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Ae ag sa =~ ID ve A y ae 5 pia) 1~ gl “ts -* 7 i Po re: il oy Se HUR ICA AND Supplication Day - uly 25 Local Thanksgiving- Oct. 25 HOLIDAYS- a ee If, J ~/ SP, ‘ oe et Sh A a u ow shippe , f the Ch ch The ESEA Title III staff takes this opportunity to present you with materials on two local holidays that have been observed since early Danish times. These holi- days are inextricably involved with the hurricane, and since we have not suffered a hurricane's attack for sevb- ral years, it is perhaps time that we review the signifi- cance of these two days. Supplication Day is that day we humbly beg to be spared the horrors of a hurricane during the season that follows. Local Thanksgiving Day is the time for giving thanks that we have been spared, and it marks the end of the season. For often prideful man that is capable of orbiting satellites around the Earth and the Moon, the realization that a single hurricane releases the energy of several million Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombs should be a humbling one. The Virgin Islands two hurricane "holidays” hopefully re- veal our continuing recognition of man's frailness before the awesome forces of nature. The materials included in this publication only begin to scratch the surface. We hope that they will give you some fresh ideas and stimulate you to investigate further. To this end you will find a list of suggested activites, sources of information and materials, and a brief bibliogra- phy included. HURRICANES IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS The hurricane is one of the calamities that strike deep terror into the people of the Virgin Islands, as well as the rest of the West Indies, because they have been visited by extremely devastating ones. In order to afford some idea of these severe hurricanes, we are including firsthand’ acccunts of some of them. HURRICANE 1772 On August 31, 1772, St. Croix was struck by a hurricane which was described in the local newspaper as the “most dreadful hurricane known in the memory of man". This catastrophe was described in a letter written by Alexander Hamilton to his father. The letter * reads as follows: Honored Sir. I take up my pen just to give you an imperfect account of the most dreadful hurri- cane that memory or any records whatever can trace, which happened here in the 3lst ultimo at night. It began about dusk, at North, and raged very violently till ten o'clock. Then ensued a sudden and unexpected interval, which lasted about an hour. Meanwhile, the wind was shifting around to the South West point, from whence it returned with doubled fury and continued so til near three o'clock in the morning. Good God! what horror and destruction— it's impossible for me to describe — or you to form any idea of it. It seemed as if a total dissolution of nature was taking place. The roaring of the sea and wind—fiery meteors flying about in the air — the prodigious glare of almost perpetual lightning — crash of the falling houses — and the earpiercing shrieks of the distressed, were sufficent to strike astonishment into Angels. A great part of the buildings throughout the Island are leveled to the ground — almost all the rest was very shattered — several persons killed and numbers utterly ruined — whole families run- ning about the streets unknowing where to find a place of shelter — the sick exposed to the keen- ness of water and air — without a bed to lie upon — or a dry covering to their bodies — our harbour is entirely bare. In a word, misery in all its most hideous shapes spread over the whole face of the country — a strong smell of gunpowder added some- what to the terrors of the ~”’ ~ and it was observed that the rain was surprisingiy salt. Indeed, the water is so brackish and full of sulphur that there is hardly any drinking it. *Lewisohn, Florence. Divers information on the Romantic History of St. Croix. St. Croix Landmarks Society Inc., 1964, p. 47. My reflections and feelings on this frightful and melancholy ceccasion are set forth in following self-discourse. Where now OH! Vile worm, is all thy boasted fortitude and sufficiency? — why dost thou tremble and stand aghast? how humble — how helpless — how contemptible you now appear. And for why? the jar- ring of the elements — the discord of clouds? Oh, impotent presumptuous fool! how darest thou offend that omnipotence, whose nod alone were sufficient to quell the destruction that hovers over thee, or crush thee into atoms? See thy wretched helpless state and learn to know thyself... Hark: ruin and confusion on every side. — 'Tis thy turn next: but one short moment — even now — Oh Lord help — Jesus be merciful! Thus did I reflect, and thus at every gust of wind did I conclude. — till it pleased the Almighty to allay it. I am afraid, sir, you will think this description more the effort of imagination than a true picture of realities. But I can affirm with the greatest truth, that there is not a single circumstance touched upon which I have not absolutely been an eyewitness to. HURRICANE 1837 There was another dreadful hurricane and fire on August 2, 1837 which caused considerable loss from the destruction of houses, ships, and other casulties. The most distressing part of the whole was the loss of life not only in town but in the harbour. To that effect the Government House made the following proclamation; PROCLAMATION When on the 2nd instant this Colony was ravaged by an awful Hurricane and Earthquake, Lightning and Conflagration augmented its terrible effects, it was a great consolation tu find that no kind of disorder was commited, and that all did their best to put a stop to the Fire: I beg that every one in particular who in the time of danger exerted himself will accept of many warmest thanks. Inhabitants of St. Thomas! To you distress needs no inter- preter. Let us hand in hand alleviate the general calamity. I need not warn against profiting by the misfortune of others: no one will by raising the prices of necessities and shelter stamp himself with public contempt. As soon as the severest