Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-05

the awful perils Of the night. Upon
many of them were still evidences OF
the terrible agony they had suf-
fered before death came to relieve
them of their troubles. Some had
lost their lives in the wreck OF their
homes, some had been drowned after
escaping from the shells which could
not shelter them from the blasts OF
that frightful gale, some had probably
given up their lives In vain effort TO
save those whom they loved and who
were dependent upon them for protec-
tion. Many of the poor fellows, many
Of the women and children had lived
through the night, but mortaliy
wounded, ard with nothing to quench
their thirst, and no medical assistance
at hand, had given up struggle that
very sorely tried mems souls. There
were broken arms and broken less,
bruised and battered bodies, faces
slashed out of all human form. Many
pile Of debris was the temporary
grave Of family.
Cheniere Caminda lies across from
Grand Isle and is separated from the
island by Cheniere Bay. It's head Is
stuck out in the gulf and when the
storm came up the mighty waves OF
the ocean washed over the
face Of the stricken land
and swept everything before
them. The Chenie . settlement was
even more thiCkly populated than was
Grand Isle. 1t was the home Of fisher
men and storekeepers, and it comprised
a colony of fourteen hundred souls,
with churches and schools and
other evidences OF modern CivillZa-
tion. Nearly all its residents were
white people the Spanish race largely
predominating. Hundreds OF fishing
smacks were owned by the residents and
many of these were moored 10 their
landing places on the Cheuiere lake
when the storm came up. Others that
were not either on their way to or from
the city were engaged In fish
ing for oysters, which is the great
Industry OF the Islands. Dozens OF the
little craft that were tied to posts at
the main landing were picked up by
mighty waters and either beached in
the marsh or torn to pieces like
the houses OF their owners.
Hardly any OF them escaped in
Jury, and most of them had been
battered to pieces. The good priest
who looked after the spiritual welfare
of the islanders was among those saved,
but he likewise had an awful expert
ence. The little frame church is,
or was, visible from Grand Isle.
A simple wooden cross adorned
it's top. A pretty little thatched
cottage nestled by the side of the sacred
edifce. When the hurricane struck
the island it swept the church out OF
existence, and it lifted the priests resi-
dence from its foundations and
dumped it without ceremony in
to the water, which was then
up to the door steps. The priest
escaped with his life and the lady who
occupied the house with him, and who
was his hOuse-keeper, likewise was
spared. The good father remained
awake during all the terrible night,
and when morning came he was ready
TO succOr those who had been saved
from the awful wrath of the storm.
As stated before the picture was a
terrible one on Monday. There were
scores of bodies lying around and begin
ming to show signs of decomposition.
Under the circumstances, for the safety
of the rest of the colony, it became
necessary TO take prompt steps TO
bury those who had lost their lives.
There were still many people who were
alive and able bodied and they were i'm
mediately organized for the work Of
duty and charity.
There was no time to build cOffins.
II there had been time there was no
tools. no boards that could ne nailed to-
Rether, no receptscles for the bodies
living everywhere. So, the living merely
hunted up spades and commenced the
task OF digging trenches in which TO
deposit the remains. Up to y o'clock
Mr.. SchurtZ assisted IN that great work
and during that time he participated in
the interment Of not less than fifty per-
sons, men, women and children and
some OF them not having a mark upon
their persons TO show what had caused
their deaths. Others were badly
slashed.
Not less than six people were put in
one grave. They were all the grave
would hold There is little time for the
ceremonies usual on the burial of hu-
man being.
Robo Rando proved himself a hero
He was the head OF a f.mily that,
besides himself comprised his wife
and two children. Their house
had been torn to pieces by
the hurricane and they were in immi-
nent peril of losing their lives. just
about this time the Weber had parted
from her mOoring and was sweeping
down past Cheniere
Rando swan about in the water until
he had gathered sufficient lumber to
make an imprOmptu raft, and with this
raft he succeeded In saving himself and
family from a watery grave or from a
worse death. Mr.. Schurtz says a gen.
tleman from New York is among
those lost. He had gone to Cheniere
for his health and occupied a house
near that 10 which Mr.. SchurtZ had
slept. During the heighth Of the storm
Schurtz heard him cry piteouSly for
help, but no succOr was near, and Mr..
Schurtz believes he perished along with
hundreds Of others who were lost 1t
vii! never be accurately known just
how many lives were lost in the
storm. The mighty waves swept
with such irresistible force over the
land and at such a great depth that it
is probable that many bodies and per-
haps many who are still living were
carried into the marshes. As previous
ly mentioned the population OF Cheniere
was about 1,4OO. Mr.. Schurtz thinks
that 1000 of these have been lost,
though his calculation may be some
what overdrawn. No thought has been
given TO the monetary damage.
Unless steps are Immediately taken
for the organization OF relief parties II
L l. - I -