Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-05


beautiful and bearing no trace N the
awful perls Of the mgnl
I'uon hnlny were still the evidences
Of the terrible agony they suffered ~.
fore deaht came 90 relieve Them OF iiyir
| troubles. some lost their lives in the
wreck Of their homes. Some had been
drowned after escaping from their shells
which could not shelter them from the
blasts n the frightful gale. Some prob
ably gave up their lives in their vain
efforts TO save those whom they loStd
and who were.
DEPENDENT UPON THEM
for protection. Many who lived through
the u.ght but were mortniiy. wounded
aud with nothing 10 quench their thirst
and no medical assistance at hand, had
70 give up the struggle lhat sorely uied
Their souls.
The Cbenicr settlement was more
thickly populated than Grand Island.
which was the home Of fishermen and
had churches. schools and other eyiden,
ces Of modern civilization. Nearly az
Of its residents were white people The
Spanish race largely predominating.
Hundreds Of fishing smacks were owned
by the residents aud many ut these
were moored TO the landing places OF
Chenier lake when the storm came up.
Others that We're not. We're either on
their way TO or from the city or were
the great industry Of the islands. Doz
ems Of lItle crafts were tied to the
posts at the main landing aud were
picked up by the mighty waters, either
ia The beach or marsh or torn to pieces
like the houses OF their owners. Hardy
any escaped injury and mOsl we're bat
tered 10 pieces.
Air. Scliurtz told story that was pitt
able. On his way home this aim being
to put the Chenier disaster as far from
sight and recollection as possiblcl the
lugger Good Mother was bearing him
and party Of thirteen to town was
hailed by a returning lugger. The Skip
per Of an outgoing craft had learned
uf the storm aud was hnstcnlng home.
When hc inquired thgeiiy kOr news
and was told that his family had been
swept from the face of the earth.
HIS AGONY WAS FEARFUL
to contemplate. The good priest who
looked after the spiritual weidtare OF the
ISLANDERS was among those saved, but be
likewise had an awful experience.
Tic little church was visible from
Grand Isle, Ii was a frame structure.
ext eileDtly fitted up, and had stood sew
eral years, It's simple wooden props tesii-
flying To The religious character oil the III
hubltants Who raised II from the depths
Of the marsh. \ simple wooden cross
adorned IT, top. \ pretty little matched
cottage was nestled by the side of the
sacred edihcc. When the hurricane
church out Of existence and lifted the
priests residence from its foundations
aud duuped II into the water, which was
then M 10 the duorsteps. The priest
escaped with his life, and tue lady who
occupied The house with him, and who
was his hon ckCcpcr, likewise was spared.
The good father remained awake all dur
ing the awful night, aud when morning
came was present TO
SUCCOR AND CONSOLE
those spared from the awful wrath Of
tie storm.
The picturc was a terrible one Mon
day.
There were scores of bodies lying
| around and beginning to show signs OF
decomposition Under the circumstances
| for the safety of the rest of the colony
IL became necessary 10 take prompt steps
| 10 bury those who had lost their lives.
There were still many people alive
and able.bodied men. and they immedl,
ately organized for the work Of duty and
| charity. There was no time 10 Dulld
| collins The living merely hunted spades
and commenced the task OF dlgginS
| trenches In which to deposit the remains,
| Up to IL o'clock Mr.. Schurtz assisted In
that grewsbme work, and during that
1 time participated In the interment of not
/ less than fifty persons, men, women anu
! children, having not a mnrk upon their
| persous TO show what caused their death.
| while others were badly lacerated, Into
| one grave Schurtz assisted in placing six
/ people That was all the grave would
| hold. There was but little time for core
! monies usual On the burial of human
/ balng. Mr.. Schurtz says gentleman
| from New York is among those lost
/ lie had gone to Chenier for his hepl.h
| and occupied a house near that in which
! Schurtz slept
1t viii 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 great depth,
| Il is probable that many bodies and per-
haps many who are still living were car
ried into the marshes.
As previously mentioned the pOpula-
| ton OF Chcuier' was about HOO
Schurtz thinks 1000 OF these were lost,
although the calculation may be some
what Overdrawn.
No thought has been given TO the none
tary damage.
Unless steps are Immediately taken
for the organization of relief parties i
is not unlikely that many will perish
FROM starvation and thirst
The wind and waves destroyed all pro-
visions upon Chenier island and swept
away all the cistcrns of the residents.
The result is. fresh water is so scarce
| 1t Is not sufficient to relieve tue thirst
OF 100 now without anything to eat and
scarcely anything to wear and who ara
| about as homeless and shelterless as
| Robinson CrusOe on the lonely island.