THE WEST INDIAN HURRICANE.

Grey River Argus, Volume 57, Issue 10184, 16 January 1899, Page 4

THE WEST INDIAN HURRICANE.

(O) A TRRILLIKG DESCRIPTION. The Times jmblishes the letter received by Mr Bosworfch Smith from his daughter, the wife of Mr H. Thompson, the^ Administrator of St. Vincent. The following [are extracts: — " Government House, St. Vincent, West Indies, "September 12. "We have just been through the most terrible experience, but it has pleased God to preserve us all in safety. On Saturday, September 10, the glass fell alaruingly and we heard a curious ground swell from Stubbs. The night, was blowing, but nothing extra ordinary ; bub at 5 a.m. the wind became vio'ent. At 9 o'clock I saw a tree-top go, and I insisted on everyone going to the cellar. From 9 a.m., till a quarter to 12 the wind was awfu * but 1 think the hurricane was at its height at 11 o'clock. I must tell you now, because I wish to put it from me, and forget if I can. This is Monday ni«ht; i have been in bed some hours, but can't seepfur horror, and I shall be glad to have written this letter. I j can't describe the scene ; it is like an ! evil dream already. First, there was ' a shoek v of earthquake, then the shipping in the bay got adrift., a,d som o

went out to sea, some broke up on shore. The magnificent ralms, the pride and delight of our eyes, lost every portion of their crowns, and now stand, like hideous scarecrows ; their great limbs flew from every big tree ; the sound was indescrible. It was what one would picture hell— a boiling whistling howl, that drowned the world in horror. I saw a vast tree fall near but could hear nothing, and the room where we dined at Montrose blew over like a card house, but we could hear nothing but this frightful wind. It came in gustp of frantic violence ; the poor horses were terrified shivering, and mad to escape. I felt inwardly mad with terror, but one had to be quite for the servants' sake. Humanly speaking we were quite safe; even if the house had blown, down I think the vaulting would have stood. It was very cold at times, and yet I felt I could not breathe for horrible oppression. The servants be hayed admirably — so quiet and resigned and sensible. At quarter to 12 came a lull ; we thought, it was over, and came out. Such a scene of hideous desolation. The lovely gardens laid level to the ground, and there below nothing but stript trees, broken limb 3, and a grey, hurrying sky. We saw at once that two houses — .the C.'s on Dorsetshire Hill, and the D.'s, on the Fort road, were obliterated. There was great rain all the time. In about half an hour it grew dark again, and the wind came back, this time from the south and west ; the first time it came from north and east. I got them all down again into the cellar, and the horses brought round again — only just in time. They would not come — I had to drive them all ; it whs like an awful nightmare, and • then it burst on us again a hundred times more violently ; but the agony was I knew H. had not time to have got into the town, and I felt for two hours that I should never see him again. I just spoke to the poor souls, and told them to ask God's protection, and then A. sajs I sat like a dead person for the awful two hours. I pray I may never live through such again. We stayed there till s—it5 — it seemed a year — and one could not trust the gradual abatement of the storm. When we can c out the desolation hid increased * hundredfold. And then, poor souls came for refuge Finally, we sheltered 30 houseless creatures, but as it was Sunday it was hard to get them food. And thpy brought awful tales ; but in the confusion they hardly knew what had happened. They knew people were dead under their houses in many places, and everywhere the same expressive words, 'Chauncey village is all flat, 'Towmans is all flat,' 'Sharps is all flat. Tuesday : The hospital was sadder than ever so were the gangs of poor w men coming in to forage for their chi dren, so good and patient, and so unspeakably sad. Thank God, it was fine again. To tee the little souls down with fever lying under a roof raised by stakes 2ft above the ground. But if the tears come to your eyes, it starts all the poor women off. Fancy, one woman a Mrs Robertson, we knew had her head cut clean oft, and it was not found till next day. Oh, it is ghastly, ghastly. Many ol them came to the shelters absolutely naked. And the blasted look beyond Prospect is like a bit of Dante's 'Inferno.' "