p. 1 | A Calamitous Year

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 13, 1866

A Calamitous Year.

1866 seems to be a year of distressing calamities. Too many events have occurred in the past ten months for us to notice in one short article. In some parts of Europe rain has fallen to such an amount as to cause rivers to overflow their banks, and do an immense amount of damage; greater than any year since the memorable one of 1856. In our western states also, terrible floods or freshets have interrupted communications over extensive tracts of country for days at a time, and submerging whole harvests in rich and populous regions. Over 20,000 bushels of corn are estimated to have been destroyed by the late floods at the west. This is only an item of the damage done.

The late storm in Washington, Baltimore, and vicinity, also did immense damage, the extent of which is appalling to contemplate. Houses, bridges, dams, etc., were all swept away, and one family of six persons drowned. It was the severest flood ever known in that vicinity.

Not only has the land been visited with terrible floods, but the sea has been lashed into fury, by violent storms and gales. More vessels were lost in the same amount of time, than ever known before. By the sinking of the steamer Evening Star over three hundred lives were lost.

The New York Herald of October 17, says: “Very few of the actual shipwrecks during the late storms have been reported or will ever be heard from at all. Along the Southern coast the destruction to the numerous coasting craft has been incalculable; not one in ten of the wrecked vessels has been reported.”

FORTRESS MONROE, Oct. 15.—The stormy weather that has been prevailing for some time past still continues. The storm outside on the coast has lasted for a longer period than ever before known, and tidings of further disastrous shipwrecks are feared. All the pilot boats were anchored in the harbor this morning, being unable to take their station at the Capes in consequence of the violence of the storm.”

TERRIBLE STORM AT NASSAU.—Havana, Oct. 19.—A terrible hurricane commenced in the Bahamas on the 30th ultimo and lasted two days. Almost half of the town of Nassau was destroyed by the storm. Houses were blown down, roofs carried away and trees uprooted. Trinity church was demolished, the Government house lost part of its roof, and the roof of the marine hospital was entirely blown off. Vessels were driven ashore and knocked to pieces, and wharves were demolished. The neighboring islands suffered in the same degree, and a large number of vessels have been lost or damaged. This hurricane is the severest which has been experienced since 1813.

Fires, also, have been frequent during this year. Two of the finest cities of the New World have suffered severely; viz: Portland and Quebec. In Quebec over 18,000 persons were rendered homeless, and the property destroyed is estimated by millions.

Many lives were also lost. The following is from the N. Y. Herald, Oct. 18.

TORONTO, Oct. 18, 1866.

A widow named Maria Toussaint died this morning from the effects of burns received at the fire on Sunday night, at Quebec. From all I can learn, the loss of

life is greater than at first imagined. It is asserted that the number will not fall short of twelve or fifteen.

The fire originated in a saloon, about daylight, where some men were drinking and quarreling about their ill-gotten gains over a card-table. From words they came to blows; the table, on which stood a coal-oil lamp, was upset. The oil on the floor was immediately lighted, and the building was in flames in a few moments; the fire bells were rung immediately, the neighbors in the vicinity did everything possible to stay the flames, but in vain. In half an hour the hose was laid, but ten minutes after it was cut by some miscreant; and in a few minutes after a second hose was cut. The fire now became unmanageable and the people panic-stricken.

The prevalence of famine in India, by which thousands are perishing, is an item of much importance to the Bible student. Pestilence also stalks abroad. Look whichever way we will, we find the earth in a spirit of unrest. Distress of nations, and fear of coming judgments seem to trouble people. Let us notice the passing events as they occur, and watch for the coming of the day that ends the woes of earth.—Herald of the Bridegroom.