The herald., 1893-10-05
sroR1Es. OF SURVIVORS.
The Country Below New Orleans y eea
of Corpsss.

"a 0oE P8uos
New ORLEANS, Oct. A.. - Matthew
Schurts OF Gouldsboro, one OF the sur
vivors OF the Chenier-C Caminda calam-
ity, arrived this morning and brought a
narrowing tale OF the loss Of life there.
He was engaged there in constructing q
schoolhouse, and boarded in house
where % people lodged. The house was
demolished, and he believed about all
the inmates were killed. Schurts him.
self was frightfully knocked about and
bruised and his clothes were torn to
shreds. He estimates the loss OF hfe on
Grand isle, Cheniere, and In Grand and
Adams bay, and the Cook, Chalton and
Oyster bay settlements at 800 to 1000
people. When he left Cheniere island
yesterday he counted but five houses
standing out of total of about 300. The
land was covered with corpses.
As the wind increased in severity it
picked up roofs as though they had
been shaved from the rafters with q
great knife. Then the 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 horrible current
sweeping across the land. he,shrieks
and groans of the unfortunates were
heartrending. After the house In which
Schurts resided was swept away he clung
to floating debris until he saw light
twinkling in house not far away. He
swan to 1t and was admitted. He had
hardly entered. however, when the
structure also went to pieces, and of
those in it Schurts, lady and 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 rain
was falling in torrents.
When daylight broke the picture of
desolation was awful to behold. Only
here and there stood house. Every
where were merely foundations to mark
where houses stood. Furniture, bed
ding, clothing, etc, were scattered about
in promiscuous confusion. Everywhere
were ghnstly faces turned upwards to
the skies; on many were still evidences
of the terrible agony they suffered be-
fore death. Some lost their lives in the
wrecks of their .homes; some were
drowned after escaping from the houses;
mhuy, ulUIthlly WOuuuCus llVcu bhtOu8u
the night, but with nothing to quench
their thirst and no medical assistance
at hand. gave up the struggle. There
were broken arms and legs, bruised and
battered bodies. faces slashed out Of all
human form.
The Chienere settlement was even
more thickly populated than Grand
island. 1t comprised colony
of 1400 souls, the Spanish
race predominating. Hundreds Of fish
ing smacks owned by the residents were
either beached or demolished. A priest
who looked after the spiritual welfare Of
the islanders, 10 among those aaved, and
lady who occupied house with him
as housekeeper was likewise spared.
The fate of DR.. Fry and family is un-
known, but he is missing and probably
his entire family perished. The body
of Miss Annie Douglass, q school teach
er, was found among the wreckage. The
scores OF bodies lying around were be-
ginning to show signs OF decomposition,
and for the safety OF the reEt OF the col
ony it became necessary TO bury them
Immediately. There was no time to
make coffins, nor material for imple-
ments, so the living dug trenches in
which to deposit the remains. Up to IL
o'c,ock schurts assisted in the gruesome
task, and participated in the interment