distress is relieved, we will assemble in the House of the Lord, and on this mournful occasion join in Prayers to the Almighty. Government House, St. Thomas, the 5th August 1837. Hurricane 1867 In october 29, 1867, one of the most -terrifying hurricanes passed over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. According to an article published in the St. Thomae Tidende_ for November 13, 1867, it was a storm which if not in magnitude, certainly in destruc- tiveness, was declared to surpass any hitherto known. It was considered stronger or more severe than any other that has ever been previously felt in these is- lands. On St. Thomas the barometer fell as low as 27.95 inches just prior to the calm(eye) which occurred shortly after noon. More than 600 persons were drowned on this island and many more were killed on short by falling houses. In Puerto Rico this storm was known as "San Narciso", named after the calendar saint on whose day it occurred. Below is a picture of the harbor of St. Thomas during this hurricane. The hurricane of 1916, just before the United States took posses- sion of the islands was, perhaps, one of the worst ever experienced in the islands. Great damage was done in St. Thomas and St. Croix though St. Thomas suffered very much more. In Zabriskie's (The Virgin Islands of the United States of America) there is an account of the hurricane describing this catastrophe in the three islands. It reads as follows: HURRICANE OF 1916 Hurricane of October 9-10,1916-Most destructive since fearful catas- trophe of 1867~Estimated damages amounted to nearly $2,000,000- St. Thomas suffered most¥ew fataltttes, but many injured - Major part of population sustained serious losses - Wind veloci- ty approximated 140 miles per hour-Official barometrical readings Harrowing details as minutely depicted in local newspapers. On the evening of Monday, October 9, 1916, the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John were visited by one of the fiercest and most de- structive hurricanes that had been witnessed in that section since the memorable one of 1867. The first estimated damage to property was placed at about two million dollars but this figure was pared down considerably after a more careful surv+y of the situation had been taken. St. Thomas probably suffered greater injury than her two sister islands, owing prin- cipally to her costly harbour works. The fatalities in the three places were comparatively few, there being but four deaths, from drowning, re- ported in St. Thomas and five deaths, due to injuries from falling walls or trees, recorded, respectively, in St. Croix and St. John. Many more, however, were wounded, and most all of the inhabitants suffered seriously as a result of the havoc that was wrought. There was but little warning of the approaching catastrophe, althougt +he morning of the ninth opened with a drizzling, disagreeable rain, with slight winds that rose and fell throughout the day. The usual hurricane signal was sounded at about two o'clock in the afternoon, but almost be- core the storm shutters could be adjusted the precursor of the gale ap- peared in the form of heavy gusts of wind and vertiable downpours of rain, the force of wind increasing in intensity until it attained a velocity reckoned at approximately 125 to 140 miles per hour. The severity of the storm may be estimated by the extremely low barometer, the readings of which, as given to the Washington Weather Bureau, were as follows: 9th Oct. 7:30 A.M. 29.724 1:00 P.M. 29.665 2:15 "© 29.576 3309 “" 29.549 5:00 " " 29.439 6:00 " " 235.00 7:00 ° ” 28.263 9:00 " " 28.264 midnight 29.261 10th Oct. 6:00 A.M. 29.637 8:00 " * 29.700 A general consideration of the 1916 hurricane seems inadequate to fully portray to those who have never passed through such a calamity and real significance of the disaster. Therefore in order to more fully re- produce the sentiments of the sufferers regarding their unfortunate ex- perience, there are quoted below extracts on the subject from the leading local newspapers which appeared during the days immideately following. From the October 11 issue of Lightbourn's Mail Notes, St. Thomas; Devastation! Devastation: That's what meets the eye right and left, in front of us, all about us. Yesterday this island was visted by one of the most violent and destructive hurricanes perhaps in its history. It came rather unexpectedly, as we had been visited by southerly wind up to early yesterday morning, and it was near noon before it took a northerly bend, and even then there were few or no signs of a coming storm. At about 12:30 Commodore Konow on H.M.S. Valkyrien, at sea, on his way to St. Croix, observed signs of danger and returned to port giving his ob- servations. In the meantime the barometer began to fall rapidly and the alarm guns were fired shortly before 2 o'clock. This was the signal for most of us to prepare, and those who accepted the warning did so none too soon, for sleuth-like the monster gathered its strength for the spring and soon we were in the furious grasp of a cyclone the like of which the island has never felt before. The great storm of 1867 was not its equal, neither that of 1876, although in the first named there was greater damage in the harbour owing to the number of ships present and in the latter a greater loss of life. Fortunately, on shore, we have to report no loss of life; only a few wounded which are being treated at the hospital. The first part of the cyclone was fiercest from about 6 to 7:55 when the storm centre was experienced, and this lasted until 9:40, an unusually long period. It is thought that the wind's force between 7 and 8 o'clock was considerably over one hundred miles an hour in some of those furious gusts which not only shook the stoutest building to its foundations but seemed to shake the very foundations of the island. At 9:40 the storm returned in all its fury from the southeast, bend- ing, breaking, smashing in its track; much that escaped in its first furious onslaught gave way in the second, as one could hear how things were being demolished. The