The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-02-24
the lights Of the lamps which were be

the lights Of the lamps which We're be
ing kindled and tie screams, which re
sounded from all sides. TIE screams
seemed to come from a:huodred places
at one time. and as many lights could
be seen moving rapidly around. mark
ing tue course Of ,ae houses. About Il
hundred people had a,read: been res
cuea. and each fire Was surrounded by
half Il dozen men. women and children
most ofthem being ascantiIy clad and
drencheG with water. Nearly as fast
as they We're rescued. the men on shore
conducted them up TO the dry ground,
and from thence they We're removed -
No. 10 Engine Honse and to Clay Street
Station. where they were left until
some place could be provided for them,
The destruction seemed to be complete'
and the boatmen stated that in the
whole distance from Jackson street 10
the broken dam there was got a house
left standing. The .reporter stepped
into one of the boats. manned by a vol
unteer life saving crew, and was o
pushed out in the direction of a light
marking Il floating house from which
the screams Of a woman were issuing.
The journey out was a dangerous one
as at every stroke Of the oar the boat
was driven against some piece Of float
ing timber or other obstacle. The house
proved to he that Of Mr.. Joseph Gadient
and had been moved nearly a hundred
yards from it's foundation and was float
ing around. A light was seen on the
roof. and, pulling tho boat close to the
side. the whole family composed Of
himself ard wife and five children,
We're found clinging to the shingles, and
nearly exhausted. Pushing the boat
III the direction of the spot from which
a woman's voice could he heard, to the
astoni>hment of all the bow almost
struck against the limbs Of a tall tree.
and clinging in the branches We're a ne
gro named Henry Reed, his wife and
two children. He stated that the fami
" were all in bed. and knew nothing
Of what had occurred until tho water
struck the side of the house with terri
BILE force. sweeping it from its fonnda
ton almost instantly. He managed
to catch his children up in his arms,
and made his way on to the ROOT of the
house. where they remained until it
lodged in the branches of the tree and
began to sink, when they crawled off
aud were found as described. Six men
were found clinging il trees at the up
per end of the valley. and a number Of
women We're caught on floating timters
One old woman named Gatman was
found sitting on The roof Of her house,
barefooled and bareheaaed, holding in
her arms, Rugged close 10 her brea-t. a
sick looking, well fed pig. Her hus-
band was pulled up out of the attic
through a hole in the roof. half drown
ed. When they landed they nearly
troze before they could be removed to
the engine house. and their barefaet
were cut by the frozen ground. leaving
bloody marks. Henry Marble, who did
noble work n saving lives. had a very
narrow escape from death. He went
in his boat to the rescue Of a woman
who was fastened in the second story
Of her house, which was floating and
filled with water. There was no way
in which to get her oct except by cut
ting through the roof, which he proceed
ed TODD. While he was hammering away
withIhis Ak. the building turned beneath
lis feet, dashing Him under the water.
he was held by a portion Of the
roof. One of his companions plunged
in, and, after a hard struggle pulled
him out alive.
About 200 others were rescued and !
and landed at different points along
the river. Nearly all of them were I'M
escaping with severe duckings.