TABLE OF CONTENTS.

[CHAPTER I.]
MYTHS OF THE WINDS.
PAGE.
Old Greek fancies—Their modern traces—Man seeking mysteries—Personifications—The“air-mothers”[17]
[CHAPTER II.]
CONSTANT WINDS.
Comparative climate—Expansive force of heat—Illustrations—Thetrade-winds—Effect of the earth’s rotation—Return currents andcalms[26]
[CHAPTER III.]
PERIODIC WINDS.
Modified trade winds—The monsoons—Local winds—Sea and landbreezes—The simoom: its terrible effects—The khamsin, and similarwinds—Moisture in the air: its effects—Rain and hail—Clouds: theirvarieties—Mountain winds[34]
[CHAPTER IV.]
TORNADOES AND CYCLONES.
Unheeded law—Peculiarities of storms—Cyclonic storms—TheoreticalIllustrations—A “cyclone hot-bed"—Traveling of a cyclone—Itscurves in accordance with law—Features of the cyclone’s path—Greatcyclone of August, 1888—The planetary equinox theory—Objectionsto it—Safe predictions—Sun-spots—Mysterious providences[48]
[CHAPTER V.]
THE LOUISVILLE TORNADO.
Perspective of news—Amusing conceits—Distress at the door—Thetornado—Warning of the Signal Service—The storm strikes Louisville—Itscourse—Wreck of Falls City Hall—Rescuing the victims—Firebreaks out—Personal narratives—At the Union Depot[65]
[CHAPTER VI.]
INCIDENTS OF THE TORNADO.
The poor to be remembered—Peddlers, publicans and sinners—Thefreaks of “Providence"—Deaths in the storm remarkably few—Wonderfulescapes—Explosive effects of confined air—Strange pranks ofthe wind—The storm at Parkland—At Jeffersonville—The mammonworshiper—Generosity and independence[87]
[CHAPTER VII.]
OTHER TORNADOES.
The tornado in East Kansas—In Southeast Missouri—Great damagein Illinois—Water-spout at Metropolis—Many distinct whirlwinds—Effectof forest and prairie fires—Tornado of Charleston, 1761—Tornadoesat Natchez, 1840 and 1842—The Marshfield storm, 1880—Remarkablysmall loss of life in tornadoes—Tornadoes in foreignlands[114]
[CHAPTER VIII.]
TROPICAL CYCLONES.
Cyclones on our eastern borders—The Nova Scotia cyclone—St. Thomascyclone and earthquake, 1837—Cyclone of 1867—Barbadoes storm,1831—Great storm of 1780—Terrible cyclones and storm waves ofIndia—Typhoons in the China seas[141]
[CHAPTER IX.]
PERILS OF THE SEA.
Songs of the sea—The ocean always admired—Its treasures and dangers—Man’sgreed a source of disaster—Criminal disregard of life—Terriblefatalities in leaky ships—The Arctic seas—The ship Rufus[159]
[CHAPTER X.]
LIFE-SAVING MEASURES.
Great storm of 1703—Humaneness and inhumanity—Diabolical wreckers—Hovellers—Desperatestruggles without a life-boat illustratedby Dickens—The life-boat invented—Its usefulness—Lighthousesand fog-bells[179]
[CHAPTER XI.]
GREAT SAMOAN HURRICANE.
Germany and Samoa—Naboth’s vineyard—War breaks out—The assemblednavy—Situation of the harbor—The hurricane—Fears of thenatives—Vessels dragging anchors—Sudden wreck of the Eber—Magnanimousnatives—The Adler overturned—Struggle of the Nipsic—Fouledby the Olga, and run ashore—Crew rescued by the natives—TheVandalia helpless—Bold feat of the Calliope cheered—Vandaliastranded—Many Drowned—At the last gasp—The Trentondrifts upon them—Defiance of the storm—The flag triumphant[195]
[CHAPTER XII.]
ELECTRIC STORMS.
Byron’s fire—Myths of the lightning—Causes of thunder storms—Strangefreaks of the lightning—Numerous fatalities—Some curiouscases—A lightning stroke a Divine favor—Thunder—Peculiar incidents—Lightninglittle to be feared—Foolish precautions—A “dysenteryconductor” wanted—St. Elmo’s fire—Electric halos—Theirpart in history—The aurora—Popular myths—Aurora described[220]
[CHAPTER XIII.]
