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1780s - hurricane decade
The 1780s were disastrous hurricane years for most of the Caribbean islands. On October 10 1780 Barbados, and then most of the Windward Islands were hit by what is still referred to as the "Great Hurricane".
Writing in The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, Rappaport and Fernandez-Partagas say - The largest loss . . . occurred in the Lesser Antilles in mid-October 1780, during The Great Hurricane. Estimates indicate that around 22,000 deaths occurred in that storm, with a total of about 9,000 lives lost in Martinique, 4,000-5,000 in St. Eustatius, and 4,326 in Barbados. Thousands of deaths also occurred offshore. . . .the number of fatalities during The Great Hurricane of 1780 exceeds the cumulative loss in any year (except 1780) and, in fact, in all other decades. Jamaica was not affected by that hurricane, but endured two in 1780, one in 1781, one in 1784, another in 1785, and yet another in 1786.
Accounts of these hurricanes can be read on this page.
Writing in The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, Rappaport and Fernandez-Partagas say - The largest loss . . . occurred in the Lesser Antilles in mid-October 1780, during The Great Hurricane. Estimates indicate that around 22,000 deaths occurred in that storm, with a total of about 9,000 lives lost in Martinique, 4,000-5,000 in St. Eustatius, and 4,326 in Barbados. Thousands of deaths also occurred offshore. . . .the number of fatalities during The Great Hurricane of 1780 exceeds the cumulative loss in any year (except 1780) and, in fact, in all other decades. Jamaica was not affected by that hurricane, but endured two in 1780, one in 1781, one in 1784, another in 1785, and yet another in 1786.
Accounts of these hurricanes can be read on this page.
The first 'hurricane' of this terrible decade hit the Montego Bay area and the North Coast on February 22, 1780. Forty ships were destroyed and sugar estates were damaged all along the North Coast. There are few references to this storm, which, since it occurred outside the normal hurricane season, may well not have been a tropical cyclone. There are references to a storm affecting Havana at much the same time, which may have been the same weather system.
The Gentleman's Magazine, vol 51, 1781
page 13
Remarkable Occurrences in 1780
'Feb. 24 A violent storm did great damage at Montego Bay in the island of Jamaica.'
Town & Country Magazine, May 1780,
AMERICA
Jamaica, Montego Bay, Feb 26 [Saturday]. We are extremely sorry that occasion is given us to acquaint our readers with the following disastrous fate of the shipping that were in the harbour during the late storm. On Tuesday [22nd] evening, about 11 o'clock, we were threatened with a gale of wind from the N.W. which continuing to blow with increasing violence, excited such a prodigious swell of the sea that early on Wednesday morning the vessels were utterly unable to support it, and gradually began to give way, in spite of every effort for their preservation. That evening the whole harbour was covered with the wreck of the different vessels, for neither ship nor boat has escaped the undistinguishing destruction; most happily for us we have not to add a list of souls who have perished, fortunately no lives being lost, owing most probably to the fury of the storm being exerted in the heighth of day. The houses that were situated near the beach have suffered considerably; one in particular was entirely driven down by a shallop beating against it, and many others are much damaged by the sand and waves, which in a manner tore them from their foundations. The wharf, late Forbe's, is entirely unplanned, and several of the piles forced from their hold. The channel from the creek is almost totally choaked up, and in fact, on every side, an affecting scene of desolation is presented to the view. The oldest person living remembers not an Instance of such a storm happening at this season of the year. We cannot, however, help remarking, that some unforeseen change in the atmosphere was strongly indicated by an extraordinary alteration both in barometer and thermometer a day or two preceding the gale. How far an attention to such alterations in future, may be the means of our endeavouring to guard against such threatening danger, is a question we leave to the determination of others.
Twenty seven vessels, eleven of which were square rigged, four schooners, three large sloops, and the rest smaller craft, all bearing [crews?] are either bilged or beat to pieces; and what is much to be feared, not one of them will ever be fit for sea again.
