Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-07-25
A TERRIBLY REAL STORY.


Nine DAYS after a storm in the Gull oil
Mexico, traveller, finding his way from
the salt-pans Of Western Louisiana, took
little fshing.craft. There was that
fresh purity in the air and the sea which
follows the bursting of the elements.
The numerous bays " and keys that in
dent the shore looked fresher and bright
er, and there was that repentant beauty
in Nature which aims TO soothe us into
forgetfulness of its recent angry pas
sions. The white-winged sea-birds flew
about, and tall water fowls stood silent
lv over their shadows like picture
above and below. The water sparkled
with salt freshness, and the rowing winds
sat in the shoulder of the sail, resting
and riding to port.
The little bark slipped along the shores
and shadows, and in and out by key and
inlet, seeing its shadow on thepure white
sand that seemed so near its keel. The
last vestige of the storm was gone, and
the little Gulf-world seemed fresher and
gladder for it. The tropical green
grasses and water.plants hung their
long, linear, hairlike sheaths in graceful
curves, and patches Of willow palm and
palmetto, in many an intricate curve
and involution, made a labyrinth of YER
dure. The wild loveliness of the hume
reus slips and channels, where never a
boat seemed to have sailed since the In
dams water.logged canoe was tossed on
the shadowy banks, was enhanced by
the vision Of distant ships, their sails
even with the water, or broken by the
white buildings of a sleepy plantation in
its bower Of fig and olive and tall moss
clustered pines.
Suddenly the traveller fancied he heard
a cry, but the fishermen said Not was
the scream of waterfowl or the shrlll
call of an eagle far above dropping
down from the blue zenith; and they
sailed on. Again he heard the distant
cry, and was told of the panther in the
bush and wild birds that drummed and
called with almost human intonatlon;
and they sailed on again. But again
the mysterious, troubled cry arose from
the labyrinth of green, and the traveller
entreated them to go in quest of it. The
fishers had their freight for the market
delay would deteriorate its value; but
the anxious traveller bade them put
about and he would bear the loss.
1t was we'll they did. There, in the
dense coverts of the sea-swamps, amid
the braekish water growths and grasses,
they found a man and woman, ragged,
torn, starved. For nine days they had
had no food but the soft pith Of the pal
metto, coarse mussels, or scant, poison
GUS berries, their bed the damp morass
and their drink the brackish water; and
they told the wild and terrible story OF
Last Island.
Last Island was the Saratoga and
Long Branch of the South, the southern
most watering place in the Gulf Sit
uated on a fertile coral island enriched
by innumerable Aocks Of wild fowl, art
had brought its wealth Of fruits and
flowers to perfection. The eocoanut-
palm, date-palm aud orange orchards
contrasted their rich foliage in the sun
shine with the pineapple, banana and
the rich, soft turf Of the mesquit grass
The air was fragrant with magnolas and
orange bloom, the gardens glittering
with the burning beauty of tropical
flowers, jessamine thickets and voluptu
GUS grape arbors, the golden, wine-like
sun pouring an intoxicating balm over
il; graceful white cottages festooned
with vines, with curving chalet or Chi
nese roofs, colored red, pinnacled arbors
and shadowy retreats Of espaliers pretty
as a coral grove, and a fair. shining
hotel in the midst, with arcades and
porches and galleries-the very dream
of ease and luxury, as delicate aud trim
as II made OF cut forms Of paper in many
forms Of prettiHess Here was the
nabob retreat; in this balmy garden OF
delight all that luxury, art and voluptu-
Gus desire could hope OF hint for was
collected; and nothing harsh or poor or
rugged Jared the fullness OF its lnxu-
rious ease.
Ten nights before, its fragrant atmos-
phere was broken into beautiful ripples
bV the clang and harmony CT dancing
music. 1t was the night Of the hop.
The hotel was crowded. Yachts and
pleasure-vessels, pretty as the petals OF
a flower tossed on the water, or as grace
ful shells banked the shores; and the
steamer attwihght came breathing short,
excited breatbs with the last relay, for it
vas the hight Of the summer season. In
their light, airy dresses, as the music
svam and sung, brighteyed girls hoated
n graceful Waltzes down the voluptuous
waVes Of sound, and the CLEAN Of light
and color vas like q butterhys' ball.
The Queenly, luscious night sank
deener' and lovers strolled IN lamp
liehis5 arcades, and dreamed and hoped
of lie Ike that, the fairy existence OF
love and peace. and 80 I'LL, tired Of play
sleep nud rest cane in the small hours.
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