RAIN, HAIL AND SNOW.
Clouds and cloud shapes—The storm changes national destinies—Cloudhalos—Specter of the Brocken—The “beautiful rain"—Amountof rainfall—Snow—Its ravages—Remarkable showers of hail—Prodigies[246]
[CHAPTER XIV.]
FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.
Rivers a universal problem—Character of the Mississippi—Failure ofthe levee system—The building of levees—Three great sections—Damageof overflows—Fighting for the levee—Storm on the river—Sceneat a crevasse—The flood in the rural districts—In the city—Closinga crevasse—Refugees on the levee—Crooked streams[261]
[CHAPTER XV.]
THE FLOOD OF 1890.
Floods of other years—Warning of the Signal Service—The water rising—AtGreenville, Mississippi—The fight for the Morganza line—Thewaters win—Other crevasses—Extent of the damage—Objectionsto levees—Levees versus outlets—Terrible floods in China—Aproposed outlet—Reflection on present policy[296]
[CHAPTER XVI.]
THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD.
The dam system of India—American “cheap goods and haste"—TheLittle Conemaugh Valley—Heavy rains—Johnstown flooded—Theartificial lake—A poor dam—No uneasiness—How the water wouldmove—The dam breaks—Terrible rush of the flood—An enginechased—A warning whistle—Locomotives hurled about like toys—Flyingfor life—Escapes and losses[324]
[CHAPTER XVII.]
INCIDENTS AT JOHNSTOWN.
Suddenness of the flood—It divides—A chaotic scene—Fire breaks out—Faithof the perishing—Narratives: the Hulbert House; Rev.D. M. Miller’s story; Mr. Calliver’s escape; Dr. Beale and family—Morning:the stricken multitude; Mr. Rose’s narrative; Talmage’sletter; the grief of the survivors[343]
[CHAPTER XVIII.]
RELIEF MEASURES.
The people in want—Johnstown after the flood—Human ghouls—Relichunters—Temporary government—A dictatorship—Hospitalsand morgues—Prompt response of the public—Aid from variouscities—Losses by the flood[367]
[CHAPTER XIX.]
FAMINE AND PESTILENCE.
Signs and omens—Natural causes—Bengal famine of 1866—ReliefMeasures—Results—Pestilence and contagion—Black death—Itsfrequent ravages—Fright—A romance of Florence[384]
[CHAPTER XX.]
THE VOLCANO.
Erroneous views—Myths—Active principle in volcanoes—Atmosphericpressure—Rain at eruptions—Lava, pumice, ashes andtufa—Different phases of action—Stromboli, the “lighthouse"—Lavabubbles—Thrilling adventure—Lost!—Theory of a moltenearth—Objections to it—The earth cools slowly—Subsidence andchemical action—Distribution of volcanoes—Their work and forms[394]
[CHAPTER XXI.]
GREAT ERUPTIONS OF VESUVIUS.
Pompeii long buried—Excavations begun—A hermetically sealedcity—Scenes in the town—Pliny’s story—Hundreds stifled—Findingthe bodies—Subsequent eruptions—Notable convulsion of 1538—Theeruption of 1531, 1737 and 1793—Recent observations[421]
[CHAPTER XXII.]
OTHER GREAT ERUPTIONS.
Destruction of Sodom—Arguments—The pitch lake of Trinidad—Ætna:eruption of 1669—Thousands perish—Catania destroyed—Otheroutbreaks—Iceland: Mt. Hecla—Tremendous eruption ofSkaptar Jokul—One-fifth of the people perish—Millions of cubicyards of lava—Disturbances in the sea—Jorullo: a mountain madein a night—Fearful outburst of Sumbawa—Twenty-six people out oftwelve thousand escape—Explosions heard nine hundred miles—OtherMalaysian volcanoes—Geysers—Terrible eruption of Cosequina—Heardone thousand miles—Eruptions in South America—Forcerequired to send out lava—In the Sandwich Islands—Krakatoa:the greatest eruption in history—A chorus of volcanoes—Awfuldestruction—Perceived around the world—Unparalleled sea wave[440]
[CHAPTER XXIII.]