AMERICA
Jamaica, Montego Bay, Feb 26 [Saturday]. We are extremely sorry that occasion is given us to acquaint our readers with the following disastrous fate of the shipping that were in the harbour during the late storm. On Tuesday [22nd] evening, about 11 o'clock, we were threatened with a gale of wind from the N.W. which continuing to blow with increasing violence, excited such a prodigious swell of the sea that early on Wednesday morning the vessels were utterly unable to support it, and gradually began to give way, in spite of every effort for their preservation. That evening the whole harbour was covered with the wreck of the different vessels, for neither ship nor boat has escaped the undistinguishing destruction; most happily for us we have not to add a list of souls who have perished, fortunately no lives being lost, owing most probably to the fury of the storm being exerted in the heighth of day. The houses that were situated near the beach have suffered considerably; one in particular was entirely driven down by a shallop beating against it, and many others are much damaged by the sand and waves, which in a manner tore them from their foundations. The wharf, late Forbe's, is entirely unplanned, and several of the piles forced from their hold. The channel from the creek is almost totally choaked up, and in fact, on every side, an affecting scene of desolation is presented to the view. The oldest person living remembers not an Instance of such a storm happening at this season of the year. We cannot, however, help remarking, that some unforeseen change in the atmosphere was strongly indicated by an extraordinary alteration both in barometer and thermometer a day or two preceding the gale. How far an attention to such alterations in future, may be the means of our endeavouring to guard against such threatening danger, is a question we leave to the determination of others.
Twenty seven vessels, eleven of which were square rigged, four schooners, three large sloops, and the rest smaller craft, all bearing [crews?] are either bilged or beat to pieces; and what is much to be feared, not one of them will ever be fit for sea again.
The second hurricane struck on October 3, 1780. The Governor, Colonel John Dalling, reported the event to the Government in London:
I am sorry to be under the disagreeable necessity of informing your Lordships of one of the most dreadful calamities that has happened to this colony within the memory of the oldest inhabitant.
On the morning of the 3 instant, the weather being very close, the sky sudden became very much overcast, and an uncommon elevation of the sea immediately followed. Whilst the unhappy settlers at Savanna-la-Mar were observing this extraordinary Phenomenon, the sea broke suddenly in upon the town, and on its retreat swept every thing away with it, so as not to leave the smallest vestige of Man, Beast, or House behind.
This most dreadful catastrophe was succeeded by the most terrible hurricane that ever was felt in this country, with repeated shocks of an Earthquake which has almost totally demolished every building in the Parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover, part of St James and some parts of St Elizabeth's and killed, members of the white Inhabitants as well as of the negroes. The wretched inhabitants are in a truly wretched situation not a house standing to shelter them from the inclement weather not clothes to cover them, every thing being lost in the general wreck. And what is still more dreadful Famine staring them in the face.
On the morning of the 3 instant, the weather being very close, the sky sudden became very much overcast, and an uncommon elevation of the sea immediately followed. Whilst the unhappy settlers at Savanna-la-Mar were observing this extraordinary Phenomenon, the sea broke suddenly in upon the town, and on its retreat swept every thing away with it, so as not to leave the smallest vestige of Man, Beast, or House behind.
This most dreadful catastrophe was succeeded by the most terrible hurricane that ever was felt in this country, with repeated shocks of an Earthquake which has almost totally demolished every building in the Parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover, part of St James and some parts of St Elizabeth's and killed, members of the white Inhabitants as well as of the negroes. The wretched inhabitants are in a truly wretched situation not a house standing to shelter them from the inclement weather not clothes to cover them, every thing being lost in the general wreck. And what is still more dreadful Famine staring them in the face.
At Savanna la Mar on the afternoon of Tuesday the 3rd Instant, about 3 o'clock, the wind began to blow very hard from the South-east, accompanied with heavy rain and by four had acquired such strength as to tear the trees up by the roots and strip houses of their shingles. Between five and six the sea began to rise and continued for near an hour to swell to a most amazing height, over flowing the ill-fated town of Savanna la Mar and the low lands adjacent. From this time until eight o'clock, the force of the wind and the impetuosity of the waves, overthrew and demolished every house in that unfortunate place, and buried most of the inhabitants in the ruins. A little after eight it began to abate, but never the less continued to blow very hard until midnight, when the wind veered round to the westward. No pen can describe the horrors of the scene which morning presented to the sight of the few who survived to lament the fate of their wretched neighbours; the earth strewed with the mangled bodes of the dead and dying, some with broken limbs, who, in that situation, had been tossed about during the storm, and afterwards left on the wet, naked earth to languish out the night in agonies with nor hand to help, or even pity them. Humanity recoils at the contemplation of such unheard of calamities; and every feeling heart must melt at the dear recital.