only consolation we had was to know that each blast would be weaker and weaker, as we saw the barometer rapidly rise from its lowest recorded point, 28.10. The entire island has suffered; some localities more than others perhaps. In the town we can hardly select a spot that has suffered more than another, although appearance would seem to point to the Savanne and Frenchman's Hill, in the latter place damage being done to a number of large dwellings almost to the point of demolition. In the harbour everything that floated, save the distress vessel Blandford, has been moved from its moorings. The German steamers Wasgenwald and Calabria are ashore; the Danish barkentine Thor a wreck on the lower point; the Mholt sunk; the dock dragged a little from its moorings but is quite safe; and the schooner Irma II, sloops Spider and La Gracia, and other small craft sunk or beached. The huge dredge St. Hilda has been driven alongside the King's Warf, where she now remains. H. M. S. Valkyrten did splendid service with her searchlight all last night. A boat's crew this morning took off the survivors of the Danish barkentine Thor; others from that ship were rescued during the hurricane. We hope to be able to give more of a detailed statement of the damage done to property tomorrow. We understand that Captain Maynard of the sloop fate, last seen on board the Irma II, is missing. The Captain was well known here as a frequent trader. James Abbot, an old man, passenger from Tortola on the sloop Spider, tells us that he managed to save himself when that sloop capsized during the beginning of the hurricane by clinging to her stern and then striking out for the La Gracia, aboard of which he was pulled by one Wheatley. Two men, Frazer and Bruly, of the Spider, are supposed to be lost. Mr. W. C. Creque, also of the Spider, was picked up about 4 o'clock this morning and conveyed to hospital by Gendarmes. The scene along the road to the west is one of devaste’:ion. So many houses are down that it is not easy to calculate the number that are flat. The largest trees have been uprooted and broken, and the passage along the road is as difficult as through barbed wire entanglements. The church and parsonage at Nisky are not very much damaged, but stable and outhouses are gone, the beautiful trees about the place have been broken or over- thrown. A number of people were housed in the parsonage during the night, and many had narrow escapes from injury or death, There is much need for help in clothing, food, and shelter. The mother of Itiiss Tilly Davies lost her house on "Bunker's Hill" last night and suffered injuries which compelled her to go to the hospital. As we go to press we learn that the body of Bruly has just been washed ashore in the upper bay. It was clad only in a pair of drawers and the face badly bruised. From the October llth issue of the West End News, Frederiksted, St. Croix: THE SALE Monday afternoon and night the 9th and Tuesday morning the 10th October, 1916, will long be remembered by the people who at that time lived in Santa Crr- The gale, which came half-way unexpected on us, not having receivec any information about its route or about what time it might be expected here, was announced about 2 o'clock by the firing of the customary two times two guns as warning for an approaching hurri- cane and hurricane flags hoisted on the fort flagstaff. The inhabitants of the town feverishly barred up and soon after the forerunner, the gale arrived—rather heavy squalls of rain and strong winds, and soon the gale raged in its full force. The barometers in the town are reported to have been very low, lower than any time before, and even lower than registered in the last gale which raged Santa Cruz in 1899. Accompanied by torrential rains the storm continued till about 5 o'clock when the lull came. People crept out of their houses and cautiously walked around looking for relatives or friends or proclaiming their whole partial losses. From a house near the hospital in Strand Street several small children and old folks were removed during the rain to the hospital. When the lull came most, or at least a good many, people believed that all danger was over and opened up their houses, but before 6 o'clock they had to retreat and bar up quickly again. Soon the gale raged with even greater force from the west (the sea), contrary to the first part of the gale which was blowing from the east. The sea which had been rising since the day before, Sunday, now put on a most boisterous face and dashed forcibly against the rocks, making its way across the streets, reaching the houses on the eastern side of Strand Street. Even in some of the upstairs residences in the same street the salt water was discovered. But the most pitiable and largest damage done to any individual, so far as we have heard, was the total destruction of Mr. R. E. Higgins' Hard- ware and Wholesale Provision Store in Strand Street, No. 5—it was levelled, simply—bricks, rafts and beams, provisions and nails, water and paper, all in a pellmell condition. Besides Mr. Higgins' store, the gallery of Mr. Merwin's store, the ro0f of the gallery outside Ramsay's Café, the Club, the Post Office, and not least the Doctor's residence have suffered great damage. Almost the entire roof of the Doctor's house is blown off, part of it being hurled down in the yard, where it destroyed the stable and a couple of rooms. Ninety per cent, we believe of ail the fences in the town are down, and most of the trees too. In the market place, the streets, the grave- yards, in yards, along the beach, in fact all over, the eye sees nothing else but uprooted or broken trees; the park is a "saga blot," nearly all the fine, high mahogany trees in front of the fort are uprooted, pieces of boards, sheets of galvanized iron, and telegraph wires are everywhere the spectacle. There is scarcely a house that has not suffered, if not otherwise, then by the water, which has spoiled much wall paper, furniture, clothes, etc. The strength of the gale can be judged when it is known that "Mountain's" barometer registered as low as 