The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-10-22
Sad News from Texas.

The village of Johnson's Bayou is a
bigh ridge on the coast of Louisiana, and
the bavon from which it takes its name
runs through the habitable part of that
section OF the settlement on which is
situated the post office station known as
Radford. The Bayou is nineteen miles
in length and varies from one to four
in width. with high ridges facing the
Gulf twelve feet above the sea level, and
in the rear IS a dense and impenetrable
marsh.
The population of Johnson's Bayou
was twelve hundred souls. Radford was
also thickly settled and populous. 1t
had numerous cotton and cane plants-
tions and was the head of navigation.
These ridges composed some of the most
fertile grazing land in the country, eight
thousand head of cattle and horses being
owned by the thriving community
Communication with the outer world
was had through two steam vessels, both
owned in johnson S Bayou and Radtord,
while fleet of trading vessels Piled the
waters of the bayou. On Tuesday, 18th
inst, about A O'Clock in the afternoon
the storm began, and everybody fed to
their homes and with bated breath
waited for the fate which they foresaw.
The waters Of the Gulf began rising, the
wind swept through the lower stories of
the buildings, driving the affrighted
people into attics and upon roofs. BY
10 O'Clock the first ridge, twelve feet
above sea level, was ten feet under wa
ter. House after house fell in, either
burying the doomed inmates in the de-
bris, or hurliDg them into the seething
| waters. Cotton and stores next went,
and Radford and JOhnsoD's Bayou were
! destroyed as completely as If an invading
| army had done the work.
! It was a night of terror. For twelve
/ hours the storm ragged over the doomed
! region, then came lull, the storm had
spent its fury, and the waters receded.
/ The survivors gathered upon elevated
point sand viewed the of desolation that
met the eye. The houses that ha,s stood
the storm wece completely gutted-nC
| food, no drink, salt water everywhere.
Then began the search for the dead. The
bodies of forty-five have been buried and
as many more are missing.
The following special dispatch to the
Associated Press, from Orange, Texas
gives the latest particulars regarding The
great disaster at JohnsOn's Bayou anC
Sabine Pass The steamer, Emily p.
returned to Galveston on Sunday at
O'Clock, bringing 160 additional sufferer
destitute OF everything that is necessar,
20 sustain life. They we're received a
the wharf by our relief committee, VIII,
are doing all in their power to maxi
them comfortable. Most of them AT
women and children. The steamer vii
J return to the bayou Immediately t
bring back 150 more persons, who ar
: waiting there, and who are now home
less. penniless and without clothing =
: There are now 210 persons in Galvesto
to be cared for, and the heartTendin
. condition of these people can only
known by seeing and conversing wit
them
1t is estimated by persons who hsv
a been over the scenes of devastation ths
g the death list will exceed 250 souls.-
( Eighty five cOrpses have been recovere
: and buried around johnson IS Bayou an
D fifty four have been buried at SABINE
s while eixty-six are still missing at Sa
- bine, and as it would be impossible fC
= any human beings to survive so long
t the swamp and lagOons without food {
e shelter. they are, of course, dead. 4
i examination of the country back of S;
O bine, and in the vicinity of Beaumon
= shows that the salt water came baC
d fully forty miles through the swamp
Il and hundreds of thousands of acres al
still submerged by water that was force
J. back and has no outlet. This fact max
Y the search for bodies very difficult, ar
s doubtless many of the missing have bee
# drowned and their bodies carried out
It sea by the recediDg waves.