Newport Daily
News (Newport, Rhode Island)
Tuesday, November 3, 1846
There was a terrible storm at Key West on the 11th ult., the following
is a brief account of its disastrous effects.
The Pleayunne of the 23d inst., says it is indebted to Lieut. Pease
for the details of a terrible gale in the Gulf, of a fury which is unexampled.
To begin at Key West. It commenced blowing from the North-east on the
morning of the 11th and the tide rose rapidly. The storm increasing
in violence, raged to a hurricane until midnight when it abated. The
next day it blew a moderate gale. But the hurricane had swept away every
dwelling house save six in Key West. They were totally destroyed. The
Custom House and the Marine Hospital were both unroofed. It is supposed
that of Government property destroyed the amount is $300,000. The loss
of life is very great. A great many persons were drowned and killed
by falling buildings. The light house and dwelling house attached were
destroyed and 14 souls perished in these buildings. The Sand Key light
house is gone and the buildings and people in them.
The current ran six miles an hour through Key West. As far as ascertained,
fifty persons had lost their lives. The scene was awful in the extreme.
The spitfire put in at Kingston for coal; as reported by Commodore Slone,
she leaked sunic. About 30 vessels are ashore and many lives were lost.
Among those lost in the light house, we regret to announce Mrs. Williams,
her mother and two sons of this town. - Submitted by Nancy Piper
