New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-12
SEA ISLAND HORRORS.
SURGEON MAGRUDER'S REPORT TO THE
MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
sUFFERIYGs OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE GREAT
CYCLONE DEsCMBED-NOBLE WORK OF

OF HE fi.oNi MI pts-'H@
CYCLONE DEsCMBED-NOBLE WORK OF
THE RED CROSS SOCIETY.
Washington. Nov. n.-Passed Assistant Surgeon
Magruder of the Marine Hospital Service. has sub
mitted TO Surgeon-General Wyman his report on
the inspection of the Sea Islands of South Caro-
. Ina The islands selected for the work Of SANTA
ton were those surrounded by the Beaufort ard
Coosaw rivers and ST. Helena Sound. and includ I'd
ST. Helena Ladies. Warsaw DattGa, coosaW,
Corn and Paris. The territory which suffered most
from the storm includes an area of about 10
square miles of fiat low-y!ng land, supporting an
estimated population Of 5000 people. almost en-
tIrely negroes Many of the islands do not contain
a single white person. and on none Of them does
the white population amount TO 10 per cent Of the
whole
Surgeon Magruder says that it does not fall
within the scope of his report TO attempt 10 de-
plct the devastation and disaster left in the track
OF a hurricane whose velocity exceeded 10 miles
an hour and which inundated this lowying coun-
try with tide which in different localities reached
an estimated height from seven to twelve feet
above high-water mark nor TO chronicle the in
dlvidual acts of heroism and daring performed by
the people The fact that in the short space of six
hours on this limited area $50 houses were
wrecked and washed away, and 2l1 persons drowned
or crushed beneath the timbers Of their falling
houses bears ample witness to the horrors Of this
fearful night.
After obtaining all information possible con-
corning the islands he began his inspection. which
lasted eight days. Nearly every plantation was
visited every burying place was inspected In the
hurried burial. lust after the storm owing to the
water rising, after a depth OF two feet had been
reached the graves were necessarily shallow, ana
considerable stencil arose therefrom. but prior TO
the date of this inspection. all bodies had been
buried no odor could be detected, and the ceine-
teres thereafter required no further attehtioh WIN
one execution where in accordance with the teach
,nrs Of an old superstition that all persons uFo"e
should have as they expressed II, a walery srd'e'
the buryng place had been located on the peach'
50 thar the bottom of the graves would be below
high-water mark. and the bodies washed ny every
tide Some of the graves here were opened py 'he
y.,a ~ October 70 and the exposed bodies required
reburial. A..
The chief source Of danger to health at the ,i'he
Of inspection seemed to be the polluted orlh"ihs
water The high tide passed over many Oh tne
wells, saturating them with salt water Ie'uei ii7
them hrackish and unfit for use. He had the
WALL ,,.,,ed ont daily for n week, and $50 were
thus rendered fit for use. When the sea recedel
to its proper limits innumerabe pools OF bfack'sn
water were LEFT. Under the influence or the suIuy
weather which then prevailed they gave rise "
Unpleasant odors and increased TO an alarming
degree the malaria from which the section is never
freA To relieve this unsani,ary condition gangs OF
hborers were nut TO work, and thirty-nlne miles
Of drains were cleared and opened relieving
large portion of the country OF the surplus wat,i
Owing TO the large number OF SICK nOtlced on u'
FIRST inspection OF the islands, ii was Thought .au
yisabe to station physicians at some OF the pOi,iu
where the need seemed greatest. Accordingly, Ut
Carson was assigned to st. Helena and afterware
to Coosaw and Ladies Islands; Dr. Copeland I,
St Helena and Warsaw; DR.. Allen Stuart to Par:
Island: Dr. J. c. Woodruff 10 EGistO, and Dr. W
7. Gibbes temporarily TO Ladies, Coosaw and Cor
Islands The work which fell TO their lot was
arduous in the extreme. The inconvenience an'
priyations which their nOmadic life on the lslanu'
necessarily eatailed they bore without complaint
and the cheerful manner with which they per
formed their duties Is worthy Of all commentator
Medical attendance and medicines were Furnished
Tree to all sick or disabled applicants. and The
large number Of patients treated bears evidence
Of the appreciation of the islanders of this form
OF assistance During the six weeks of active
work on this section 3.7O9 cases were treated. o
"nich 2oi2 were malarial fever.
.,rrn concluding his report surgeon MaSruder says
Inc crops were almost entirely lost. 81. Helena
sno the adjacent territory suffered most not only
"a ms way. but also in loss OF life. stock anc
dwellings. II Will therefore be readily thai
me most difficult question which now suggest,
,.sei Is that of subsistng these impoverished
pies were saved from the flood. and these hav,
SSmost all been consumed and II Is a question OF
". short time before the majority of these
peop!e will be in actual need Happily for the
tunry. the colossal work OF furnishing subsistence
'ne large population has been undertaken by
red Cross Society, under the leadership OF II:
ksssss'oent: Miss Clara Barton, who has already
nrn sn and II is surely 10 be hoped that the ap
chssSsn OF spring will find another magnificent
rsnamy brought to the successful termination which
~hy cnaracterlZcS the work of this society,""