27.80. Today the town stinks of the brine sent in from the sea, and at times you fancy you smell fire. That must be from the debris and the water. North of the town there is a mighty sea or rather dirty pool of water, and the "Panbush" quarter is in a most pitiable condition, this being a part of the town that always floods every time a heavy rain falls. It has been repoiced to us that even under these trying and serious conditions, some people cannot remember the Seventh Commandment. Galvanized iron, boards, and the like disappear like nothing, The Hospital: Part of the operating room's roof was blown off, and so was also the western topmost gallery (Sister Julia's Gallery); part of the roof of "long-cot," the women's ward; the kitchen and the fan-mill are entirely down, although it was reported that the stove from the kitchen was used to cook on yesterday. Some of the patients have left the hospital for want of accommodation, they say, but they will be received again aS soon as the Hospital Commission had taken a full view of the situation. The galleries on the eastern and the western sides of the Fort are blown down or away. Castleburgh manager house is partly ruined and some of the labourers homes damaged. The horse and mule stables are also blown down. Through someone's carlessness, or perhaps thoughtlessness. a lamp kindled a fire in Bethlehem village with the result that some forty-four to forty-eight rooms burned down. Annaly schoolhouse was blown about one hundred yards away and put down in a vally.: At Diamond, part of the works and chimney was blown down. The manager's and Mr. Du Bois’ houses at Lower Love are partly damaged, and part of the village is destroyed. At Annaly, on Captain Blackwood's estate, only four houses are left of a village of about twenty-three to twenty-five houses. At Spring Garden the top of the storeroom fell in and the roof and parlour have been blown down. At estate La Reine, the residence of old Mrs. Fleming, the roof and side of the dining-room have gone, while the roof of the bedroom and of the manager's house have completely gone. All tke roads are of course blocked for traffic of car and phaeton, by the fallen trees, and telephone posts and wires, which system we understand is totally deranged and will take months to bring to order. From the October 12th issue of Lightbourn's Mail Notes, St. Thomas: St, JAN “EWS Cruz BAY—Police Assistant house gallery destroyed; some other little damages. Not much to other houses. KC, BAY (Abraham Smith's place)—Every house level to the ground except one room. All cocoanut trees destroyed. DENIS BAY (Lindqvist's place)—Gallery gone, and some other parts damaged. The village houses all destroyed. The entire banana field, lime trees, cocoanut trees, and bay leaf destroyed. AmMeRIcA FILL (Plantation Coy)—Dwelling house much damaged, also Bay Rum Factory, etc. Lime cultivation seriously damaged. MILAND—No damage. MaNHOE BAY—Marsh's house destroyed. ANNABERG —Francis' Castle Building, just built, much damaged. Mapy's Point (Stakemann's property)—Labourer's village destroyed, also cocoanut grove. PARCEL ANNABERG (owned by squatters)—Houses damaged. LEINSTER Ray—The private boarding house of Mrs. Clen, owned by Lawyer Jorgensen, entirely destroyed. HERMITAGE (Lockhart's)—Some damage to buildings, etc. East EnD—Many small properties suffered very much damage. Some persons crushed to death in their houses. PALESTINA—Nearly all the houses destroyed. Many homeless. CoraL Ray, FMMAUS—Moravian Church and Mission house and outer huildings all gone. Parson Rev. Penn had to take refuge at Carolina, Mr. E.W. Marsh’s estate. Not much damage to Carolina. Other parts of Coral Bay very much damaged. Many homeless. SouTtH SIDE—Many places much damaged and poor people such in need. MOLLENDAHL—Scarcely a house not seriously damaged. CESSMAN HILL— Scarcely a house not ruined. Many homeless and nothing to eat. These are among the worse; still there are other parts that we have not been able to get news from. The Moravian Minister Revd. Penn lost everything, especially his valuable books. The inhibitants are in a deplorable condition. Of all the beautiful palms there are scarcely a dozen trees left in the while Island. The beautiful cocoanut grove of Estate Trunk Bay is entirely destroyed. From the October 14th issue of the St. Thomae Tidende, St. Thomas: Stor ‘oTEs In our account “lednesday of the great hurricane of Monday night we tried to depict at some length the aspect of the town as it appeared after the terrific ordeal through which it passed during those fc. ~.:al hours. The account was somewhat extensive and descriptive enough as we thought, but the more we see of the widespread havoc and the general wreckage, and the more heard, the more we find that our sketch, full as it seemed, was lacking. There are certain experiences which cannot be related effectively, certain scenes which cannot be fully delineated, they must be felt and seen to be understood. ‘Such is the hurricane and its calamitionr~ effects. We said in our sketch that the better way to convey an idea of the general damage and loss would be rather, for the hundreds of houses within the town limits, to name those which have not been damaged; if this were done it would be seen how few houses have escaped. Any attempt to name or specify losses would unavoid- ably be very incomplete. The fall of the coal cranes affords the best idea of the force of wind. The huge machines were made to withstand a wind velocity of one hundred miles an hour, but their collapse during the second part of the storm proves the speed of the wind to have been greater. The Farima-‘reports_it at between one hundred thirty and_one hundred forty miles an hour. The way in which the strong iron members have bent is surprising. PELIEF COMING We are glad to learn that, Government having represented to the Ministry of Finances that assistance from the State Treasury towards relieving the distress caused by +e hurricane would be necessary, the Ministry has cabled Government that means would be forthcoming for the said purpose. Government has