EARTHQUAKES.
Myths of the earthquake—Ancient theories—Modern research—Earthquakesand volcanic agency—Speed of a shock—The atmospherictheory—Earthquakes at particular seasons—The “planetary influence”theory—Character of motions[481]
[CHAPTER XXIV.]
EUROPEAN EARTHQUAKES.
Legends of the flood—Sparta Destroyed—Bura and Helice engulfed—Numerousconvulsions in Asia Minor—Antioch repeatedly destroyed—NorthAfrica suffers—Calabrian earthquake of 1693—A tremendousconvulsion in 1783—Immense chasms—People swallowed up—Greatlandslides—Terrible catastrophe at Scylla—Ruffians amid thewreck—The great Lisbon earthquake—Its vast extent—Awful destruction—Earthquakeat Chio—In Switzerland—In Ischia—Distressingscenes in the ruins—Disastrous shocks in Spain[496]
[CHAPTER XXV.]
EARTHQUAKES IN THE UNITED STATES AND ENGLAND.
All nature uneasy—The terrifying character of an earthquake—Signsand wonders—“El Gran Ruido,” of Guanajuato—Frequency of earthquakes—Earthquakein New England, 1638—A second in 1663—Shockof 1727—Great convulsions of 1755—Damage and great alarmat Boston—“The end of the world!"—Great disturbance in theMississippi Valley, 1811—Strange feats—The Charleston earthquake—NumerousEnglish earthquakes—Comparatively small loss of life[535]
[CHAPTER XXVI.]
EARTHQUAKES IN TROPICAL AMERICA.
Shocks in Asia: lack of reliable information—The Andes region—Greatearthquake of Riobamba—Humboldt’s description—Numerousshocks in Venezuela—Catastrophe of Caracas—Effect on the survivors—Frequentconvulsions at San Salvador—Total destruction in1854—Ruffians on the scene—Sudden disaster of Mendoza—Touchingincidents—Faithful dogs—Shocks in Peru and gigantic sea wave—Numerousgreat shocks—The end of all things—The last man[563]
[CHAPTER XXVII.]
PREDICTION AND PREVENTION.
Futile efforts to control the future—Law neglected for superstition—Pretentiousprophets—Humbugs—Laws of weather changes—Actionsof animals—Methods for producing rain suggested—Earthquakeindicators—A force beyond control—Possibilities[589]
[CHAPTER XXVIII.]
THE REIGN OF LAW.
Knowledge only from experience—Partial mastery by faith—Naturallaw the ruling force—Good and bad results of faith in the Supernatural—Sinpunished—Ignorance punished—Examples—Man slow tolearn—Eternal wisdom and goodness—Progress, past, present andfuture[600]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.
Cave of the Winds[18]
The Simoom[40]
Forms of Clouds[45]
Path of Cyclones[54]
Rotation of Storms[56]
Water-spouts at Sea[60]
Where the Storm entered Louisville[68]
Baxter Park, Louisville[71]
Falls City Hall[75]
At Work in the Wreck[78]
Main Street, between Eleventh and Twelfth, Louisville[82]
Union Depot, Louisville[85]
Eighth and Main, Louisville[90]
Corner Main and Clinton, Louisville[94]
Looking East from Tenth and Main, Louisville[96]
Corner Jefferson and Twelfth, Louisville[99]
On Ninth Street, Louisville[102]
Ruined Tobacco Warehouses[104]
View of Jeffersonville[108]
Wall and Front Streets, Jeffersonville[109]
Wreck at Jeffersonville[110]
Tenth and Main, Louisville[112]
Looking West from Tenth and Main, Louisville[115]
View of the Residence District, Louisville[118]
Ruined Dwellings[121]
Path of Tornado, Olney, Ill.[124]
Scene at Olney, Ill.[126]
Whirlwind from Burnt Prairie[127]
Tornado followed by Rain Storm[129]
Instantaneous View of Tornado[130]
Tornado at Monville[132]
Water-spout at Sea[135]
Minnesota Tornado[137]
Sand-spouts in the Desert[139]
