The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-05

over seventy others are reported lost in
bogs and AZ various places. Over 10 fish,
ing vessels were in the Gulf fishing when
the storm broke over Cheniere Not a
word has been heard from them or their
occupants since.
There is only sadness in the news from
Bayou Cook and other places tributary
thereto. There has been irightful loss of
life throughout that section. Houses have
been blown to pieces aud smacks destroyed
and wrecked. Many bodies have been
carried into the marshes and will never he
found. Train crews along the Grand Is-
land road report the track strewn with
bodies and large number already buried.
The country is q scene of wreck and de-
vastation. passenger said no less than
eighty-seven dead bodies were seen along
the route. Throughout the Bayou Cook
country the distress 10 appalling.
Trains arriving today brought many
survivors TO the city. all relating terrible
tale Of suffering. Anthony Megoviich saw
his wife swept BY him in torrent. ap-
pealing piteously for help, which he was
unable TO render. He witnessed scores of
people drown about him. Many who did
not drown had their lives crushed eus by
wreckage. George Sigorovtch saw his
wife and children perish before him, while
he vas in the water up to his chin.
The old fort on Grand Terre has been
considerably damaged, but the lighthouse
is still standing. 1t Is difficult 10 estab-
lish the correctness of reports Of great ioss
Of life on Grand island. There were only
about 200 people resident on the island.
and no one has yet arrived directly from
there Several boats hsve already left the
city stocked with provisions for the suffer-
ers. Ex-congressman Dudley Coleman
and party succeeded in reaching the city
from Moreiand. and repors two schooners
lost with ten men. Along Bayou Senet
were many Chinese engaged in the occu-
patton Of drying shrimps. They were In
the track OF the storm, and many undoubt-
ediy perished.
Matthew Schurts, Of Goldsboro, one of
the survivors of the Cheniere calamity.
arrived this morning, bringing a harrow
ing tale of the loss of life there. He was
engaged there constructing q schoolhouse.
and boarded In house where TWENTY-FIVE
people LODGED The house was dep,olished
ana IL Is believed about all the inmates
were killed. Schurts himself was fright
fully knocked about and bruised. and his
clothes were torn to shreds When he
left Cheniere island yesterday he counted
five houses standing out Of total OF about
800. The land was covered with corpses.
As the wind increased In severity IL picked
up roofs as though they had been shaved
from the rafters with a great knife. Then
buildings began TO rock violently, and one
by one were torn TO pieces, crashing
down upon and killing the occupants
and then rapidly drifting away
with the terrible current sweeping
across the land. The shrieks and groans
Of the unfortunates were heartrending.
After the house in which schurts resided
was swept away he clang 10 the floating
debris nn.ii he saw light twinkling In a
house not far away. He swan to il and
was admitted. He had hardly entered,
however. when the structure also went TO
pieces, and of those In il Sehusts, a lady
aud q child escaped. Schurts succeeded
in getting the woman and baby into
tree. where they remained all night. the
high waves continually dashing over
them. The wind was blowing hurricane
and the rain falling in torrents. When
daylight broke the picture of desoiation
was awful to behold. Only here and
there stood q house. Everywhere
were merely foundations to mark
where houses had stood. Eurniture, bed
ding. clothing. etc. were scattered about
In promiscuous confusion. Everywhere
were CHASTITY faces turned upward to the
skies. Uron many we're still evidences Of
she terrible agony they had suffered be-
fore death. Some lost their lives In the
wreck Of their homes, and sons were
drowned after escaping from their houses.
Many mortaiiy wounded had lived
through the night. but. with nothing 10
quench their thirst aud no medical assist
ance 1t hand. had given up the struggle.
There we're broken arms and legs. bruised
and battered bodies, faces slashed out Of
all human form.
The Chienere settlement was more
thickiy populated than Grand Isle 1t
comprised . colony Of 100 souls, the
Spanish race predominating. Hundreds
OF fishing sfnacks owned by residents
were either beached OF demolished. A
pries. who looked after the spiritual sci.
fare of the islanders was among those
saved. and lady who occupied the house
with him a. housekeeper WAS likewise
SHARED. The fate OF DR.. Fry aud family
are unknown, but be 10 missing. and
,srobably tao entire family perished.
The body Of Miss Annie Doug
las. school teacher, was found
among the zreckage. The scores OF
bodies lying around were beginning
10 show signs Of decomposition. and for
the safety Of the rest oi the colony il be-
came necessary to bury them immedi-
stely. There vas no time 10 make coffsns.
nor material or implements. 10 the living
dug trenches ia which 10 deposit the re-
- II.