The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1880-07-03
Down among the Islands
of In Sea-!

fourche to be derived from the
cutting the Terrebonne Canal
across Bayou Lafonrche will be
experienced in other ways besides
the increase of the facilities for
navigation that it gives
An outlet to tide water on eth
er side of Bayou LafoGrche Will
be open through this canal which
will afford egress to all the water
above the level of the bottom of
the canal, and shorten the dis
lance it has to make to enter the
gulf, some twenty miles. A strong
current from the Lafourche will
pass out each way which will nat
urally increase the current above
and cause that stream to wash
out and free itself FROM obstruc
ti0nS that now interpose aud
check the easy flow of the cur
rent.
At the outlet OF the canal into
Bayou Lafourche are the ruins of
Fort Guion, built at the cons
mencement of the war of seces-
sion, but for what purpose, other
than to prevent the passage of
porpoises III the Bayou it wonh
be difficult to imagine.
There ALSO stands the cabin of
Lewis L. Sanders, covered partly
with %palmettos and shaded by
the surrounding trees.
Mr.. Sanders once was a resi>
dent Of Thibodaux, but has been
living at Fort Gnion for ten or
fifteen years. Mr.. Sanders.under
took the job of cutting a canal
with the spade, large enough for
luggers, through the same ground
that tho one cut by the Terre-
bonnie Co. passes, and actually
made it about one mile into the
Lake in the rear. The Company
as a reward for his pluck and ell
ergy, have purchased his canal,
widening it for their purpose and
employed him to superinttnd the
collection of tolls from the YES
sells passing through. The Com
pany had "a load otstonecoal Icing
at their landing for the use of the
Dredges, that had hoated to their
front from Pittsburgh, which indi
Gates that boats of stonecoal. lime,
sand, hoop poles, Sc. drawing
less than seven feet OF water will
hereafter be passed through this
new outlet to Lower TerrebOnne,
which viii! be of great service to
the people there residing.
After watching the dredgeS at
work for some time, the Webre
backed out through the Canal in
to lake Jessie, named after a
neice of MIR. Sanders, where she
was enabled to turn, aud then
left for Grand Isle. AS we steam
ed out OF the Canal by Bayou Co.
guile, the Southern breezeS were
deliciousIy cool ADD comfortable.
West of us narrow strip of
woods extending down into the
Gulf, indicated the mouth Of tue
Bayou Lafourche, whilst South of
us lay the Island Cheniere Camin
ada.
On this Island are some 800
families who dwell there in a sort
of 4 world of their own.
The inhabitants arc a mixture
of almost every nation of men on
the earth. The Island is nomi
nally Il part of the Parish of JEFF.
ferson, but it has a Justice of the
Peace Of its own whose. decisions
are generally final, on every dis
p1ted point that comes before
him tor solution. The people de
pend almost entirely upon the
sea !or their support. The little
strip # land apon which their Go
miilion is placed, furnishes Il few
vegetables, melons sc. Nearly
every family owns a lugger, and
by this a support for the family is
made, Simple in their dress and
habits, their material wants are
few. Their children grow up in
the water, aid from the time they
begin to walk, they become ac>
custOmed to- boats and the waves.
On one side OF their isle is Il
beautiful bay, on the other the
waves OF the Gulf eternally roll
and dash upon the shallow beach.
Thes. people have no trouble
about roads and leyees, and do
not wreStle with the Rice fumes.
They experience some difficulty
in obtaining fire wood, bnt this
new canal will furnish easy egress
ilto Bayou Lafonrche, from
whose banks that article will be
in future obtained TO considera
bic extent.
This Canal also brings the Che
niere Caminada practically nearer
Thibodaux then they are. to the
county seat of Jefferson. The
Island should be made a part OF
the Parish OF Latourche. not ONLY
because it wonld be more conve
nient for the inhabitants. but be
cause II great MANY Of the citi
zens are former residents of this
Parish. They have a church aud
"a we'll educated skiltul physician
among them.
Noted for their hospitality and