STORM AND SHIPWRECKS.

Samoan Reporter, Issue 11, 1 July 1850, Page 4

STORM AND SHIPWRECKS.

Between the months of November and March, we have generally a gale of wind for a few days on these islands. In the month of January last, we had some high winds and bad weather; and, as March passed aw'ay, we were thinking the stormy season was over. On the fifth of April, how r ever, we had a hurricane not only unusually late in the season, but also very sudden and severe. It was scarcely felt on the island of Savaii; one side of Manono escaped ; but all along both sides of Upolu it raged with fearful violence, gathering strength, apparently, as it advanced in its course from the west towards the east end of the island. It extended to Tutuila, but was not felt there to the same extent as on Upolu. It commenced to blow in the morning, from the south, shifted to the west about mid-day, and by 2 p.m., breadfruit and other trees innumerable were laid low 7 , upwards of two thousand native houses, chapels, and other buildings were in ruins, and three vessels at anchor in Apia harbour were driven on shore among the rocks. Parties of natives, sailing along the coast, were overtaken by the gale, and had their canoes wrecked ; some w ere almost dead before they reached the shore, others, alas! were carried out to sea, and drowned. It was a me ciful Providence that tne strength of the blast was during the day. Had it fieen at night, the loss of life from failing trees and houses wmuld probably have been great. We have only heard of the loss of life on land at two places, viz., at Tutuila, where a large part of a mountain broke down in the neighbourhood of a native village, by which four persons met immediate death; and at Fagaloa, on Upolu, where a man was killed by a tree falling upon him. The Mission premises at the various stations were more or less injured, especially those at Apia, Falealili, and Lepa. The storm made sad havoc at Apia. All the school-buildings were demolished, the large native chapel completely unroofed, and Mr. Mills’s dwelling laid in one heap of ruins. It is a matter of thankfulness that the iron chapel for seamen sustained but little damage. The vessels wrecked at Apia wrnre, the whaling ships “ Favourite,” of London, and the “ Hercules,” of New Bedford, and also the French R. C. Mission schooner “Clara.” All on board the vessels wrnre saved, with one exception, viz. : a Rarotongan, who leaped overboard in the night, thinking he might reach the shore. He was never seen again, and, after the gale, his arm was found on the beach. The cargo of each vessel was saved.

Capt. Courtney, of the 44 Two Friends,” reported to us, that he was about sixty miles to the south of Tutuila during the gale; that tney had it strongest twentyfour hours later than us; and that not one on board expected to be saved.