San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-08-23

or Tho steamer star, In the Midst OF a Storm.
While in New Iberia, in May, l
called to see my esteemed old friend,
Cant. Abe Smith, who is paraiyzed,
end has in a great measure lost the
yse of his limbs. He and his wife
live in New Iberia.
On the 10th of August, 1856, a
storm struck Last Island, situated on
the Guif coast south of Terrebonne,
nansh. about half way between the
Southwest Pass of the Mississippi
river and Atchafalaya bay, and caused
a fearful destruction OF lives. About
500 persons were on the island, chief
" PLANTERS and their families from
&he Teche and the Lafourche, from
,Torrebonne and other parishes. 1t
was the sugar planters watering place.
'gG,e island is a mere sand reef about
20 miles in length, and in its widest
sert about three miles wide with
aard sand beach, washed by breakers
roEiing in from the Gulf of Mexico
.sad famed by south breezes from the
ssapical fruits and sugar islands OF
the Gulf and Caribbean Sea.
OF the 500 persons on the island
.aG the time of the storm nearly 3Oo
were lost. Most OF those who We're
tayed we're rescued from death by the
&raye struggles of Capt. Abe Smith
and his men of the steamer Star.
The storm of August sc, was one
OF the worst hurricanes that has
swept the Gulf coast since the mem
.osy of man. At first it took up the
,dry sand and dashed it in clouds over
the island and on the waters. Then
q deluge of rain came on the wings OF
die ferocious storm, and the white and
angry pillows broke upon the shore,
and the spray was caught up and
scattered, blended with the rains that
ccaspe from the clouds Stout men and
frail women struggled for life amidst
the angry elcments-t4e roaring
sgayes and bowling storm; houses went
to pieces with a crash, and the shlngle
roots went kiting through the air, and
the fragments OF buildings fell in
showers upon the island and upon
fshe waters.
While 500 men, women and chill
.lpen were being blown hither and
.thhher like the leaves OF autumn IN
an October gale, while women and
.eMldrcd were screaming for help IN
.aeonies of fright and despair as they
,Kere hurried forward by the merclless
storm towards watery grave, Capt.
Abe Smith with his twenty brave men
we're periling their lives to save the
Lives of the hel pless. As fast as they
rescued the sufferers and placed them
safely on the Star they would go out
for more, and bring the rescued to
tie steamer, which was to them the
AK of safety" Such was the force
ne wind and wave that the steamer
ragged four anchors that were bur-
led in the sand and went on the
Island, where she i'll time went to
nieces and decayed.
As the storm increased Capt. Smith
'ashed the cabin of the steamer with
strong ropes to the hull to keep it from
llLawing away, but he soon saw that
.Iy retaining the cabin he endangered
lie hull, so he cut awav the cabin and
ct the winds sweep it away and clear
he decks for vigorous action. While !
. here was life 10 save the work of !
.sscuing those IL peril went bravely !
ol. Capt. Smith put the rescued I'm /
Ter deck, and put down the matches. !
st last he made an etfor. that came !
mar costing him his life. Noticing /
Mr.. Fisher, OF Bayou Teche, strug- I
pljnr in the shallow water near the
Saar to save his wife and daughter,
q ant. Smith took charge OF the two
'slies, and beinC a Cian; II size and
s.psngth, lie wouid have brought both
sqfely to the steamer, bit for raft
X the debris G. wrecked buildings
-9slt swept over tnem when he lost
IS hold on the ladies. and both of
-Eau were sweY: nom tie shore and
crowned. Caps. Smith, nearly bind,
with his eyes full CT sand, vas
a 10 the stem OF the Star by wind
wave, aEi was IaVidly passing on
eepwateI, when a rope was thrown
$50 He vas 1ra-u ahos-d of