THE BOATMEN AT THE PORT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 309, 31 December 1867, Page 2

THE BOATMEN AT THE PORT.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NELSON EVENING MAIL. Sir — Will you give us space in your journal to ask how the boatmen at the Government-wharf can obtain a livelihood with their boats, which - are always at hand for the conveyance of passengers to and from the steamers, when the Harbormaster so frequently makes use of the pilot-boats to convey passengers on shore, and especially at thispiesent Christmas time for pleasure trips? Of course the Harbor-master is quiteat liberty to convey his own personal friends in the pilot-boats, but that is a very different matter to depriving poor men of a few shillings. We should also be glad to know where the boats are to lie for convenience, for under present circumstances we are constantly being annoyed by the Lady Barkly, and the place which has • been lately been erected is: of no vie whatever. We are, etc., The Nelson Boatmen. . The Fort, December 30, '1867. : ' ■

THE EARTHQUAKE AT ST. THOMAS'S. The 'bulletin' published by the Jamaica Co" - lonial Standard of November 23, which, as we stated in our issue of Saturday last, was courteously placed at our disposal by Mr Wilkie, gives the following description' of the fearful calamity which bpfel the Island of St. Thomas on the ISth of that month. On Monday the 18th inst. the island of St. Thomas was the scene of a disastrous earthquake, accompanied by a fearful inroad of the sea, the effects whereof cannot but be of the most serious character, following so closely, as they did, upon the recent hurricane. At about a quarter before 3 in the afternoon a noise was heard such as would be produced by a locomotive of immense power under the utmost pressure, succeeded instantaneously by a visible movement of the entire island of such force as to make it a matter of surprise to those who witnessed it that a single habitation should remain in its normal condition. Most of the stores were swayed from side to side, as though they had been vessels afloat insteadof substantial buildings on terra firma. Many of them had toppled dwwn and very many others displayed ominous looking apertures, while few indeed escaped without some latent injury. When this first great shock -was felt, the scene that met the eye, a few yards from the shore, defies all description. The inhabitants; many of whom had scarcely recovered from the effects of the late hurricane, were in a state of utter panic. Bushing from their houses on to the open space fronting King's Wharf the negroes appeared in hundreds, men, women, and children. Casting themselves upon their knees praying, moaning, and wailing, they made up a scene such as is not likely to be soon forgotten by those who witnessed it. . About 15 to 20 minutes after this, and when the first effect of their fright was moderating, the thousands who were still in the open spaces were again horror-stricken at beholding the sea approaching the town in the form of a wall, fully 30 feet high, and extending over the entire horizon. On it rushed like an army in full charge, carrying away in its force everything that was before it. Many large vessels were turned completely on their beam-ends, and, strange as it may appear, . one schooner that was sunk in the late hurricane was lifted by this leviathan wave and carried high, and dry upon the land. The sea had entered the town, to an altitude of fully 50 feet so that the loss to the store-keepers in all the principal streets must be enormous. Throughout the entire night shocks of earthquake of more or less severity were constantly recurring. Towards morning they appeared to gain new strength, and were again continuous throughout the day and following night. A volcanic eruption was seen on the Island of Little Saba, the entire face of which is changed and now exhibits several large fissures.