under consider- ation the appointing of a committee with Judge Wellejus as chair- man to investigate matters and to make proposals to Government for assistance outside of such as is already under the care of the Poor Commission. It will be comforting to the numerous suffers by the hurricane to learn the foregoing so they will know that help is coming. from Denmark. Also from America relief may be expected, appeal for aid having been cabled. It has been suggested that arrangements be made here for procuring by cable food and building materials to get which a group of merchants may see after. The aid now has to include St. Jan, which has also been swept by the storm. Some hurried notes sent us from there give a partial but awful sketch of conditions, while an eyewitness who experienced the hurricane there gives a deplorable account of its ravages. The state of things is appalling, he says, no homes, no food, no fruit trees, no provision grounds left, almost everything flat, boats, fishpots, all gone. Desolation reigns. From St. Croix likewise come harrowing tales of distress, so that each of the group has shared the common affliction. wavs) YANwd ASVZ "IW 0091 40 LHDIY 0,8 “XO SANT 40 No1Ly207 123490) 4 | |_(voiesy 40 15v09 189M +30) YV SOMWTS) F04FA Fdv9 q g wv 4 arian. ty a thie mourn y 1LIYH { : hae a4 voIvNye ‘linn *szeak juadex UT puTM Jo 4s03 H -Palh 8y} uoTzONIAsep pue 3SaTAPoy TT ——' 7a TTezUTeX /3seyhty sem azeyz puTA ear OOTH urTAN, yessorD 4F *UaET | 3Yi UO “OJ snopuawer} Jo wI0Rs e& x uayy SBM OOTY OFeNd UT ,adTTeq ues, \ se uMOUY ‘ouRoTIINY sty, *spueT “ST 9924} 94} JO MOT YsoTARaY |y3 PeATSOSI YOTYA seWOYL *3g JO pueTST 8Y} UO ANOY Ue SeTTU 06 payoeeZ pUTA . === wes) oe | N BYL ‘SBYOUT 0G*27 Sem ToZaWOTeEq ayy "7 2 o Ww XTOID'3S JO YSeMyZNOS UsYM JaqUsO a Tea SEM PINIEW “S's a9 “UCT OUR Seer es ~ meng , JO “WY TT Woqy ‘ze12as}UOW pue 0 008 0 833TH ‘39 ‘adnotepeny ut uotjonz3s8ep PITIW NI BTV 29 a 3016 sem azeyy ‘seyout 97°77 30 N sInssezd & Y3TM *Y3ZT BY3 Jo UOOU qynoge al Seno paced pedot SHICNI LSHM ~eaep ATINZ aueotzmmy ayy Jo 103 -U8 SUL ‘spueTsT eprea adeo zeau Pezeuthtz0 sea eurotzmmy stus 8Z6T oueoTzany Valaots THE BULLETIN Priatedend moon which made some persons believe that the storm was over, until it returned force from the west, bnt in Virgin (slands, by the Publishing Associ: ABRAM. E.SMITH, Manager. with this hurricane there was nothing of the kind as it raged continuously for hours, which will long be remembered by the Bateredas Secund Claas Matter Oct. 19 1920. atthe Post Office at St. Thomas, Fir gin Islands of the United States, under the Actof March3, 187. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1928. people of St. x. Some people hories have been so baii- ly damaged or destroyed that they were compelled to abandon them and seek shelter with relatives or friends. The Government Offices and other public buildi: were thrown open to people Virginia Lost. A cable from the Governor of St. Martios says'- ‘Virginia’ parted chains in Statia and went adrift. Crew, passengers, aod mail saved. Statia and Saba badly damaged, no deaths. The Virginia was a weekly visit Disc. and we are glad to know that her popular skipper, or tu St. Captain Mardenborugh and crew bave been saved. Ed. Bulletin, Hurricane of 1928. On the night of September 12 and the morning of the 13th this island was visit- ed by one of the most violent and de- structive hurricanes since the memorable one of 1916. Some of the older people seem to think that it surpassed the hur- ricanes of 1867. 1899 and 1916, In the afternoon of the r2th, the wsual hurri- cane signal flag was hoisted at the Fort and in the evening the firing of the hur- ricane guns was the si who sought shelter in these place ‘be first floor of the Lutheran parsonage also received some of the people who were to flee from their homes during the storm The local chapter of the American Red Cross ha: in giving out food to the very rf and deserving ones who are in a deplorable condition, left so on account of the rav- ages of the hurricane. Many people have suffered considerably aud some persons have expressed that they are in no pusi- tion and have no hope of rebuilding their homes uniess help is given—and suf- ficient help. There were times we are told, when hurricanes occurred iu rich times when the islands were flourish- ing, but the same cannot be said now, hence the difference. The Wharf is in a wild state, some Of the benches are broken up, a lot of rubbish from the sea is thrown up on land, caused as some people believe from a tidal wave, as it is reported that earthquake shocks were felt dur- iug the cyclone. Communication was interrupted, telegraph, telephone and! electric wires were on the ground, burt! repairs are being made. The radio poles are also down, temporary repairs were effected. pare, that’the storm was At about 11.30 the force o! gan to inc: ase, and between the hours of 12 ana ¢ o'clock everyboiy was fully aware that se dreaded West Indian hur ricane was upon us. The storm raged for hours, with an intensity which may be better judged by the low barom-:ter, which fell to 28 90 in Christiansted. and much lower iu Frederiksted as reported As far as we have been able together, up © the present, the entire island has suf- ered, in some places more than others, Abont 5 o’clock am. onthe 13 when ‘verybody thought that a lull would some,the storm was fiercest at that time, ind continued far into the day, tearing ind smashing every thmg in its path. tome of the buildings that escaped its ury in the early hours of the morning ignal for us to pre- The Police were ordered out and pp bi went d warning the ivhabitants {the wind be-/that the storm was approaching, and they must prepare) These Officers of the peace were also prepared to give any assistance needed during the storin. as they were on duty while the hurri- cane was raging —some work indeed for these brave men. The hurricane was accompanied heavy rains, which continued up to when the cyclone had passed. The streets are broken up from the power- ful rush of water from the hills, and traffic is stopped in part of Prince’s street until repairs are made Some peo ple who have not lost their houses got their furniture and other belong- ings damaged by the rain which fell in torreuts, as some of the best houses | by urricane |Severe H Sweeps Frederiksted Frederiksted bas been severeiy bit by the burricuce which struck the isiaod on Thursday mornay Frow one ens of the towa to soother. one sees pothiag but destroyed houses Tbe streets are chuke ed with debris. Electric light. aod te!