The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-08-20
Tho Terrible = or m In Louisiana---AWo
Hundred and EIehty Lives Lost.

Hundred and Eighty Lives Lest.
The New Orleans papers of Thursday iast con-
tain seme brief particular Of the terrible calamity
at Last Island. This y An island In the Gun OF
Mexico, which has been for some years maoe
summer resort for planters and their families HUM
the interior parishes of Lafourche and AttaaaPa''
and some from the city Of New Orleans II !" uA
tant from the main land q the mouth OF tue psye1
about twenty miles; the nearest land 10 nve % 90
miles distant. The island 10 abont twen'y'nso
miles In length, and from half to three.q
Of mile wide--only three or four feel ABOVE 1.o
level OF the Gulf 1t IL exposed to the fuh s".ot
Of the waters and the southern oreezeS' 49,
have made IL . desirable retreat in the suniuie'
months. This year the island is reported :" -
bssn well patronized. The access to It iron, NC"
Orleans Is by railroad to Bayou B@uff, ana u'enoo
by the steamer Star to tte island IL appoa''
that large numbers of the unfortunate people on
the rise of the water sought refuge in the steamer
The Delta says:
w. .rs informed by . correspondent at Der.
vickis Raw that John Davis, an oysterman, reach.
al that pIsoe in q small sail-boat yesterday, and
renorted that all the houses on Last Island were
swent OF by the storm Of Sunday night
Our correspondent also informs VI THAT "a KAT ~
could be hurriedly ascersAineo i'' Aso' were sup
f The steamer Major Aubrey was sent immedi.
ateiv 10 the relief Of the suffering survivors, who
ware sticking to the hull OF the steamboat Star,
which was driven upon the Island oy the storm.
pidity under the effects of the wind, that it
1--we feet In two minutes, entirely submerging the
whole Island The inhabitants supposing, doubt.
less, that the water would soon subside, sought
shelter in their houses but it seems that these
were soon overturned and swept away by the
combined force of the wind and waves, and left
the unfortunate inmates hciplessly struggling
amidst the debris.
The Picayune says: Tho depth of water on the
Island, referring. understand it, to the high.
the steamboat Star is stated to be lying on the
island near where the hotel of John Muggah for
,aerly stood
The rise of the inundation is said to have been
Of unparalleled rapdty, the height of five feet be.
ing reported to have been attained in two minutes!
Although we were to read "hours" instead Of
"minutes"' it will not he difficult to understand
what wild excitement and fearful havoc 1t must
have caused, with no succor at hand.
All the houses on the island were swept away,
and 1t Ia particularly reported that most of those
staying at the hotel were drnwned
A list of reported victims, we are informed, was
forwarded to Brashear City or Berwick's Bay, but
we have not been able to find any one in the city
who has brought up copy OF it witfhm. We
have, however, heard the names Of few of those
alledged to have been drowned, and give them as
they have reached us; but without vouching for
their correctness: Mr.. Hart, Of this city; VIM.
Rochelle, Of Pattersonville; Mrs. Como, name Fro
badly otherwise speltl of Pattersonville; John
Muggah, (co.proprietor OF the hotel) wife, hve
children and brother; Mrs. Masken and two chill
dren, of Frarslin the bar keeper of the hotel,
(uame not ascertaned.)
1t is stated that there were about 400 persons on
the wreck at the time Of the disaster; and the
number surviving the wreck Of the Star ia esti-
mated at from $50 to215
At Vaudeville another watering place. a cross
Lake Ponchertran, was deluged, though no lives
were lost. A correspondent of the Picayuns
says:
Our town was visited on Sunday and Monday
by of the most disastrous storms ever witness
ed here. The wind began to blow from the east
on Sunday noon and kept increasing until Mon
day morning, when it shifted to south by east and
then 1t was really awful to witness the progress OF
destruction. Rain, whirlwinds, waves-ail went
dashing over our town, bringing with it our bath.
ing houses, wharves and boats.
About dark on Monday it was thought that the
STERN had subsidized, but at 10 o'clock P. M, itfs.
sumed its former strength, and continued untifto.
day.
1t was g great sight to see the whole village on
the beach-ihe men with red shirts; the fair Creoes
seeking their bathing 'fxings," ankles despin the
water. The whole town. in fact, was on grand
pie.aicsome picking up the remains of their bath
ing houses others trying to save their boats from
watery grave.
The total loss is estimated at about eight hun
bred dollars.
The storm extended along up the coast, destroy
Ing many sugar-houses and other buildings on the
plantations bordering on the Bayou Tcche, aud
throughout the neighboring parishes.
Later news from New Orleans than that re.
eeived by the papers, states that two hundred and
eighty lives were lost at Last Island.