The Roanoke Times

GREAT STORM IN MARTINIQUE.
Two Hundred and Fifty Killed Instantly.
The Horror of the Disaster Grows With Further Details From the Devastated Island-The Hurricane Followed by an Earthquake Which Terrified the Natives-The Number of Killed and Wounded, And the Extent of the Damage Not Yet Known.
(Copyright, 1891, by the Associated Press.)
ST. PIERRE, Martinique, Aug. 22.-
[Special]-The full extent of Tuesday's calamity cannot be determined. From many parts of the island only vague and indefinite reports have so far been received. Mountain roads were in many instances obstructed by fallen timbers and other debris, thus rendering many villages extremely difficult of access.
Every fresh report brings new details of universal havoc and devastation wrought by the fury of the elements.
The hurricane struck the island about 7 o'clock Tuesday night. It continued to rage till nearly 11. Hardly had the terrific storm died away when a sharp earthquake shock added to the horror of the night. Many of the superstitious blacks verily thought that the end of the world was at hand. It is impossible to convey an adequate idea of the terror and suffering of Tuesday night.
People flocked to open spaces and spent the long hours till daylight in sleepless suspense. They knew not but that at any moment a severer earthquake shock might complete the destruction of their homes and morning brought little sense of relief.
On all sides the evidence of destruction greeted anxious eyes as death after death was reported. The awful character of the disaster was made more and more manifest.
Then news began to come from other parts of the island, and everywhere the same dreadful tale of suffering and loss and death was repeated. No place on the island so far heard from has escaped without serious damage. It is impossible as yet to give any estimate of money value of the damage to crops, forests, houses and shipping. The grand total will be something enormous. Neither can it yet be told how many people perished. Tuesday indications were that some sixty to one hundred had lost their lives. Friday the death roll had mounted to 215. To-day it is known that 250 met instant death.
It is not at all improbable that more accurate reports will add still more names to the list of the dead. No attempt has been made to ascertain the number of those who were injured by the falling walls and flying debris, but the probability is that thousands received injuries more or less serious.
Efforts are being made every hour to repair the damage. Here in St. Pierre the first endeavor is to get new roofs, for hardly a roof in the entire city remained intact. But many people are finding it extremely difficult to make repairs.
The stock of roofing material on hand is not sufficient to meet the general demand and prices have been sharply advanced.
The American brigs, Ned White and Johnny Phinney, were among the ships lost. Both are total wrecks, but their crews escaped unhurt. Not a single craft that was in the harbors when the storm struck the island remained after it.
The village of Morne Rouge is a total wreck. Number of lives lost there was about thirty.
Fort De France, the second city of the island, was nearly destroyed. It will be months before the ravages of the storm can be obliterated. Meanwhile there is great suffering, especially among the poor classes.