-- phone poles buve been thrown down. trees uprooted, the big wharf, iigbters aod bosts, bave been destroyed, toe country dietricts are to fur o ful: share of devasta tion. and when ui! the damayeis koowy tho ioss may reaciy several nundred tuou saoud doliars. While the damage to propert. bas is rendered valuable assistance j been great.it is not yet koown that many ives have been lost. Mrs. Josapbine Duo cao the motber of Mra Eugene Boooser- Sun, wae drowned in Concordia xutser yesterdxy. Sbe wason her way to town and i2 -rossing the ,utter the water wus 80 rouxb she was obliged to bold on to the bridge. Police Benoersou, who was also on bis way to town hastened to ber rescue, but was uaable tosuve her, See more about this io soother coiumwo it iw suid that this gule wus wore dea- tructive than toat of 1899. id by far the worstia the bistory of the isiund. While toe speed of the 99 gale was far wreater, dusog its damage in a shorter time, thst of Thursday moroipy travelled siower aod lasted muck longer. Aagit were few people expected that the hurrivaoe would bave beeu so severe For the (be past years waruings were septout, and tbe Grat burricane fag bois ted. but on those occasions the wiod wus kod and the telmad wae spared. (ia Wed nesday aftercova ufter tue first hurricave Bay bud beeu buisted, many peopie tok ed torward to tbe saine experiesce, out sater wheo the guos were fired it wus evident that trouble was coeur. Th. Matu ra to port loading sugar was obiived to cease work aod put tosea with soiwe 40 mea frow this pert oa board stowiay the sugar, Tor morning sh= returned but was unable to iand the meu, aed bad tu put to sea again. They were landed at ChristiansteJ She bas been badiv bat tered. She weot south to escape tie stor'o, Cul Was Apparcotiy over taker. The wind which started to raze froin Woedsesday nignrt did sot become furious unti! Thursday morotag wheo it did its greatest dawaye. There is hardiy a house 1p townb that tus pot felt the beavy band of the wiad. or Greached by the syvakioy sbowers which fe! all day yesteruay. Mavy people declared there was & bail storm, aod severa! shocks of earthquake were felt. it would take severai days to record the details of the destruction wrought to private properties nod government duiid ‘in town were reported leaking through inys, and such detaile would oecome pore ave away between the hours of 6 to 1o|the driving force of the Wind with the) some at tbat, for everywhere one turns "clock in the day. In the harbour,ves- els have been sunk or blown in shallow rater, The schooner Vigilant is right ip under the Fort battery and further p the schooner Resolution is sunk ,only part of her masts is visible, other smal :F vessels are also under water. During the hurricane of 1916 there vasalall at about 5 o'clock the after. SEVERE HURRICANE what will be doce for the island by the been biown across it. Fortunately they are all iu bact. ¢lost sever Mi \ighters, Bethiehem bas 8 ity of wet eugar, stores and groceries copsider able wes 8. Evidentiy there will shortage of houses. ‘bus far, bow only a few people have sought refuge at the Fort, and there are no other cases of hungor aud privation as yet repo: 4 _ Jn Christiansted the roperty damaire ig said to be equal to that io Frederyk- ated, but the number ‘of big houses des troyed is larger. Hundreds of people bave sourht refage in tha Fort, and o. ther public buildings Many have lost their all, and are being fed by the gov- ernmeos. On some estates io She coun try maoy of the Grest Houses bave been badly damaged, and only a few village rooms sre lely stacding. Alleys are vow being turoed to see {rain, and some of the houses the gal- ivanized roofing is entirely off | The more we see and hear of the iwreckage in town and country the} more we are tempted to write, bur will! conclude our report for today ou this! disastrous hurricane of 1928. ST. CROIX AVIS. Monday, Dept. 17, 1928. a Cross. Miss Cameruau, tbe local re presentative deciares it isa big proposi tion, sad nothing definitely cao be atated ed from Na =wiquartera. boped shat Croas will be above just criticism assure its toe the Red [maa rooms beionging and when be peared toe bridwe. be saw some one hanging on it, but did not know who tt was uotil be got about three yards to bh Jo. 1 slipped from tbe bridge aod fucaod my self b i Li it is a repitition of gaivaoized steers toro from roofs, sides of houses and yacrias biown away. In Frea Gut aii other parts of towo rows of rovius ourve been thrown to the ground, leaving their occu pants hormviess aod desstiture Other vuildiags were so badly damaged they had to be avondoned Pisher Street in inpassable by vebicles because a row of to Mrs. Thomas tuve (Continued) Mr. Benoerson left Concordia for town © person. He theo called: Misa Joe!’’ To this she aoswered ‘Hel ‘Just then Mr. Beooersoo deciared be rocks, in the ter will not be slow in giving aid to tbe peo ple from tbe Hurricane Fund. St Croix is not alove, ic ite suffering. To St. Thomas, the damage to property ie said w de ygreat. In San Juao city a lone, property Gamage is eatimatec ato ver two millivo dollars, sad Haiti bas bed sootber tidal wave. Mra Josepmoe Duce ugene Bennerson, s tate Concordia (Fieming's) left her bome for town abour8 o'clock yesterd: Boop. Patroiman Genporson who want in so see if she was at nome, wns told sbatsne had left sod perbaps reach town, rible stream of water, boul 4 can again until ipg part wwrn. nerson, Mathilda Petersen. Ernest Folkers Aroold Gurmbs, Beil George, Joe Levine, Artbur Saviner to reat 5 o'clock this afternoon. and was taken & SU fees dowc the gut. whes my a struck @ root and by bolding shot | ed my life. Butl sever saw Mra Duo e wasfouod by a search tbat laent just after reaching be party coosisted of Mary Heo Mrs. Duocao was laid — West End News — Saturday, Sept. 15, 1928. The destructive hurricane of 1928 in the Virgin Islands is fully described in the articles reproduced from The Bulletin in the preceding page. There was so much damage, in these islands, specially in St. Croix which laid in the direct path of the storm, that assis- tance was urgently needed. . Therefore, an appeal was made to the American Red Cross by the Governor of the Virgin Islands at that time, Waldo Evans, and according to his annual report this organization contributed with lumber and other building materials and donated approximately $15,000 in cash for relief work. Also, it gave food ané distribu- ted clothing to hundreds of families. In addition, the Governor purchased approximately $20,000 worth of building material which were sold at cost and transported to the islands through the Navy Department eliminating freight charges. Harbor and telephone reconstruction were immediately mace available by the St. Thomas Harbor Board and by diverting funds previously appropriated for other projected improvements. Birth of Hurricanes A hurricane is born in a hot moist air mass over the ocean. The cyclonic motion is often star- ted as opposing trade winds whirl around each other. This occurs during the summer months when the Northeast and Southeast tradewinds converge north of the equator. The rotating low pushes air toward its center, forcing the hot moist air there to rise. As the moist air rises, it slowly cools and the moisture condenses. The condensing moisture (rain) gives off heat, further warming the ro- tating air mass which becomes even lighter and rises more ra- pidly. . As this whirling air rises, more warm moist air flows in be- hind to replace it. More conden- sation occurs, more heat is pro- duced, more warm moist air flows in and the storm increases. Hurricanes are so violent because of the tremendous amounts of energy(heat) released by the continuous condensation. This is similar to a thunderstorm over land; however, the hurricane has a vir- tually inexhaustible supply of moist hot air to feed it. The heat given off by condensation causes the air in the hurricane to rise faster and faster. Surrounding air sweeps in rapidly until the hurricane is a giant wheel of violent winds. if eT TRADE OPPOSING WINDS MAKE AIR WHIRL EQU4TOR yDs o> J22* Ze3y +> 30 miLes HEAT OF CONDENSATION LIFTS MASS Of YU AN > 300 MILES RISE ACCELERATES LIKE A BALLOON Jon A Gs\ — 7 COLUMN I$ FED FROM SIDES eis a Sh oe ula pr ® x Met 9 4, gt GENERALIZED GI 9 (9 pe AG yor HURRICANE STRUCTURE gPrul 10 \@ of aw 0* ——— GALE WIND abhi0 az 7g nb et! IN ice’ ic ms le 40° s st Ot ses eS iy wk te ee \Y Aes oroe oe \) ae ‘ AS. ve ~ % RN Nw er: hae yi Wis *potaad Stu} butanp s3usaind ueacc Aq butuzem 03 anp Aaquey -das pue ysnbiny ut Atjuenb -81j3 ysouw ueddey ssueotsziny epien eded sy, *38e8930Y4 ey sny} pue peay teao ATQoOeATp qsow st uns 943 USsYyM SeaUITR ayy ere sseyL *requeaon pue 2eqoj00 ‘AXSaquieqdas ut utebe pue Atne pue sunr jo syzUOWU ayy UT IND90 soeuRoTI -iny ueeqqtzed ayy, *rewuns ey JO SOWT ZUeTSJFTp 3e wioy soueoTTAny OTQUPTIV JO SeTTTwey OMZ SUL ! a \ 1 *saqeqs yseop Find b SONY151 y 7 gq 9 MTN i|| ey} pue eptzoTd urejsom | 9 NIOBIA oR € N \ UN | 03 Zebuep ysejzeerb syQ ’ ‘90 butjeerzd pazeMyzroOU [2A | @ o {. sas te SN -e13 pue eotrsewy yyNOg jo | é “+ a) ord o1wand ‘ VW 4yseOod YzZAOU ey FFJO BSS *e | ‘Mn bad wh» & ueeqqtied ey ut wIx0F ¢ a soueoTiany ueeqqtzeD ——e Somes ‘ celia. ANVIAIAH So *spueTtsl qa UTbATA 843 032 3eEe743 qseqeerIh ayy esod 3ey3 soueotizany oy} ere esouL *epTIOTA JO yseoo ureysee Ny gs S42 PIePMOZ SOTTTIUY ZexeeIH sy reac BbutTdsems pXieMqsemM TOA ee -b13 oT9Y powIOJ souPod -TIInH *eoOTISJY 38eM JO N 3se0D BY} JJO spueTsT apie, odep sy jo AQtu -FOTA ay} UT WIOF souPo SHIGNI LSI -TaziIny eprepa oded ouL *saueoTrany oTQUeTIW JO uoTzeUIOJ SY} AOFZ sEeTp -PID OM} are sTOYUL OATIN NI F1Iv2S a a a — se SSueoTAANH OTAIULCTIY 1887 To 1932 - FROM FREQUENCY OF CAPE VERDE AUD CARIBBEAN HURRICAVES FoR A 45 YEAR PERIOD ea ' Je OFFICIAL HURRICANE SEASON->| --- TT Aol ps ee ed on = Ff — Pescara ESAT a — a ") to LIO _————— ~~ aa Sn 5s *~N aos Ld7¢S bY ty , se * aN ox oN el ony Se a ee a | Cl | ner / Fo Ne ——d—4 A707 e) 7 7 \7 FVar & $ g = R 8 “4 = HLWOW AFA SIVVIIAZANH 10 aTewan OBSERVATIONS during the Hurricane of August 2nd 1837 During the Hurricane described in the article from the St. Thomae Tidende for August 9, 1837 the following meteorological observa- Eions were made and printed in that same issue. The format has been modified for easier understanding and some additional notes have been added in italics. "In the morning the wind northerly, light and unsteady with over- cast air. The Gale increased by degrees from the afternoon at 2:00 o'clock with heavy gusts of wind from the N.E. to N.W, in this place.” August 2nd Time Barometric Pressure Comments 11:30 A.M. 29.75 inches middle state of the Barometer 1:30 P.M. 29.68 with fair weather. 2:00 P.M. 29.65 2:15 P.M. 29.64 2:45 P.M. 29.60 increasing gale 3:00 P.M. 29.56 4:00 P.M. 29.50 at 4 o'clock signal made and a gun fired from Mt. Kjar's Observatory as a warning for approaching Hur. 5:00 P.M. - From 5 o'clock the Hurricane 7:00 P.M. 28.40 raged with increasing fury, the 7:40 P.M, 28.10 wind between N.E. and N.W. 7:50 P.M. 27.98 until 7:50 when it suddenly be- came calm (the Eye, note the 8:30 P.M. 27.98 extremely low pressure), and which 8:45 P.M. 28.25 continued to 8:40 when the 8:55 P.M. 28.37 Hurricane suddenly again came 9:25 P.M. 28.81 on from the South. Heavy rain with thunder and lightening during the whole time of the Hurricane. 9:40 P.M. 28.96 10:00 P.M. 29.07 10:30 P.M. 29.26 Decreasing Gale 11:10 P.M. 29.31 11:40 P.M. 29.35 A Fire broke out in town August 3rd 2:00 A.M. 29.46 Heavy rain from 1:00 to 3:00. 