["Representation of the Colonies", Hobart Town Courier (Tas.), Saturday 18 February 1832, page 4]
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Barbadoes has been the scene of a terrific visitation. On the 11th of August a furious hurricane, unexampled in the history even of that land of the whirlwind and the storm, took place. The untied winds fought first against the churches: St. Mary's and St. Paul's were utterly destroyed, and every church in the island injured. The government house was unroofed, and the family sought shelter in the cellar; the custom house was blown down, the barracks buried in their ruins forty of the soldiers. Every mill was totally destroyed. Every house damaged. The living were scarcely in sufficient number to drag the dead from the masses of ruins under which they were engulphed. The crops were rooted up and winnowed by the remorseless whirlwind. There was no prospect for the living but a speedy junction with the dead. The shock had extended to the neighbouring islands, Dominica and St. Vincent's, and some damage was sustained, but happily not so great as to prevent the inhabitants from rendering some assistance to their more unfortunate brethren at Barbadoes. The shipping in the ports sustained most serious damage, and in some cases whole cantles of the island were swept away by the encroachment of the sea. The Iran, Arethusa, Exchange, Quebec, Decagon, Mary, Kezia, Alliance, Antoinette, Horatio Nelson, and Eliza, the Aix, Perseverance, Montagu, and Barbadoes were cast ashore, other vessels suffered serious damage. The loss of life is said to amount to 3000 persons! The editor of the Barbadoes Globe, who was amongst the survivors, published the melancholy news in a half number of tbe 15th. On the night of the 10th the sky indicated a tempest, at midnight darkness covered the earth, with a thick cloud that poured down a deluge. At three on the 11th, the wind had increased to a hurricane, which raged till five, under the darkest clouds, and amid frequent and fearful flashes of lightning. The wind blew from N. to N.E, E.N., and N.W., E., S.E. and S.W., where it was at six with great violence. By that time no tree, no object tall enough to offer resistance was left standing. At day-break, the tempest howling, or wailing faintly, died away, and gave place to the shrieks and groans of agony from the bereaved, the wounded, or the dying. The fruitful fields of the day before were now a desert. Females and children were lying in the fields; the sick uncovered, the healthy overcome with anguish and suffering from exposure to such a night. The generosity of the survivors, and the efforts of the government, did all they could for the sufferers; but a scene of such devastation and misery has rarely occurred even in this island - certainly not since 1783. We are anxious for further intelligence of the unfortunate sufferers.--Atlas, Oct. 2
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