The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-06-23


beautiful Island several miles in leagth, anc
from half 70 Z. mile in width. was popu
lar watering place with the planters OF Ai
.Akspss. /. had been a sugar plantation, and
once ia high state Of cultivation, with d
magnificent plantation mansion and OUT build
lugs and numerous negro quarters. he
sol! being too much impregnaced with salt
from sea water 10 allow the sugs e granu-
late we'll. the cultivation Of the tnd was
abandoned and the buildings were turned
into a hotel. Besides these, number Of
private cottages were erected, and the island
became in the warm summer months scene
ot ga e:y and pleasure
Some TWO years 20, in September, when
there was an unusually numerous aud gay as
srmbla.e upon the island a fearful hurricane
arose At III -,ht, lashing the sea into fury. and
carrying it mountain waves entirely across
lhe island. whose surface Was but a few feet
above the ordinary level OF the sea. The
whole island was suddenly inuudssed to the
depth of ten or twelve feet, and every building
was swept away by the raging waters. Near
ly one-hait the visitors persisted in that tarri-
bic night, which made many hesrths IN
Southern Louisiana desola.e.
a New Orleans correspondent Of the s.
Louisville Repu5hcI,. gives the following ro-
mantle story connected with this sad event:
\ story, strange and romantic enough 70
seem theinsen,iou Of an imaginative mind. b.,
came known recently - a few persons in this
city; yet however romantic or strange il may
sound, the gentleman who Communicated it
To- me assured ma Of It's absolute truth, and
gave ma the names ot the parties connected
-th the affair. At the time when the terrible
catastrophe occurred at Lost Island, of the
Southern coast Of Louisiana, bY which So
many unfortunate people were swept bodily
into the Gulf by tha raging tempest. or over
whelrnad the low, sandy key, = middle aged
gentleman and his family. consisting Of
wife and two or three children, were invol-
in the calamity. Ia the midst of the thick
gloom, the storm, the confusion and terror
otthe scene, the gentleman became separated
from his little family aad barely escaped with
his life. The horror and distress OF the
poor at the sudden loss of his dear ones
may be imagined by those who love their
own wives and children. For several days
his friends feared that his mental sufferia -
would deprive him OF reason, and one OF them
kiudly invited him 10 make his home
a, his house. in New Orleans, for a time
hoping tha; he would gradually come to look
more calmly upon the misfortune that had
betalIcn him.
1t happened that with the family in which
young aud accomplished lady, of fine person
and m>nners, who. having compassion upon
the atll ctei stranger, took upon herself the
p,ous duty OF doing everything ia her power
to alleviate his sorrowa and make hin for
get the past. She played and sang for him,
read to him. talked with him. and finally
laughed and ioked with him-so fleeing and
tran7Itory are the greatest - human griefs
when brought under the Indueuce OF the en-
joymants and delights of HE.
la BRET she carried her consolations so far
that .he gentleman became enamorci, infat-
mated. and offered her his hand aud fortune.
Whether she reciprocated his passion. OF
whether the fact shat she was poor school
teacher and he wealthy planter influenced
ber decision upon his proposition. is not
qae,sion proper to be considered here. Suf-
nee ii to saw that she accepted his otter. slip
ulating thai, ont OF due respect to public
opinion, year must elapsed before their
uniou should Be consummated. As time
passed On the preparations Tor magnificent
w-ddiu. proceeded. The g=ntleman pur-
chased splendid trou>seau. laid out his
plans lor bridal tour, and for their sub,e-
queut domestic seit cement; and, ia fact, every
thus went on swImmingiy u1lil near the
close OF his term Of probation. The event Of
a single d3v il. this c.Se as in thousands o.
others, served To destroy in an instant his
matrimonial schemes, though whether his
subsequent peace OF mial and happiness were
not promoted thereby Is a4Hestl3n.
\ ehor; tIme previous t. the jay assigned
for his wedding he received i letter from his
wite-~slli in hesh--datei At Rio de J.a=iro.
informing him tha. she and one Of their chill
dren We're alive aud well. and would prob4-
blv be In hl> arms within q very brief period.
Il appear. taa- amid the destruction aud chaos
of the terrible storm in which il had been
supposed she and her little ones were lost.
Naiame--, cluny 70 her yoange> child.
ana vixen the waves submerged the island
and swept away everything upon i. she
daatei out in the guitupon certain fragments
2f the general wreck Drifting. finally after
much suffering, into the track Of sea going
vessels 10 au4 from this port, Sic wa, pick q
un by an outward bound yes>ei .ld carried
- Riu 10 opportunity occurring. ia the mean
time. to send Ler back - the STATES Tbs
voyage was long one, and sichaesS had pc
vented her from taking passage 10 tae fss
yssse. that sailed tay her native land and ly
some fatality the letter which thus apprizez
him Of her existence. reasEad his haads bu
a few hours previous to ler own arrival
What followed can readily b. ima.iael--hov
tie sober. staid, mildleazed zen l=man
doubtful whether TO be Disappointed er -
". broke the astounding rews T. his l,usus
peegiug tgroee; how she, poor gifa, went mrs
.nto tears sud then into Mysteries, AL va
finally causo.el by his Peouniarv hberalItv
and how all parties ultimately resumed theI
original positions and weue happy. the VII
not being permitted - know how narzovsI,
her husband had escaped slipping his peei
into a matrimonial halter.