Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-08-27
From tie New Orleans Picayune. Aug. Is.
TIE LAST ISLAND CALAMTY-FURTHERPA PAR
TTcTTT ARa

From tie New Orleans Picayune. Aug. l6.
TIE LAST ISLAND CALAMITY-FURTHERPA PAR
TICULARs.
We are favored with The following letter from
Dir. Duperer, giving an account OF the sad catas'
trophe.
BAYOU BGUF, Aug. IA. 1856
Dear Pic: You may have heard ere this reach
es YOU of the dreadful catastrophe Which hap
pened on Last Island, on Sunday the 10Th inst
Az one Of the sufferers it becomes my duty TO
chronicle one of the must melancholy events
which has ever occurred. On Saturday night
the 9th inst, n heavy northeast wind prevailed,
which excited the fears Of u storm in the minds
of many; the wind increased gradually until
about len o'clock on Sunday morning, when
there existed no longer any doubt that we Were
threatened with imminent danger. From that
time The wind blrw perfect hurricane ; every
building upon the island giving way, one after
another, until nothing remained. At this mo-
ment, every one sought The most elevated point
on the island, exerling themselves at the same
time to avoid the fragments of the buildings,
which were scattered in every direction by the
wind. Many persons were wounded; some
,nortallv. Tie water at this time (about two
o'clock D. n.y. commenced rising so rapidly from
doubt that the island would be submerged. The
sceno ut this moment forbids description. Men,
women, and children were seen running in every
direction, in search of some means of salvation.
The violence of the wind, together with llle
rain, which fell like hail, and The sand which
bliaded their eyes, prevented many from reach
ing the objets they had aimed at.
At about O'Clock, the Bay and Gulf currents
met, and The sea washed over the whole Island.
Those who were so fortunate rs to hnd some
object to cling 10: were seen floating in all dl-
rections. Many of them, however, were sepa-
rated from Inc straw to which they clung for
life, and launched into eternity; others were
washed away by the rapid current, and drowned
before they could reach their point OF des!ilI',
ton Many were drowned from being stunned
by scattered fragments of the building, which
had been blown ssunder by the storm; many
others were crushed by floating timbers aud logs,
which were removed from the beach, and met
them on their Journey. To atlemp. Il descrip-
ton Of this sad event would BIZ useless No
words could depict the awful scene which oc-
Cured on the night between the llth and 18th
inst. II was not until The next morning. the
18th, that we could ascertain the extent OF the
disaster. Upon my return, after having drtted
for about twenty hours, found the stcsmer
Star, which had arrived the day before, and was
lying at anchor, perfect wreck, nothing but her
hull and boilers, and portion Of her mach!ne-
ry remaining. Upon this wreck the lives OF
large number were saved. Towards her each
ons directed his path, us he was recovered from
tho deep, and was welcomed with tears by his
follow.sufferers, who had been SO fortunate as
to escape. The scene was heart.rending the
good fortune Of many poor individual in being
saved, was blighted by the news of the loss OF
father, brother, sister, wife or some near re!a-
tive. will no, prolong the detail of this un-
parslleled catastrophe. (The writer here a?pends
\ list Of the drowned and killed, and also list
of the survivors, which we deem unnecessary 10
pHbli.h.)
A.. before stated, not a single building with
utood the storm. The loss OF property is i'm
mense, amounting 10 1t least 100000; the
principal sufferers being John Muggah & Co.,
Thomas MaskelI, P. G. Bithel, Gov Hcbert,
Thomas Mile, l.. Desory, Lynch, Nash, A. Co.
mean, and others. The loss of baggage belong
ing TO The visitors on the island at The time.
which il complete, amounts to at least $4,000 be-
sides about $4,000 in money on those who
were drowned, which was nearly all recovered
by a set of pirates who inhabited the island.
The bodies of those who were recovered had
been invariably robbed by these men. 1t was
an awful scene to see the avidity of these heart
less beings to plsge the dead. hope that The
hand of Justice will take hold of them and dis
pose of them as they deserve.
cannot terminate the report of this sad event
without lauding the zeal of all the survivors in
rendering 10 each other mutual assistance. The
self.deniaI and zeal displayed by Capt Smith, of
the steamer Star, and his officers, and OF Capt.
Thomas Ellis, of Terrebonne, deserve special
commentator. The thanks of the survivors
are also due to Capt. Atchson, Of the Major
Aubrey Capt. Meyner, of the Orion; Capt
Dardennes, of the Blue Hammock: and Judge
Baker, who came TO The relief Of the sufferers
4. soon as they heard the news of the disaster.
1t is deeply to be regretted that the bodies Of
most of the victims were plundered as above
stated but the fact is bsyon question, although
every effort was made, where possible, 10 pre-
vent it.
The interment of bodies found exposed, was
carefully attended 10; but in number of in
stances the eements had done the work. The
waters carried to depth of several feet of sand
and debris, on some parts OF the island, and
hare everywhere 30 changed i,s surfnce, that
those formerly acquainted with could no longer
recognize it. Many bodies rest beneuih the
graves thus made for them by nature. Peace 10
their names. ,. ..
MEETING IN MOBILE.
Within the last three or four days consdeia
Bile excitement has existed in the community,
Il ....l H.,