5:39 A.M. 29.52 Overcast with some rain 9:00 A.M. 29.63 and wind from S.E. August 4th Time Barometric Pressure Commeats 6:00 A.M. 29.74 pressure, Essentially normal bardmetric August 5th 6:00 A.M 29.75 From accounts by vessels arrived after the Hurricane from East and West, the direction of the Hurricane has been between W. by N. and W.N.W., and the progress about 14 miles per hour. of Sy oer I POSITION OF HURRICANE OVER ST. THOMAS we \k oA Evening of August 2 1837 » | | @) 7:00 pus DURING THE CALM FROM SOUTHWEST WIND HITTING * OF THE “EYE” @)7:50 PM | FROM MORTHEAST WIMD HITTING l X (1) 6:00 P.M | i STORM WARNING FLAGS +++ FLOWN AT HARBOR 4 MCE LAL, AIRPORTS AND OTHER STRATEGIC PLACES COLORS: (Tn eed Fh exacx SMALL CRAFT WARNING WINDS UP To 38 M.PH. GALE WARNING WINDS 39-54 MPH. WHOLE GALE WARNING WINDS 55-73 M.PH. HURRICANE WARNING Winds 74 M.2H ¢ UP Hurricane Warning System A system for giving advance warnings of hurri- canes was established in 1938 by joint action of the U.S. Weather Bureau, Air Force and the Navy. Recon- naissance aircraft equipped with radar and advanced weather instruments fly surveilance missions to sus- pect areas. When hurricanes or severe tropical disturbances are spotted, the aircraft fly into the center of the storm every six hours. During this time they take readings on wind intensity, wind direction, location and other meteorological data. Based on this information, the Bureau issues bulletins every six hours forecasting the probable path of the storm, its intensity and related warning information. As a hurricane intensifies and moves toward land, official bulletins and warnings are issued more and more frequently. For the Caribbean area, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico serves as headquarters for the Navy Hurricane Hunter squadron. For the East and Gulf coast of the mainland there is a similar station at Jacksonville (Florida) Naval Air Station. Other important sources of information come from Tiros, Essa and Nimbus satellites and ships at sea. The satellites, transmitting pictures and meteorologi- cal data back to earth, provide a means for spotting hurricanes in their very early formative stages. Ships, too, provide important early warning data when their paths cross a tropical disturbance and the information is radioed to the nearest meterological station. Through an intricate communications system all information is fed into The Hurricane Forecast Center, Maimi University, Coral Gables, Florida. In this Center the da.. ss interpreted and reports are fed to the lo- cal Weather Bureau stations. The local stations then make these reports public and issue forecasts and war- nings as necessary for their area. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES Interview someone in your community who has experienced any hurricane. Put in writing their account and report it to the class. Ask a person from the community who has experienced a hurri- cane to speak to the class about it. Make the students aware of the importance of following the weather news on radio, television, and the newspaper. Invite a person from the Public Safety Department, Civil Defense, Fire Department, etc. to give a talk about hurricane precautions. Prepare a chronological list of hurricanes in the Virgin Islands with dates and other places affected by them. Investigate how hurricanes get their names and mention some of them. Explore role of satellites in weather forecasting (Contact NASA). Field trips to study weather instruments in use. Trips to the airports, Harbor Masters stations (Contact Science Supervisor) . Study weather instruments in the classroom: barometer, thermometers, wet and dry, rain guages, etc. (Contact Science Supervisor). Study weather maps and related materials (Contact Puerto Rico Weather Bureau). Investigate current developments in hurricane detection. (Contact University of Miami, NASA). BIBLIOGRAPHY Books: Evans, Waldo. Found in information on the Virgin Islands of the United States. Washington, D.C,- Government Printing Office, Fassig, Oliver L., Hurricanes of the West Indies. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1913, Helm, Thomas. Hurricanes: Weather at its worst. Dodd, Mead, 1967. Irving, Robert. Hurricanes and Twisters . Knopf, 1955, Knox, John P. A historical account of St. Thomas, W.I. Scribner, 1852. Lehr, Paul. Weather: a guide to phenomena and forecasts. Golden, 1957. Lewishon, Florence. Divers information on the romantic history of St. Croix. St. Croix Lancmarks Society, Inc., 1964. Mitchell, Charles L. West Indian Purricanes. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1924. Red Cross. The West Indies hurricane disaster. ‘lashington, D.C.: American National Red Cross, September 1928. Spilhaus, Athelstan, F. Yeathercraft: how to make and operate your own weather station. Viking, 1951. Tannehill, Ivan Roy Hurricanes. Princeton University Press, 1952. The Virgin Islands of the United States: A general report of the Governor, 1928. Westergaard, Waldemar. The Danish West Indies, 1617-1917. Macmillan, pi Whitnah, Donald. A history of the United States Weather Bureau. University of Illinois, 1961. ‘Zabriskie, Luther K. The Virgin Islands of the United States of America. Putnam's Sons, 1918. Newspapers: The Bulletin(St. Thomas), September 19, 1928, Daily News(St. Thomas), September 22, 1932, The Emancipator( St. Thomas), September 15, 1928; September 22, 1928. Lightbourn's Mail Notes(St. Thomas) October 11, 1916; October 12, 1916 St. Thomac Tidende, August 9, 1837; November 13, 1867; November 16, 1867. West End News (Frederiksted) October 11, 1916. OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND MATERIALS St. Thomas Public Library Von Scholten Collection St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Tel. 774-0630 Mrs. Agatha Ragster Science Supervisor Department of Education St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Tel. 774-5370 Puerto Rico Weather Bureau Forecast Service Isla Verde Airport San Juan, Puerto Rico Tel. 791-0320 Hurricane Forecast Center and Hurricane Research Center Weather Bureau Building University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Manned Spacecraft Center 2101 Nasa Road 1 Houston, Texas