Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-09-29
The Storm on Tybee.

Charleston Is. CO. News
The following extracts are taken
from the letters of Charleston lady
who was on Tybee island during the
great storm on Saturday night to her
family in this city:
at stormed all Friday night and all
day Saturday, and l hoped it would
cease by night. Each hour thought
must be the height of the storm. So
1 packed up everything to be ready to
move in at moments notice, when,
alas! 1 heard the steamer had ap-
preached Tybee and been beaten back
by the fury of the waves, the wharf
swept off, and thus we were cut off
from all human aid. About z o'clock
P. NJ the cyclone reached us. / saw
huge live oaks and palmetto trees
which had stood the test of centuries
torn up by the roots and whirled about
like straws. Our house rocked and
cracked like boat at sea. I took
Frank in my arms, Nina on one side
and Maud on the other and went into
a corner, the most remote from the
direction of the wind. No words can
describe my terror. The wind did not
whistle or shrek as 1 have heard it,
but it was cannonading. l do not
exaggerate when l say so. | looked
out on the roaring waters rising fast
upon us, and into the life-seeking
tempest, and wondered which death
would be easiest for my children, to
be crushed by the falling house,
drowned by the sea, or beaten down by
the wind and flying trees and houses.
We fell upon our knees, begged God to
receive us all together. wrapped up
my babes, the two servant girls
picked up Nina and Frank, while l
followed with Maud. We ran out into
the kitchen, which, being low, 1
thought might escape. We reached it,
a thing hardly expected, rushed in,
slammed the door, when, my God! what
crash. The house was blown down,
no two boards sticking together. A
few moments of breathless terror, the
kitchen rocking in the same admonish-
ing manner, the windew burst open,
and the shrek from one of the serv-
ants The island is ON fire. and the
fearful lurid gleam showed me too
plainly that another element was loose
upon us. Just then a voice outside,
Mrs. H, for Gods sake, are any of
you alive?' gave me a ray of hope.
"Come to the window l screamed,
and take my children and 1 passed
them out into strong arms. How am
ever to thank that man. Homan,
the hotel-keeper, saw from his window
my cottage rock, and he and his two
clerks ran to our rescue, but
it was down before they reached
it. They called, and, upon receiving
no answer, he went to the totter.
ing ruins at great risk to his life to
look for our remains. felt in the bed,
and then shouted, wheT we heard and
answered. He wanted us to go to his
house, but the same directing spirit
which was saving us through these
dangers made me firmly refuse
and insist upon going to Bluns,'
house 1 often remarked for its brick
foundation and chimneys, two strong
points which no other house on the
island possessed. So there we started.
The kitchen was blown over as soon as
we left it, and we were blown along
amid burning sparks, rain, and sand,
which blinded us and pricked like nee
dies. The young man who had Maud
mistOok the way. and ran into the cot
tage next to Mr.. Bluns'. Finding their
mistake, they ran out, when that cot
tage was blown to the ground imme-
diately. We reached our destination
and found there was one room in their
large house which was not flooded, and
there we joined the family and sat in
mute terror. Oh! the roaring and the
rushing and the crashing. The house
tOttered and threatened. About twelve
o'clock sound reached my ear which
my prophetic soul interpreted instantly
a dull, steady roar under the house
the land swell. The ocean had swept
away the sand-hills, and was flowing
under the house; the foundation
would be undermined and the house
swept away. 1 took my babes again
and put wrappings on them, and we
stood in instant readiness to fly inio
the woods, where l knew of small
hill protected by huge live oaks. God
spared us this ideal, for the tide turned,
the wind shifted, and the waters re-
ceded. When the furious war subsidized,
every half hour or so some anxious
mans face would be thrust in the
room. Are all saved here?' Have
any been lost?' etc. And how my
heart nearly burst with gratitude when
took my darlings in my arms and
felt we were all SaVedi :: X OF
course the calm came after the storm.
l* About II o'clock the only
sound boat left in the harbor of Savan-
nah, a tug, succeeded in reaching Tye-
bee. We got on the tug and reached
Savannah. where 1 found the storm
J had ragged also. Our house has the
roof off, and everything in it flooded
1t may be weeks ere we get it habita.
BILE. Thank God again, all is we'll with
u.s."
1 al ~