The names of the unhappy sufferers which we have yet been able to learn are: The Comptroller of that Port, Mr McDowal, Dr King, his wife and two assistants, Misses Forbes and Dallas, and four children, Mr Nesbit a carpenter, Mrs Allwood and three children, Mrs Gibson and two children, Mr John Fotzgerald, Dr Lightfoot, Mr William Antrobus junr, Messrs Aaron Touro and Moses Nunes, and the nephew of the latter, Miss Pesoa, a child of Mr Payne, Mr W McLean, his wife and children, Mr Slap, Mr Little, three quadroon children, and a great number of negroes. We are informed by Gentlemen who are just arrived from that quarter, that bodies of eighty white persons have already been found, and many more are expected to be dug out of the ruins, and it is thought not less than 400 whites and negroes must have perished in and about Savanna-la-Mar. The ships Henry, Princess Royal and Austin Hall, then at Anchor in the harbour, with two or three Doggers [‘droggers’ or ‘droghers’ were small ships which sailed around the coasts of the island], were driven from their moorings, and carried a considerable way up into the Morass from whence it will be impossible to get them off. The Princess Royal had four anchors out, and the crew were attempting to get out a fifth, when the wind carried it fairly off the deck some distance into the sea. One of the ships went over the Fort, the parapet of which, at other times is about fifteen feet above the level of the water. The Trimmer, a packet from Rattan, which lay at Bluefields, was likewise sent ashore, but all hands were saved, though some belonging to the other vessels were lost. Throughout the whole Parish of Westmoreland, from the best information we can obtain, there is not a dwelling house, outhouse or a set of works on any of the estates left standing. The Canes, Corn, Plantain trees and every production of the earth destroyed. At one estate, Blue Castle, report says, that 200 negroes were killed in a boiling house whither they had fled for shelter: along the sea coast many dead bodies scattered about, probably driven ashore from some wreck, meet the eye of the passenger and one uniform scene of desolation and devastation overspreads the face of that part of the country. From St Elizabeth, our accounts are much more favourable. Some estates there have suffered, but in a far less degree than those in Westmoreland, Hanover and St James, over which the greatest force of the hurricane seems to have passed. At Black River, a few houses are overthrown, but none of any consequence. Some plantain walks, cane and corn pieces are likewise destroyed. A Gentleman from Savanna-la-Mar gives the following relation of the fatal catastrophe of that devoted town.
On Tuesday the 3rd Instant about one o'clock in the afternoon, the gale began from the S.E. and continued increasing with accumulated violence until four when it veered to the South and became a perfect tempest, which lasted in full force till near eight; it then abated. The sea, during the last period, exhibited a most awful scene; the waves swelled to an amazing height, rushed with an impetuosity not to be described, on the land, and in a few minutes determined the fate of all houses on the bay. Those whose strength or presence of mind enabled them to safety in the Savanna took refuge in the miserable remains of the habitations there, most of which were blown down, or much damaged by the storm, as to be hardly capable of affording a comfortable shelter to the wretched sufferers. In the Court House, forty persons, whites and of colour, sought an asylum, but miserable perished by the pressure of the roof and sides, which fell upon them. Number were saved in that part of the House of Mr Finlayson, that luckily withstood the violence of the tempest, - himself and another Gentleman, had by it [?], when the wind forced open the door, and carried away the whole of the lee side of it, and sought safety under the wall of an old kitchen, but finding they must inevitably perish in the situation, they returned to the house, determined to submit to their fate. About ten, the water began to abate, and at that time a smart shock of an earthquake was felt. All the small vessels in the bay were drove on shore and dashed to pieces. The ships Princess Royal, Captain Ruthwin, Henry Richardson and Austin Hall, were forced from their anchors, and carried so far into the morass, that they will never be got off. The earthquake lifted the Princess Royal from her beam ends, righted her, and fixed her in a firm bed; this circumstance has been of great use to the surviving inhabitants for whose accommodation she now serves as a house.
