The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-10-05

oyster camps and were waiting for the
return OF the oyster feet. Sixteen Of
them we're drowned.
Nearby is another small island called
Razor Island. Here camp ot five men
were located, who were all drowned.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DROWNED.
On Bird Island, which is situated n
little further to the westward and is
more exposed to the heavy surf, lived
about ono hundred and fifty people.
They were all drowned. On Grand
Bank, which borders the Grand Lake,
there were eight persons killed.
Mr.. Matthew Sehurtz, OF Goldboro,
just opposite the city, was one OF the
survivors Of the Cheniere Campina ca
lamity who arrived this morning on the
schooner Good Mother. He brought
with him a narrowing tale OF his ex-
periences, and the loss OF life at Cheni-
ere. Mr.. Schurtz went to the island
about four weeks age With Mr.. George
Thompson and q negro bricklayer,
named Louis Roberts for the purpose
Of constructing a school house. He en-
gagged board in house in which there
was very large family, not less than
twenty-five in all. Tho house was
rudo establishment of boards, but it
had withstood many gales aud the oc-
cupants OF it felt reasonably safe from
the storm.
TURNED INTO a BIER.
1t turned out to be the bier OF prob
ably twenty-five people. Mr.. Schurtz
on Sunday night had an experience
severe enough to turn mans hair gray,
and when he reached the city this
morning he showed the results Of the
peril he had been through. He was
almost naked, the clothes he had on
were torn to shredsj his face was bruised
and he had not yet recovered from the
excitement he had undergone and the
frightful scenes OF death he had wit
messed.
Mr.. Schurtz says tho estimate is that
the loss Of life on Grand Isle aud Che
Mere and in the Grand and Adams bay,
and the Cook, Uhalon and Oyster bayou
settlements will reach eight hundred to
a thousand. When he left Cheniere
Island yesterday he counted but eight
houses standing out OF total OF about
800, while the land was covered with
Corpses.
Mr.. scHURTzs STORY.
Mr.. schurlz, Mr.. Thompson and a
negro bricklayer were in house in
which there were fully twenty-five peo-
pie, all huddled together, and terror
stricken at the mighty agony OF the ele-
ments. Suddenly there was fearful
crash OF timbers and the roof caved in,
burying nearly every one OF the party,
only Mr.. Schurtz and the negro brick
layer escaping. Mr.. Schurtz clune to
| floating debris until he saw a light
twnkling in house not far away. He
swan to the house and was admitted.
There were several people in this house.
Mr.. SchurtZ had hardly entered, how
ever when the structure went TO pieces,
and out OF those who were in the house
Mr.. Schurtz, lady and child escaped.
Mr.. Schurtz is certain that not less
than nine hundred to a thousand peo-
pie perished in this awful cyclone and
tidal wave.
schurtz and the lady and child sue
ceeded in reaching tree. Schurtz says
while no remained in the tree, three
waves washed over him that were
mountain high, but he and the lady and
baby clung tenaciously to the limbs for
support and saved themselves from be-
ing washed away in the awful bowling
gulf around them.
| Az IwVuf rFauT
And here, there and everywhere were
the ghastly faces Of corpses turned up
ward to the peaceful stars. now bright
and beautiful and bearing no trace OF
the awful peril OF the night Upon
many OF them were still evidences OF
the terrible agony they had suffered be-
fore 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 IRON 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 Tor protection. Many of the poor
fellows, many OF the women and chill
dren had lived through the night, but
mortally wounded, and with nothing to
uuench their thirst, and no medical
assistance at hand, had given up a
struggle that very sorely tried mems
souls. There were broken arms and
legs, 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.
HOME OF FISHERMEN.
1t was the home of fisherman and
store-keepers and it comprised colony
OF 400 souls with churches and'schools
and other evidences Of modern civiliza-
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 to
their landing places on the Cheniere
lake when the storm came up. Others
that were not either on their way to OF
from the city, or were engaged in fish
ing for oysters which is the great in.
dustry OF the islands. Dozens OF the