as if to engulf us all went
on deck. and here the extraordinary spectacle
OF heavy wall Of sea, some twenty feet in
height, apparently distant about three miles
was coming towards the harbor with terrible
power. The second anchor was Immediately
dropped and men sent to the helm which was
al We could do ; and then we stood to meet it
as It advanced With a skirmish line of tumultu-
ous rollers Il front. | saw, with some comfort,
that it came from about south southwest, and





hsrbor IN an oblique direction. With a feeling
Of awe we awaited its arrival. II came rushing
on tumbling over the rocks that formed the en-
trance and carrying everything before it, A
small steamer and sailing vessel that were try
ing 10 get IN were at once engulphed and never
again seen, and the vessels at anchor near the
entrance were lifted from their moorings and
carried on the rocks to leewsri Receiving this
check, the heavy rollers swept into the hsrbor.
The De Soto, which was anchored rather
hroadside TO, Was carried from her mooring,
both chains swapping, and she was thrown upon
the iron piles Of a new wharf lately constructed
The next roller swept her on into deep water
again, and soon she made signals that she was
leaking.


In the meantime, however, we had risen from
the rollers, which We met nearly stern on, en-
countering three in succession. the anchors and
chains holding on bravely. The sea was now
rushing in and receding with great violence. The
sunken wrecks were rising the shipping in the
hArbor, swept from their moorings, were coming
into us every few minutes and the small craft
IN shore were lifted up and thrown into the
streets and left stranded. Along the water
front boats were cspsized and in the water were
seen IN all directions men swimming for their
lives. AT last the water in the bay subsided into
sort of whirlpool, and so soon as we could with
any propriety man our boats, they were sent to
the rescue Of the drowning men, Several we're
picked up, one already dead.


The De Soto was now adrift, whirling about
the harbor, her pumps going and getting up her
steam as rapidly as possible. l went on board
Of her, and found she could keep herself free,
and with her steam up and two kedges down she
would remain in safety for the night. Constant
shocks Of earthquake occurred every ten or If
teen minutes, and so continued with more or less
severitY through the night, and as l am now
.tng this is still going on. The damage on
more has been far more ruinous to the mer-
chants than that occssioned by the late hurri-
cane The first heavy roller went up into the
iown, swamplng the stores, which were mostly
on the Bay point, floating out and finally strand
ing their goods in unheard of directions. The
panic that seized the inhabitants was painful
rushing up the hillside, crying for mercy, and
listening to no attempts to pacify them.


AS went ashore in the evening, | found all
the stone dwellings were abandoned, their own
ers in the streets, or,in the wooden buildings Of
their friends, the alarm being still kept up by
the constant shocks that were still occurring
This morning the shocks are less frequent and
the bsy perfectly quiet The English mail
steamer which had lately arrived and was coal
/ ing in the bay on the other side of the harbor,
Was as near being lost as possible. Her passen
| gers speak of having felt the shock as we did,
and looking behind them, saw a small islet in
their rear was cleft in twain, and flame and
smoke issuing from the fssure Shortly after
ward the sea arose and came well nigh carrying
them down their cables parted. but they we're
thrown most fortunately under lee, which
placed them in comparative safety. The pass
engers, all but three females, who were lost in
the surf, reached the shore. Just now vessel
has arrived from Santa Cruz, bringing an officer
of the Monongahels. who brought in a verbal
message from Commodore Bissell, saying the
shock of the earthquake had been most violent
at that island that the sea had risen and
thrown his vessel high and dry on the beach, and
that three Of bis men who were in the boats
alongside were drowned.


leave this evening to see what assistance |
can render him. The damage sustained by this
ship is not material.


Very respectfully, your obedient servant


Jos S. PALMER.


Rear Admiral commanding North American
Squadron.