Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-10-20


ofthe Disaster at Sabine Pass and Johnson's
Bayou. Further details Of. the flood at
Sabine Pass, Texas, indicate that the loss
of life will be even greater than heretofore
reported. The house of Bradley Grant was
swept away with his family of five persons,
and, after floating 2a miles, landed on a
ridge with all safe. Mrs. Otto Brown
foated twenty five miles on a feather bed.
She had her child with her, but it became
benumbed, and died in commissions. Dur
ing its struggles it threw the mother into
the water. The waves pitched Mrs. Brown
back on.the bed. She was finally rescued.
A correspondent who has just returned
from Sabine Pass telegraphs that WaVurkey
buzzards are soaring over Sabine for miles
around on the land and water. 1t is one
vast charnel-house. There are 1877 persons
missing and supposed to be dead. The
damage to property can only be estimated
by the value of the town, for all is lost.
When thesgovernment tugboat Penrose
reached Sabine Friday, Columbus Martee
was found rowing around the delta looking
for the bodies of his family. He said
"Myself, wife and three children were
clinging to floating roof which was gra
dually breaking to pieces. One of the little
ones went, and then another. | was hold
ing the youngest, and soon my wife said
Good bye, husband; am going. I could
not reach her. The piece of the roof sup
porting her broke off, and she sank before
my eyes. held en- to the youngest child
named Pearl, some time longer. The
child, addressing me, said: Papa, I'm
tired; won't you walk with me- The
piece of the roof was on was now crum
bling to pieces. I told the little one to kiss
me- She put both her little arms arount
my neck, gave me big squeeze, and jus
then a wave dashed US off and l saw he
no more. Great God, why didn't l g
down, too!' He was pressed to go OF
board the Penross, but refused, saying
'tHere among these lagoons are the bodie
of my wife and children, and here will
| stop until can find them"
Capt. F. A. Hyatt and William Guy re
port that they had singular experienc
as members OF tho relief committee on thei
way to the Pass. The train in which the
were travelling stopped on dump fiv
miles from the town. The water all aroun
this neck of land, on which was place
the track, was fully eight feet deep. TIL
hands of Msssrs. Hyatt and Guy are blister
ed from fighting snakes, which LITERAL
covered the dump for distance of dv
miles. There were thousands Of waite
moccasins from the everfiowed distrie
taking refuge on the narrow stretch Of lane
and every step across it had to be tough
through the twisting serpents, many c
them the deadly stump tailed moccasins
larger than a mans arm. Wildcats, ais
| frenzied at the waters fury, rushed pei
nell upon pedestrians, while eoons an
every variety of animals snapped at passers
by. Many times the pedestrians left til
dump and swan around the angry reptile
rather than try to pass them. Capital
Hyatt alone killed o7er one hundred an,
fifty snakes during his walk of five miles
| which consumed about ten hours.
| The number of persons drowned at John
sons Bayou is put at eighty five. John
sons Bayou was on high ridge on tn
sea-coast, and the bayou, from which
takes it's name, runs through the settle
ment, in which is also situated the post
Office station, known as Radford.