Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-02
THE STORM ON TYBEE.
Thrilling Story of the Hurricane
on Saturday NIght-A WOman's
Trust In God and Miraculous Es-
cape with Her children.

The following extracts from private let
ter are published in the Charleston Ne'0s and
Courier of Yesterday. The letter was writ
ten by the wife of one of our citizens,
who is native of Charleston, to her fami-
lY in that city. She was living in one Of the
new cottages on the island in Bacon's row,
with her children and servants, her
husband being absent at the North. Her
experience during the fearful storm is most
graphically described as follows:
1t stormed all Friday night and all day
Saturday, and 1 hoped 1t would cease by
night. Each hour thought must be the
height Of the storm. SO packed up every
thing to be ready to move In at a moments
notice, when alas heard the steamer had
approached 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 o'clock p. m. the cyclone
reached us. / saw huge live oaks and pal
metto trees which had stood the test of CEN
turtles torn up by the roots and whirled
about like straws. Our house rocked and
creaked like boat at sea. took Frank in
my arms, Nina on one side and Maude on
the other, and went into corner, the most
remote from the direction of the wind. No
words can describe my terror. The wind
did not whistle or shrek as have heard It,
hut 1t was
CANNoNADING.
do not exaggerate when say so. l 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
hu no Nufndc hnnaQa
We fell upon our knees, and begged God to
receive US all together. l wrapped up my
babes, the two servant girls picked up Nina
and Frank, while | followed with Maude.
We ran out into the kitchen, which, being
low, / thought might escape. We reach.
ed 1t, thing l hardly expected, rushed in,
slammed the door, when, my Godl what a
crash.
THE HOUSE WAS BLOWN DOWN,
no two boards sticking together. A few
moments Of breathless terror, the kitchen
rocking in the same admonishing manner,
the window burst open, and the shrek
from one of the servants, "Christ the island
is on firel" and the fearful lurid CLEAN
was loose upon u.s. Just then a voice out
side, "Mrs. H, for Gods sake, are any
Of you alive ?" gave me a ray of hope.
"Come to the window" / screamed,
"and take my children" and l passed
them out into strong arms. How am
l 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 thew reached it. They called and.
upon receiving no answer, he went into the
tOttering ruins, at great risk to hts life, to
look for our remains, felt In the bed, and
then shouted, when we heard and answer
ed. He wanted us to 90 to his house, but
the same directing Spirit which was saving
us through these dangers made me firmly
refuse and insist upon going to Blun's, a
house l often remarked for its brick founda-
ton and chtmneYs, 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 iOere blOaon along
amid burning sparks, rain and sand which
blinded us and pricked like needles. The
young man who had Maude mistook the way
and ran into the cottage next to Mr. Blun's.
Finding their mistake they ran out, when
that cottage was blown to the ground i'm
mediately. 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
ened. About IL O'Clock a sound reached
my ear which my prophetic soul interpreted
instanJlY-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 under
mined and the house be swept away. l took
my babes again and put wrappiDgs on them
aud we stood in instant readiness to
FLY INTO THE WOODS
where 1 knew of small hill protected by
huge live oaks. God spared us this ordeal,
for the tide turned, the wind shifted and
the water receded. When the furious war
subsidized every half hour or so some anxious
mans face would be thrust in the room,
care all saved here ?" "Have any been
lost 20 etc. And how my heart nearly burst
with gratitude when l took my darlings in
my arms and felt we were
ALL SAVED
OF course the calm came after
the storm About twelve o'clock
the only sound boat left In the harbor of
Savannah, a tug, succeeded in reaching
TYbee. We got on the tag and reached
Savannah, where | found the storm had
ragged also. Our house has the roof off, and
everything in 1t flooded. 1t may be weeks
ere we get 1t habitable. Thank God again,
all is well with US.
BARK IN DISTRESS SECURES PRIZE AND
REACHES PORT.
PORT ROYAL, s. c., September 1.-The
Swedish bark Batavia, Capt. Peterson, put
into Port Royal this morning, leaking very
badly, and with the loss of sails. The Ba-
tavia left Savannah August nineteenth for
Antwerp, with a cargo of naval stores.
The Captain encountered the hurricane
twenty miles north OF FRYING Pan and put
back. The leak began when she was about
twenty miles southeast Of Hunting Island
light, near where she fell In with the
schooner Caroline Hall, abandoned and
water logged, fore and mainmast and bow
spirit gone. The Batavia took her in tow
and brought her In.