RAZED BY HURRICANE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1931, Page 7

RAZED BY HURRICANE

DESTRUCTION OF BELIZE. GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. A graphic description of the destruction by hurricane on September 14 of Belize, the capital of British Honduras, is contained in the report of Captain H. W. Robson, master of the Canadian National steamer Connector, the first vessel to reach Belize after the disaster. Copies of Captain Robson’s letter to his headquarters at Montreal have reached New Zealand. Captain Robson related how he was compelled by emergency to break the rules established between mariners and operating companies. He employed the ship’s cooks night and day in baking bread for the distressed inhabitants, and converted the Connector into a hostel for the homeless. The Connector, which trades between Jamaica and Belize, left Jamaica on September 9. Wireless reports had been received during the voyage of a hurricane near Belize’and Captain Robson was not surprised on arrival to find no pilot at the station. The Connector proceeded through the harbour channel and it was seen that beacons were missing. Anchor was dropped immediately and buoys were laid iby a boat crew befoie the vessel was worked to its usual anchorage. Belize was found to be completely wrecked. Not one building had escaped severe damage and few houses remained standing. Lighters were not available, coastal vessels and iron barges of 200 tons having been lifted up and carried to the centre of the town. Captain Robson immediately called on the Governor and the Colonial Secretary and offered assistance. The shortage of food was the most urgent need, while the population was in a serious plight in regard to the water supply. Belize was entirely dependent on rain water and most of the tanks had been washed away. The meals supplied from the Connector were confined to soup, joint, biscuits and cheese, but the cooks managed to provide an occasional pudding. As there were not sufficient supplies of flour and potatoes on board, Captain Robson drew upon the cargo after a consultation with his company s agents. “My pen cannot describe the appalling conditions at Belize,” Captain Robeon wrote at the scene of the disaster. “Scarcely a house is standing, and, out of a population of 10,0-00, there are- about 2000 dead and missing and 1400 injured. Burial of the dead is impossible. Fires are burning day and night, burning the Captain Robson was a resident of Belize and his own home was devastated. The lower part of the building was completely filled with water as a result of the wave which was swept upon the town by the hurricane. Mrs. Robson struggled through the wreckage with water up to her neck to eave herself. The tidal wave which followed the hurricane caused the most serious damage and loss of life. Many of the crew of the Connector were Belize men. . All had lost some member of their families and their homes had been destroyed. They remained loyally by the ship and worked throughout the day. At night they would go ashore to attempt to repair their homes, reporting for duty at the ship at 6 a.m.