The morning ushered in a scene too shocking for description - Bodies of the dead and dying scattered about the watry plains where the town stood, presented themselves to the agonizing view of the son of humanity whose charity lead him in quest of the remains of his unhappy fellow creatures! The number who have perished, is not yet precisely ascertained, but it is imagined 50 whites and 150 persons of colour are lost. Among them are numbered Dr King his wife and four children, his partner, an assistant, Mr Nesbit, a Carpenter and 24 negroes, all in one house. Dr Lightfoot, and Mr Antrobus were found dead in the streets. In the whole parish, it is said, there are not five dwelling houses, and not one set of works remaining; the plantain walks all destroyed; every canepiece levelled; several white people, and some hundreds of negroes killed. In the adjoining parish of St Elizabeth, altho' the face of the country wore a less horrible aspect than at Westmoreland, much damage was done and several lives lost. Our accounts from Lucea, though not particular, are terrible indeed - the Town, except two houses, those of Messrs A & D Campbell and the adjoining tenement of Mr Lyons, levelled to the ground; many lives lost, and in the whole parish of Hanover, but three houses standing - not a tree, bush or cane to be seen - universal desolation prevails! Of the wretched victims to this violation of the course of nature, we can only as yet name Messrs Aaron & Salmon Dias Fernandez, two ancient Gentlemen of the Jewish nation, one aged 81, the other 80, of respectable and venerable characters. Three young ladies, Misses Samuels, at Green Island - The elegant house of John Campbell Esquire at Salt Spring; Kendall and Campbell town; and of that of Mr Chambers, at Batchelors Hall, no longer adorn that rich and fertile parish - Captain Darling, Mrs Darling, and Mr Maxham, were dragged out, barely alive, from the ruins of an arch that supported a flight of steps, under which they had sheltered themselves - Fourteen or fifteen people of colour were buried in a store that fell in upon them. |
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Political Magazine, November 1st, 1781
[John Bew (active-1774-90; d 12 April 1793) was a bookseller and publisher at 28–29 Paternoster Row in London. He was the publisher of The Political Magazine from 1780 to March 1785, when it was taken over by John Murray. The Magazine was a journal written for an audience of informed gentlemen and often included supplementary maps engraved by John Lodge. Bew eventually went bankrupt on 27 November 1790.]
Kingston.
ABOUT eight o'clock on Wednesday evening, August 1st, a hard gale of wind came up from the southward, but soon after veered to different points of the compass; before nine it increased to a perfect hurricane, and continued to rage with unabating fury, till near eleven, the greatest of the time blowing from the South East, accompanied by a heavy and incessant rain; nor did the fury of the storm altogether subside, till about two o'clock in the morning;— the distressed situation of the shipping in the harbour, may be better conceived than described; 73 sail of vessels, including sloops, schooners, and shallops, were on shore between Russell's hulk and the wharf of John Vernon, Esq; and Co. and several others to the westward of the town; but being mostly light vessels, the greatest part of them either have been or will be got off, though not without considerable damage. The water in the harbour is supposed to have risen between four and five feet perpendicular; the planking of the wharfs in general being torn up, and many heavy articles that were upon them entirely carried away; of Messrs. Law and Hargrave's wharf, scarce the vestiges remain.
The greatest part of the returned fleet being, at Port Royal, the account from thence is still more deplorable, two loaded vessels being either sunk or overset, and 24 run ashore between Salt Ponds and the Mosquito point.
Many houses and piazzas in this town were blown down, and two negroes found drowned in the streets, in which torrents of water for several hours ran down with great rapidity.
The number of lives that have been lost cannot at present be ascertained, but doubtless must be very great; in one plantain boat only, nine persons perished; as did the crew of the Ruby's boat at Port Royal, in endeavouring to assist a vessel in distress soon after the storm came on.
Montego Bay, Aug. 11. Impressed with the most solicitous desire to believe and hope, thatch effects of the last storm had not been attended with all those dreadful consequences which we afterwards found bad attended it; and drawing our conclusions from the situation of things in and about this place, which have escaped much better than the severity of the weather gave us any reason to expect; our last Chronicle, we are now sorry to acknowledge, gave but an imperfect account of what we have since learnt to have been the unhappy fate of the neighbouring parishes.--
A correspondent in Westmoreland has favored us with the following account:
" I am sorry to acquaint you that the storm of Wednesday August 1st, has done so much damage to our shipping; it has drove ashore two ships, the Christiana and Juno, a small vessel of Neil's, and a brig belonging to Capt. Alex. Hamilton is totally loft, and himself and mate drowned; M'Ray's wharf is carried away; Doctors Pinkney and Ruecastle, Mess. Blake and Inglis's new houses and stores are thrown down; all the provision and fine crops of corn are destroyed; the canes are all laid flat, and there is hardly an estate in Westmoreland but has suffered in buildings; and through the whole parish of St. Elizabeth, the provisions in general are destroyed, and the canes greatly damaged."
