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

has been unparalleled. The loss OF life
is terrible. The first authentic news
came this morning., when several sur
yivors reached here. They tell heart
repdinR stories. A tidal wave broke
over the island, destroying lives and
property on all sides. DR.. Frey, a prom
inent physician, aad his wife were
drowned. One hundred and fOrty-fve
families are said 70 have perished. The
death list wilt run up into the hun
dreds.
The steamer Joe Weber was blown to
pieces and several Of her crew were
los
Cheniere Caminda is opposite Grand
Isle and is less exposed. lt is the home
of many gshermen aud constitutes quite
q settlement, and Is less exposed 70 the
elements than It's partner. There IS q
Catholic church at Cheniere, a school
house in course of construction, several
stores and some residences, and the
population is about as large as that Of
Grand Isle.
The news from Grand Isle vas appall-
ling, but there are many persons In the
city familiar with the geographical po-
g,tion OF the island and the topography
are inclined 20 believe that the reports
are somewhat exaggerated. 10 Is not
the first time that Grand Isle has been
reported to have been washed away.
The island Is practically cut OF from
communication and the only means or
obtaining information Is through the
regular passenger steamer that plies
between this city and the island, and
sthe many luggers engaged In the oys-
ter trade.
Early in the morning, when the
Grand Isle Railway hands we're clearing
the debris from the tracks just above
Buras. they found the body Of little
White girl in a fence corner. II was
horribly torn on the barb wires. Cling
ing 10 the child were two others, evil
dently It's sisters. All three were In
rags. almost naked and all were terri
bly, cut and bruised.
Perhaps one or the most thrilling eX-
periences OF the storm was told by a
woman wlo driited to shore, lashed 10
log. She, her husband and two
children had taken refuge on board
schooner oatside OF Bayou Cook, and
intended 90 ride out the gale. When
the wind came from the west fOllowad
by mammoth wave, the husband and
two children were washed overheard,
and the luVgers mast snapped of st its
foot and drited away. The frantic
woman Jumped on the floating timber,
and ip some way lasbed herself 10 it.
An night she drift SrOugh Adams
Bay and then AbOrigin Bay, and when
daylight came she was picked up by the
luRger Venus. She was naked and ter
riby bruised.
John A. SeDul, one OF the many IN
fortunate fishermen that lived on the
shore OF Bayou Cook, told the represen-
tative Of the Associated Press that there
was nothing left on the shores of the
bayou or itslandS.
On BAYOU Simon, which IS situated in
Grand Bay, there were II fisherman.
They were all drowned.
IL is said everything on Bayou Cook
Is gone, not even a house being left and
where the many people are the Almigh-
" himseli only knows.
The family Of John Barber, fisher
man ia Bayou Cook, had been washed
away. -Four children and the wife were
rescued, but the husband and two chill
dren were drowned within few feet Of
the poor wife. The next house was Oc-
cuDied by man, wife and two children.
The wife and children were caught in
the water and set of as arapid rate into
the darkness aud we're drowned.
George Ceiarovich also lived in
that neighborbOod, and was there
during the night with his
family. The waves came with q rush
carrying with them the house and Ce-
fsroyich's wife and his two youngest
daughters. The father was drowned
later IN the night with bis six year old
boy.
The next door neighbor was Mr..
Barton, with his mother and two daugh-
ters. Mrs. Barton wss saved by the
Venus, but the daughters were drown
ed. The only person who was saved
from the oyster bayou catastrophe was
an old Syaniard. He was found hang
ing by one hand TO a post in an uncon-
Il sciCus condition and will die.
Tony Norwich, owner Of luEger aud
a resident Of Bayou Cook settlement,
IOst his wife and little baby. John
Stock, a young Italian, aOOnt IS wears
old. was struck on the head by q float
ing sklf ani instantly killed. Another
Italian by the name of Luke BetrOvtch
lost his four daughters. His wife aud
two sons were rescued.
On Simon Isle, in Grand Isle, there
were % Inhabitants, keepers Of oyster
camps, who were waiting for the return
of The oyster fleet. Sixteen Of them
we're drowned.
Nearby is another small island called
Razor Island. Here camp Of five men
we're located, who were all drowned.
On Bird Island, where were situated a
little further % the westward and is
more exposed 20 the heavy surf, lived
about one hundred and fifty people.
They we're all drowned. On Grand
Bank. which borders on Grand Lake,
there were eight persons killed.
MIR. Matthew SChuTts, OF G0,dbOro,
lust opposite the city, was one of the
survivors OF the Cdeniere Campina ca
lamity who arrived this morning on the
schooner Good Mother. he brought
with him a narrowing tale Of his eX-
Dsriences and the loss Of life az Chenlere.
Mr.. Schurts went 70 the island about
four weeks ago with Mr. George Tbomp-
son and a negro bricklsYer named
Louis Roberts FOR the purpose Of cOn-
struetlng 3 school house. he engaged
~