AWFUL HURRICANE AT TOBAGO.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 201, 3 May 1848, Page 2

AWFUL HURRICANE AT TOBAGO.

On the night of the 1 1 th of October, 1817, the island of | Tobago was visited by one of the severest and most desolating hurricanes that lias occurred within the , memory of the oldest inhabitant. During that day | heavy clouds were seen gathering to the west and noith, and towaids the evening the wind blew fresh from the latter quarter. These symptoms of an approaching hurricane seemed to create little or no apprehension in the minds of the inhabitants, because Tobago had since 1/80 suffered but to a trifling extent from such a cause, and therefore may truly be said to have been in many respects quite unprepared for such a short but feaiful display of omnipotent power. The night of the 11th of October will be long re. membered in the annals of Tobago. The day, which was unusually sultry, oppressive anil lowering, was succeded in the latter part of the evoninoby indications of heavy rain from the westward and towards nine o'clock by slight gusts of wind, which although evidencing the approach of a stormy night, was viewed with little ahrm. By ten o'clock the heaviest sleeper was roused by the dreadful truth, that a hurricane of the severest kind was raviging the district. A severe earthquake is said to have preceded the first outbreak, noi can it be doubted after the proofs ai ound us. The wind at first appeared to blow from the west l>y north, accompanied by heavy rain and lightning, veeied towards the south afterwards, and previous to the tci mination to those dreadful hours ol anxiety, blewngain with increased violence from the north "and east till one, a m., of the morning of the 12th. ' * Continuing to rage with such fury .for three hours considerable damage was expected to be done, but the desolation and devastating effecti produced by it are beyond description. High and low, rich and poor have alike expsrienced its fearful influence, and been made to acknowledge the power of that Being " who maketh the clouds his chariot, and who walketh upon the wings of the wind." The lightning was vivid in the extreme, and excessive in its fearful brilliancy No accidents appear to have taken place in this quarter, although several lives are stated to have fallen a sacrifice to it» prey— viz., one at Cove, two at Mflford one at Golden Grove, and one at Montgomery. ' The morning of Tuesday presented a scene of des. truction in every quarter to which the eye was direct? <1 accompanied by two powerful proofs of its severity being general, in the crowds of hapless beings nassine along the roads with their little all saved from the wreck of their buildings, and in search of a covering for themselves and families. The once smiling face of the country, dotted with the cottages and gardens of the labourers, the fruits of by gone earning*, were swept to the four winds of heaven, and no protection left them but the hill sidY or the ravine, till the morning broke. ' The dwelling-houses on estatei generally have suf. fcred terribly. Some are entirely swept away, and their inhabitants obliged to reiort for shelter to any field that offers a present protection against the elements, and, it is to be feared, with little prospect of having such dwellings again raised. Trees, the growth of many, many years, which* withstood the violence of all preceding hurricanes, had been bent and twisted like willow wandi, and present themselves denuded ol foliage, stripped of their branches, and in many instances torn up by the roots and cast to a distance. The canes which, during the eventful day, looked healthy and luxuriant, have been in every case pectrated, as if a destroying torrent of water had burst over them, and torn their leaves into shreds. Those most advanced have suffered most severely, we fear in several eases, irremediably. The less advanced' plants present a more encougaging appearance, but afford no hopes that they will fully recover from their effects. Confident hopes are indulged by some that the oldest plants may yet recover, but the forbodings of many tend to destroy the supposition ; nor can it he concealed, whilst numbers are completely uprooted and many prostrate, that others ere more or less injured. The dettruction of sugar works, &c, is so »ide spread and general, the means of restoring them so doubtful, as to cast a general gloom over the community. Wheresoever buildings have escaped from the fury of the tempest, have been obliged to be used for the homeless sufferers on the estates and neighbourhood, whilst the dwelling-houses left standing have been similarly appropriated. I fear no very favourable account can be given of the provision grounds. The corn ii laid flat ; cassada and yams much shaken, and in too many cases rooted up. Plantains have been quite destroyed, iwect potatoes have suffered least of all. We are enabled to state, on undoubted authority, that throughout the island, thirty great houses (or manager's house*) are completely destroyed ; thirty-one ditto, ditto, severely injured ; twenty-six works completely destroyed, thirty-three ditto severely injured ; four hundred and fifty-six settlers' houses destroyed ; one hundred and fifty-iix ditto greatly injured. In Scarborough, Rocky Vale, Monkey Town, Lower Town of Scarborough, and otherwise in the vicinity of Scarborough alone — one hundred aud twenty-two bouses of all deicriptiom (including out-buildings) were totally destroyed ; eighty.four ditto greatly injured The loss of life is estimated at nineteen only* The whole of the barracks were unroofed, and some of the side walls blown down ; the officers' quarters were entirely stripped of their verandahs, roofs, and shingles windows and doors blown in and broken, part of the roof of the hospital blown down, canteen, ordinance storei, and out buildings in ruins : one soldier of the 19th regiment killed, and another seriously injured ; several soluien of the Ist West India Regiment alto seriously injured by the falling of the ruins. All the officers escaped, excepting the deputy ordnance storekeeper, who was much injured by the falling of his bouse, and the forUadjutant received a contusion whilst extricating others from the ruins. By the unwearied etertiofts of the officers of the garrison, particularly the officer commanding, the troops were provided with shelter and comfortable accommodation, under the circumstances (the rain falling in torrents during the following day), the greater part in tenta erected in the pasture, and many in buildings temporarily cleared for their reception. The loss of storei, arms, &c, is immense ; and from the total destruction of the barracks, it has been deemed advisable to send the whole of the white troops to Trinidad, for which purpose the brig Judson has been chartered, and sails for that island this evening.