THE MAURITIUS HURRICANE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Issue XX, 13 June 1892, Page 2

THE MAURITIUS HURRICANE.

On Friday, April 29th, a most terrific hurricane passed over the island, annihilating one-third of the .city of Port Loui-», containing a population of 70,000 souls, razing to the ground countless houses and publio buildings, destroying the greater part of the suyar crop, and damaging all the shipping in the harbour, It is estimated t hat i upwards of 1,500 persona have been kiiled, or have since died from : ht ir injuries. From 2,000 to 3,000 are reported to have been more or less injured, aud 25,000 at least are now homeless or utterly ruined. There is no iustauce in the annals of the colony of a storm having raged with such violence and caused such devastation .

The blow came as a surprise to everyone, as, up to the morning of that dreadful day, no indication had been given that the cyclone was bearing down upon v-«. Two days previously an afmospheric pressure was noted, indicating that a pertarbation. was moving away to the north of the island, but it was confidently predicted that it would pass at a safe distance from us. At eleven a.m. on the daj of the catastrophe the observatory pent a telegram staling that the conditions of the weather were on the whole unfavourable, but that probably the velocity of the wind would not exceei 56 miles an hour. Unfortunately this forecast was not to be fulfilled. The barometer continued to fall at an accelerating rate, and it became now apparent to meteorological observers that a cyclone was directing its course upon the island. At noon the barometer was 29*066 in, and the wind, which was blowing from N.E. half E , hadiuoreased to 68 miles, and at one o'clock its speed was at the rate of 96 miles an hour, the barometer mean- | while having fallen to 28-517 in. At that moment the storm was terrific, and the wind blew furiously, Still no considerable harm had been done to property, but the barometer continued to fall, the mercury having descended to 27 990 in. At twenty-six minutes past two p.m. the barometer had fallen to 27-975 m., which is the lowest pre-sure on record in Mauritius. We were then iv the centre of the cyclone. A lull of about an hour's duration then took place, and mmy persons thought that all danger was over. A gentle breeze was blowing from the northern part of the island. A dim ray of the sun was seen piercing through the dark clouds, and it looked as though fine weather had set in. By that time, however, the wind had veered to the W.N.W., and was oscillating towards the W.S.VV. The wind began to increase, and it was made apparent to all students of meteorology that the oentre of the cyolone had passed over the island, and that we were not yet free from the danger, Suddenly a hissing noise was heard in thedireotion of the south-west end. A vtdlent equall of wind of tremendous speed burst out lise a clap of thunder upon the town, causing a frightful vibration to ail buildings, and scattering broadcast pieoes of tin and oorrugated iron, shingles, planks, and big branches of trees. Then followed iv quick (Succession those deafening squalls of wind which threatened to destroy all property in their course, until the velocity of the wind had increased to 121 miles an hour, corresponding to a pressure of 73ib on the square foot/ being the greatest pressure on record. , Before this terrific cyclone the pressure of the wind was only 50lb on the square foot. The sight that met the eyes everywhere was horrible, and the din of the tempest intensified the feelings of terror. It seemed as though all the artillery of the universe was in full operation above our hea is, and was scattering havoc and dea'h on the island. Then the houses in Port Louis, the churches and the public buildings began t j fall down, crushing under their ruins a large number of people. The scene is indescribable. From i all aides persons were seen ruuning away for shelter, while around them houses tumbled upon one another. Happily for the unfortunate victims the wind soon abated, and one hour after the catastrophe rescue parties

were organised to save those who were injured. Foremost among those who distinguished themselves in this noble work were the officers and men of the garrison, headed by Major Ashley. While people were busy saving the wounded, flames were seen issuing from under the debris of the houa.s, and a new element of destruction was soon at work. It was with the greatest difficulty that the fire was got under, and not before many of the wounded had been burnt to death.

On the following day a glorious sun rose above the ruin and devastation wrought by the tornado in the once fair ciiy of Port Louis. It will take some time before we are in a position to state exactly the amount of the damage and the extent of the sufferings that have been inflicted upon the colony, but from particulars to hand we may give an approximate estimate of our losses. According to an informant the official valuation of the buildings in Port Louis is set down at 20,000,000r ; from this figure will have to be deducted 12,000,000r. as representing the value of ths houses that have been blown d^wn, or more or less damaged. The town is worth now only 8,000,000r. The finance committee of the (Jouncil of Government, who have been examining the amount of the loan required to save the colony from bankruptcy, estimate the losses sustained by the sugar planters at 14,000,000r. , out of an annual revenue of 24,000,000r. To these figures must be added about 2,000,000r. , representing the damage done to residences in the country districts and other private property, We thus find ourselves in the presence of a total loss ot 23,000,000i\ , or very nearly £2,000,000,