Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-04-07
A Hurricane ON Twice Island.

The following extracts in the
Charleston 6. CO Nt'r> are taken frsm
the letters of a Charleston lady who
was on Tybre Island during the recent
great storm:
1T Stormed all Friday night and
AL day Saturday. and hoped II would
cease by night. Zach hour thought
must be the height of the Storm. So
packed up everything To be ready To
move at 4 moments notice. when.
alas. l heard the steamer had APP
preached Tyhec and been beaten BY
the fury of the waves. the wharf swept
OFT, and thus We were cut oil from all
human aid. About seven q clock p.
m. the cyclone reached Us. ISaw huge
live oaks and palmetto trees which had
stood thctcst of centuries torn up BY
the roots and whred about like strawS.
Our house rocked and creaked like 4
boat at sea. took Frank in nv arms,
Nina on one side and Maud on the
other and went into 4 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 il, but it was cannonading. |
do not cXaggerate when | say So. |
looked out on the roaring waters rising
fast upon us, and into the lifc-serking
tempest. and wondered which death
would be the 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, and begged
God to receive lis all together. l
wrapped up MY babies. the two servant
girls picked up Nina and Frank, while
followed with Maud. We ran out into
the kitchen, which. being low. |
thought might escape. We reached
it. thing l 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 ad-
monishing manner. the window burst
open, and the shrek from one of the
servants: The Island is on fire" and
the fearful, lurid CLEAN showed me too
plainly that another element was upon
us. just then n voice outside, Mrs.
H, for Gods sake. are any of you
alive?' gave me ray of hope. Come
to the window | screamed, 'and take
my children and | passed them out
into strong arms. How am ever to
thank that man. Homan, the hotel
keeper. saw from his window my cot
tage rock, and he and his two clerks
ran to our rescue. but it was down be-
fore they reached it. They called, and,
upon receiving no answer. he went m
to the lettering ruins at great risk to
his life to look for our remains. felt in
the bed, and then shouted, when 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' n house
l often remarked for its brick fOunda-
ton 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 needles.
The young man who had Maud mis-
took the way and ran into the cot
tage next to Mr.. Bluns'. 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 not flooded. and there we
joined the family and sat in mute
terror. On, the roaring and the rush
ing and the crashing! The house tot
tered and threatened. About eleven
O'Clock sound reached my car 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 be
swept away. l took my babes again
and put wrappings on them. and 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 sub
sided every half hour or so some
anxious mans face would be thrust in
the room. Are all saved here?' Have
any been iOst?' ETC. And how NV
heart nearly burst with gratitude when
1 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 tug and reached Savannah,
where | found the storm had ragged
also. Our house has the roof off, and
everything flooded. 1t may be weeks
ere we get it habitable. Thank God
oI1 g