The accounts from Hanover are equally unfavorable; at Saxham estate, in that parish, the overseer and Cooper were killed in a house which had been thrown down by the violence of the storm.
St. Mary's, St. Ann's, and Trelawney, have all suffered very considerably in their provisions and canes; and though we would not incline to aggravate the damage done in this parish, it is nevertheless certain, that many of the planters apprehend themselves in equally as bad a situation, in the article of provisions, as after the hurricane of the 3d of October last year.
Advices from Savannah la Mar say, that two houses are blown down on the Bay, and most of the plantain walks and corn destroyed. In the parishes of St. George, St. Ann, and St. Mary, the sugar estates have suffered considerably, and the plantain trees all blown down.
[John Bew (active-1774-90; d 12 April 1793) was a bookseller and publisher at 28–29 Paternoster Row in London. He was the publisher of The Political Magazine from 1780 to March 1785, when it was taken over by John Murray. The Magazine was a journal written for an audience of informed gentlemen and often included supplementary maps engraved by John Lodge. Bew eventually went bankrupt on 27 November 1790.]
Kingston.
ABOUT eight o'clock on Wednesday evening, August 1st, a hard gale of wind came up from the southward, but soon after veered to different points of the compass; before nine it increased to a perfect hurricane, and continued to rage with unabating fury, till near eleven, the greatest of the time blowing from the South East, accompanied by a heavy and incessant rain; nor did the fury of the storm altogether subside, till about two o'clock in the morning;— the distressed situation of the shipping in the harbour, may be better conceived than described; 73 sail of vessels, including sloops, schooners, and shallops, were on shore between Russell's hulk and the wharf of John Vernon, Esq; and Co. and several others to the westward of the town; but being mostly light vessels, the greatest part of them either have been or will be got off, though not without considerable damage. The water in the harbour is supposed to have risen between four and five feet perpendicular; the planking of the wharfs in general being torn up, and many heavy articles that were upon them entirely carried away; of Messrs. Law and Hargrave's wharf, scarce the vestiges remain.
The greatest part of the returned fleet being, at Port Royal, the account from thence is still more deplorable, two loaded vessels being either sunk or overset, and 24 run ashore between Salt Ponds and the Mosquito point.
Many houses and piazzas in this town were blown down, and two negroes found drowned in the streets, in which torrents of water for several hours ran down with great rapidity.
The number of lives that have been lost cannot at present be ascertained, but doubtless must be very great; in one plantain boat only, nine persons perished; as did the crew of the Ruby's boat at Port Royal, in endeavouring to assist a vessel in distress soon after the storm came on.
Montego Bay, Aug. 11. Impressed with the most solicitous desire to believe and hope, thatch effects of the last storm had not been attended with all those dreadful consequences which we afterwards found bad attended it; and drawing our conclusions from the situation of things in and about this place, which have escaped much better than the severity of the weather gave us any reason to expect; our last Chronicle, we are now sorry to acknowledge, gave but an imperfect account of what we have since learnt to have been the unhappy fate of the neighbouring parishes.--
A correspondent in Westmoreland has favored us with the following account:
" I am sorry to acquaint you that the storm of Wednesday August 1st, has done so much damage to our shipping; it has drove ashore two ships, the Christiana and Juno, a small vessel of Neil's, and a brig belonging to Capt. Alex. Hamilton is totally loft, and himself and mate drowned; M'Ray's wharf is carried away; Doctors Pinkney and Ruecastle, Mess. Blake and Inglis's new houses and stores are thrown down; all the provision and fine crops of corn are destroyed; the canes are all laid flat, and there is hardly an estate in Westmoreland but has suffered in buildings; and through the whole parish of St. Elizabeth, the provisions in general are destroyed, and the canes greatly damaged."
The accounts from Hanover are equally unfavorable; at Saxham estate, in that parish, the overseer and Cooper were killed in a house which had been thrown down by the violence of the storm.
St. Mary's, St. Ann's, and Trelawney, have all suffered very considerably in their provisions and canes; and though we would not incline to aggravate the damage done in this parish, it is nevertheless certain, that many of the planters apprehend themselves in equally as bad a situation, in the article of provisions, as after the hurricane of the 3d of October last year.
Advices from Savannah la Mar say, that two houses are blown down on the Bay, and most of the plantain walks and corn destroyed. In the parishes of St. George, St. Ann, and St. Mary, the sugar estates have suffered considerably, and the plantain trees all blown down.