Cyclone, Fire and Earthquake, St. Thomas[145]
“Drowning with its Terrible Roar”[147]
Hurricane in the Tropics[151]
Coast of India Submerged by a Storm[156]
“He Sinks into Thy Depths”[160]
Cast Ashore[163]
Wreck of the Minotaur[167]
Wrecked on a Rock[171]
Castaways on a Raft[173]
Sinking of the London[177]
Storm on the Shoals, 1703[180]
On a Lee Shore[184]
Hovellers Relieving a Vessel[187]
The Life-boat[190]
The Life-boat at Work[193]
Bow of the Eber Cast Ashore[201]
The Adler on the Reef[204]
Samoans Rescuing American Sailors[207]
The Calliope Putting to Sea[210]
Bow of the Sunken Vandalia[214]
After the Storm[218]
The Lyse Fiord[221]
Ideal Subterranean Storm[225]
Harvesters Killed by Lightning[232]
Land of the Aurora[243]
Field of Waterloo[249]
Specter of the Brocken[252]
Tropical Flood[264]
Making Mats for Levee Fronts[266]
Struggle to Hold the Levee[269]
A Mountain Torrent[271]
“No Time for Prayin’!”[273]
Funeral During the Flood[275]
Breaking of the Levee[277]
Surprised by the Water[279]
Not so Romantic as it Looks[282]
Telegraphing Under Difficulties[285]
Rescuing People[288]
Camps on the Levee[290]
Waiting for a Steamer[292]
The Search Light[293]
Scene at High Water[297]
Negroes Moving Out[301]
Stock Raft[303]
Picking Up Refugees[306]
Deserted Farmhouse[308]
Flood in China[312]
Dykes of Holland[316]
Relief of Leyden[318]
Breaking of the Dykes, Holland[322]
Map of Conemaugh Valley[325]
The Broken Dam[334]
Fleeing Engine[337]
Wreck of the Trains[340]
Mill Creek[345]
At the Stone Bridge[349]
Desperate Struggle[354]
The Gorge at the Bridge[358]
Battle with the Waters[362]
Johnstown After the Flood[371]
At the Morgue[376]
Conemaugh Viaduct[381]
At the Summit of Popocatepetl[397]
View in Active Crater[401]
Crater of Orizaba[405]
Eruption of Vesuvius[411]
Coral Reefs[418]
Destruction of Pompeii[424]
Vesuvius in 1737[435]
Destruction of Sodom[441]
Destruction of Catania[446]
Mt. Hecla[450]
Jorullo[455]
Geyser[457]
The Yellowstone Park[462]
Cattle in Volcanic Mud[473]
Convulsion on the Coast of Sumatra[478]
Effect of Earthquake on Masonry[484]
The Deluge[497]
Ruined Roman Colonnade[500]
Antioch[502]
Massive Architecture Wrecked, Asia Minor[504]
Ruins Near Cairo[506]
Ruins Near Nineveh[507]
Remains of Ancient Hebrew Masonry[509]
Great Earthquake in Calabria[511]
Destruction of Messina[513]
Disaster of Scylla[515]
Lisbon[517]
Earthquake at Lisbon[520]
Ruined Cathedral[522]
Scene at Chio[524]
Panic at Casamicciola[529]
Earthquake in Andalusia[532]
Wreck of the Charleston Earthquake[538]
Houses Thrown into Ravine[542]
Wreck on King Street, Charleston[544]
Scene at Charleston[548]
Old State House, Charleston[551]
Charleston[554]
Wreck of Factory[557]
Ruined Dwelling[560]
Earthquake in China[564]
After the Shock[568]
Scene at Caracas[571]
Ruins of San Salvador[573]
Fright at San Salvador[575]
Shock at Lake in Honduras[577]
Wreck at Mendoza[579]
Great Sea Wave[583]
Earthquake in Spain[586]

GREAT DISASTERS

AND
HORRORS IN THE WORLD’S HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.
MYTHS OF THE WINDS.

“Gray in his mossy cave Æolus stood
Gazing in reverie at the distant sails,
That skimmed the surface of the glassy deep,
Unvexed by blasts of Eurus’ boisterous whims.
The restless winds in leash about their lord
Full often murmuring, plucked his floating robe,
Or stirred his tangled tresses with their breath,
Impatient at the lack of wilder liberty.”