THE oEsrRucTIvRsroRM IN THE GULF.

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NrEs tosvIeiAL.l .s.f ~


KEr WEsr, Oct. Ia, 1886


SIN IL is my painful duty to report 10 you Z
dreadful calamity which has bealIen this place. and
everything connected with the Florida reef 80 far
a. heard from.


The town Of Key West SNOW heap of ruins
Ofaboat 400 houses, large and small, there is not
more than 10 or IL leh standing or in hablable
condition, and those much shattered, whilst the
general confusion and distress hardly be realized
On Sunday, lltb inst, we wcrc visited with a fear
ful hurricane, accompanied with torrents OF rain.
The gale commenced about g. a. m, from the north
east, and continued % increase during the day,
the southeast, and the storm became a tornado. AT
this Time Commenced scene which de6es descrip-
ton. The houses 10 town stone as well as woody
were torn piecemeal and scattered away like chaif
before the Wind, rendering il dangerous 10 move
abeat-Twhieh last was indeed mpossible, as foot
hold could not be maintained. The wind gradually
changed TO The south, still blowing with The same
strength, and haily 70 the southwest, abaling its fa
ry about III p. m. Ofcourse the sea was driven in
70 The harbor, and against the island with tremen-
dpps force, The lower part OF the town was inun-
dated to the depth Of feet, with strong current
running across u, whilst the public grounds at the
southwest point were in stili worse and more ex-
posed condition. In brief Terms, have 10 report
tho total destrucion Of all the works thus far erected
for the Construction Of the fort. The wharves,
bridges, houses, lighters, boats, tools, machinery,
and materials, ordnance stores-in short, all have
been swept away, and mixed up with the general
ruin. The streets OF the town are barricaded with
The timber and debris from the fort-a large amount
OF which lodged there. Even barbeue carriages
muskels and crowbars from The fort are found in the
midst OF the town. The strip OF land or evee along
the shore on which the public buildings were placed
being the highest OF the public ground, has been
completely leselled by the The stable and
blacksmith shop only remain in shattered condition.
having been moved from their original positioa-the
former about 200 feet, with all ihe horses aad mules
IN Il, hve m number which, with the forage asc safe
The large cistern, which Of masonry, founded
upon the rock, remained uninjured. Upon this the
oysrseer and several others saved their lives Il be-
lng Sunday very few men were on the ground
Four men, who were in the barracks, were lost; a


fifth was saved by clinging TO the wheel Of 6-poun-
der, after drifting three hundred yards towards the
hospital.


The lighthouse at the southwest point, including
keepers house, has been swept away, leaving not
vestige 10 mark the spot where II stood. At this
place the keepers family and friends, IA persons
persisted; and where Sand Key and It's lighthouse
stood, 10 now left only shoa. All the vessels in
the harbor, ten twelve brigs and schooners have
been driven ashore and wrecked, including the rev.
cutter their crews saved; but far
tained about thirtyfve lives have been lost the
Key.


About half the piles Of the wharf remain and q
part Of the breakwater of the forts lying below the
level Of low water, at the angles But in this gene
raj wreck and loss Of all the property on hand we
are put back to the position where we were nine
months ago. large quantity Of lumber may be
recovered, and some tools: pile-driver and two
scows much injured. At the present time, have
turned my attention to the collection Of the public
property that can be found and to the erection Of
temporary carpenter shop and other fixtures for do
ing work, and shall proceed, possible, TO
establish the wharf The loss to the Engineer
Department cannot be less than $50 900; that is il
win require that TO make us good again, or put us
IN the same state we were in before the hurri-
cane, supposing that we commence de moro. No
storm like this has been known on the island since
its settlement The water in this on the
west side Of the island about three feet higher than
kpown before. Il was wholly a wind tide.
Perhaps the department may deem some change in
the mode Of construction necessary since this event
On this point shall submit nv views to the depart
ment soon as possible, and more full report OF
the disaster, giving how only this brief outline, to
avail Of special messenger about to depart for
Charleston. .


We have just this moment heard from the Tor
tugas. Garden Key is safe, though the lighthouse
much injured, and small vessels lying there dis
mased.


The United States brig Perry is wrecked to the
eastward.


have the honor to be, respectfully your obedi-
ent servant,


GEO. DUTToN,


Capt. Engineers.
To Col. J. G. ToTrEN,


Chief Engineer, Washington, d. c.


In addition to the above, we are favored with the
following letter from Commodore Sloat to the Sec
retary of the Navy:


New ORLEANS, Oct. 23d, 1916.


Sra: have the honor to inform the department
that arrived at Havana on the evening Of the 7th
Chau in he EnuIiah ilstea
and not finding eny vessel TO sail for any southero
port Of the United Safes, embarked on hoard the
United States brig Perry, and sailed on Saturday,
The 10Th, directing Lieutenant Commandant Blake
to land me at Charleston, any port south of that
from which could reach Washington without de-
lay. During the night it commenced blowing a
gale and on Sunday it increased to tremendous
hurricane, such has never before been witnessed
in those seas. During the whole day and Sunday
night the brig was driven before it at the rate Of
twelve or thirteen miles per hour, and no one on
board expected her to live from one moment to
another. About two O'Clock on Monday morning,
she struck on the Florida reef, about forty miles
east ofKey West, kind Providence directing her
to part the reef where the tremendous high seas
carried her over, striking several times very hard
and breaking the rudder from the stern post. The
masts wee Immediately cut away, to prevent the
vessel going to pieces, that the lives Of those on
board might have some chance of being saved. She
finally stopped in comparatively smooth water AT
daylight we found we were within mile of one Of
| the Baya Honda keys, and several wrecks near us.
On board Of one not half mile from US, twenty
lives were lost out Of twenty-one. One was saved
by boat from the Perry. On Tuesday two small
wreckers came alongside, and Lieutenant Blake
employed them to take board the guns, shot, and
other heavy articles, to tighten the brig, in hopes 70
gel her of, as she remains quite tight. On Thurs.
day left her in one Of those vessels to land the
cargo at Key West, and the next day took passage
in small schooner from New York bound to the
Brazos st. Jago, the captain agreeing to land me at
| the Balze, where arrived yesterday.


Everything will be saved from the brig, and l
think she will be got off and taken 10 Key West,
and probably she may be got to Norfolk under jury
masls. The department may rest assured that
Lieutenant Blake will do everything that can be
done for the interest of the United States II is inn
possible TO speak in too high terms of the noble,
cool, and judicious conduct Of Lieutenant Blake,
his officers and men, on this most trying occasion;
and am most happy to state that no life has been
lost or anv accident hanpened To anv one nm hoard