Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-07-12
A TERRIBLE REAL STORY.

A TERRIBLE REAL STORY.
Nine ,lays after storm In the Gulf of
Mexico. a traveller, finding his way from
IN. s,lt-pans of western Louisiana, took
a little fishiny-craft. There was that
fresh purity in the air and the sea which
follows the bursting of the elements
The numerous "bays" aud keys that
incident the shore looked fresher and
brighter, and there WAS that repen'ant
beauty in nature which aims to sootlle
us into forgetfulncss of its recent angry
passions. The white-winged sea-birds
flew about, and tall waterfowl stood
silently over their shadows like picture
above and below. The water srarkled
with salt freshness, and the rowing
winds sat in the shoulder OF the sal,
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 the
pure white sand that seemed so near ITS
keel. The last vestige of the storm was
gone, and the little gulf-world seemed
fiHsher and gladder for it. The tropl-
cal green grasses and water-plants hung
their long. linear. .hairlike sheaths III
graceful curves, and patches of tillow-
palm and palmetto, in many an intricate
curve and involutiOn, made O. labyrinth
of verdure. The wild loveliness of the
numerous slips and channels, where
never boat seemed to have sailed
since the. Indians water logged canoe
was tossed on the shadowy banks, was
enhanced by the vision of distant ships,
their sails even with the water, or bro
ken bv the white buildings of a sleepy
plantation in its bower of fig and olive
and tall moss-clustered pin, s.
Suddenly the traveller fancied he
heard cry, but the fishermen said no,
it was the scream of waterfowl or the
shrill call of an eagle far above, dlOp-
ping down from the blue zenith; and
they sailed on sAgain helleard the hs.
tant cry, and was told of the panther IN
the bush and wild birds that drummed
and called with almost human intOna,
ton and they sailed ON again. But
again the mysterious. troubled cry arose
from the labyrinth of green, and the
traveller entrealed them to go In quest
of it, The fishers had their freight for
market, delay would deteriorate It's
value but the anxious traveller bade
them put about and he would bear the
loss.
1t was well they did. There, in the
dense coverts of the sea-swamps, amid
tbs brac6sh saser-euwths and gzsss<s
TREY found q man and woman. ragged,
torn, stsrved.s For nine days they, had
had no food but the soft pith OF the
palmetto, coarse mussels, or scant poi
son-berries, their bed damp morass, and
their drink the brackish water and
they told the wild and terrible story Of
Last Island. .'.t D.
Last Island was the Saratoga and
Long Branch Of the south, the soqther
most Watering place IN the gulf. Stu
ated on a fertile coral island enriched
byinnumerable fOcks of wild fowl, ar
had brought its wealth of fruit ant
flowers to perfection. The cocoanat
palm, date-palm, and orange orchard
lasted their rich foi age in the. sun
wifh the pineapple, banana, ant
eh soft turf of the mesquit-grass
sir was fragrant with magnolia an
k bloom, the gardens glitterin
the burning beauty Of tropics
iers. iessamine thickets, and voluptu
4 grape arbors, the golden .wine-lik
/ tpourmk.an Intoxicating balm owe
graceful white cottages festOone
Eh vines, with curving chalet or Chi
&c roofs cOlored red pinnacled al
bors and shadOwy retreats of espalief
pretty ~ a coral grove and hi
shining hotel in the midst, with arcade
and pOrches and galleries, the yer
dream of ease and luxury, rs delicat
and trim ~ il made of cut paper i
many forms of prcttiness. Here wa
the nabob's retreat IN this h'lmy ga
den of delight Al that luxury, art, an
voluptuous desire could hint or hor
for WAS collected and nothing harsh {
poor or rugged Jared the fullness of \
rious ease. hand t..7k Nlo
Ten nights before, its fragrant atmo
re was broken into beautiful rippl,
py the clang and harmony of dancir
Amusic. II was the night of the :" hop
The hotel WAS crowded. Yachts az
pleasure- vessels pretty ~ the petals
ia flower tossed on the water, or as grac
I full shells banked the shores and Il
steamer at twilight came breathiI
short, excited breaal,s with the last Z
Law, for it was the height of the SUI
mer season. In their light. airy dresse
as the music SWAN and sung, brlgt
eyed girls Aoated in graceful waltz
down the voluptuOus waves of soun
and the gleam of hight and color W
like q butterflies ball. The queenl
luscious night sank deeper, and love
/strolled in lsmplighted arcades, Al
dreamed and hoped of life like ths
= the fairy existence Of love and peac'
and so till, tired of play, sleep and re
came n the small hours.
All at once came the storI
orthern latitpdes with pl
{fAnr AID fretting, lashil
y degrees into white hs
NE storm of the tropi'
on its broad, ang
eching the yerduroi
b isle, it flung t
al its huge, Draw