The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-10-14


OF agony of my poor dying palishiCn-
ers. A more furious attack of the
storm broke off one half of the roof
Notwithstanding the wind. | managed
to light lantern, which displayed
at the window, to serve as a. beacon
for those who might he fortunate
enough to sWim or to be east towards
the presbytery. Then | leaned for
ward and holding mp my hands over
the waste or waters. offered a ferv-
ent prayer to the Father of i'll and
begged of him to be mercifll in his
judgment on the souls of SO MANY of
his children who were at that moment
dying in such sudden and terrible
manner.
gave them all the final absoluton
of the Roman Catholic Church.
Then there was Sudden omiaous
lll in the storm. / felt that the
worst was yet to come. 1t was then
about IL o'clock and saw blacker
and denser masses of clouds, swiftly
rolling frcm the southeast towards our
doomed island. There was something
laally appalling in that deceptive col
umn. However, those few minutes Of
rest were precious and saved the lives
OF MANY people.
Brave. sturdy men went out in skitfs
and rowed from house to house, talk
ing in such of the inhabitants as had
escaped the first onslaught OF the
tempest. Many of these people
sought shelter in two Or three houses
known to be solidly built. and this
proved eventually their salvation, and
in that way nearly 700 persons sur-
vived that fearful night.
During the luIl looked out of the
window and saw young boy about
l. years old, clinaing 10 a broken
piece Of timber and floating toward
the presbytery. called out to the
men III the skitfs aud told them to
save that Young life. But fate de
creed otherwise. Just then the storm
burst again with terrific violence and
carried off the little fellow, to be seen
no more. The wind had shifted and
now blew from the west, Whatever
OF lite and property had been spared
by the south wind was destroyed bv
the gale from the west. Trees were
snapped like reeds houses were
wrecked in an instant, and soon the
Cheniere ceased to exist Out of 25O
houses, only four remained, and these
were filled with crowds of trembling,
despairing people, bowailing nos only
then own sad, pitiful plight, hut cry
ing out the names of loved ones car
ried away by the meiciless floods.
All around and about me | could see
desolation, death, ruin and wreck.
Houses f1oated by and were seen no
mnre. TIE church soon followed. |
remained alone.
AS far as | could see there was not
a vestige OF any human nabtation.
Under my window the seething wa
ters flowed madiy on and could see
amidst the wreckage and Il seaweed
a number of bodies floating on and on
out of view. could not count them.
1t seemed to me like an endless,
ghastly, horrible procession of spec
tres. Unable to bear that terrible
sight any more. | closed my eyes
and leaning my forehead on my hand,
realized that everything was inextri-
cably lost. | never dreamed that [
would live through that horrible or
deal.
Again, | heard those heart-rending
cries. Looking on by strong effort
of will power, | saw floating past wo-
men and children, some of the women
holding in their arms their infants,
while some of those unfortunate youn q
ones were tightly grasping the dresses
of their mothers. Not a few were
clutching even the arms and tresses
of the women. Ever and anon enc of
the .li1tle victims, apparently worn
out, would release his hold and be
quickly carried away by tie raging :
waters after last frantic adeu.
A large number of people were saw
ed by holding on to floating debris,
such us parts of roofs, timbers, etc
Some of them were considerably bruis-
ed and injured. but their lives were
spared, and when morning dawned
and the storm had somewhat abated.
they painfully found their way to
houses in which their relatives and
, friends had found refuge during that
eventual night.
a young boy ramed Cyriae Prospect
was found Oh the sea shore two days
and one night after the storm. He
was deprived of his clothing by the
storm. His only snstenance was au
orange that had dritted in his way.
On Monday about 5 a. m. the storm
was over. My sister and myself knelt
| down and thanked the sacred heart oI
Jesus and Our Lady of Good Help fol
our safety. We had invoked them il
tie hour of our peril and to them W,
owed our deliverance. At day break
Il Il. Il.