The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-10-07

lower coast has been devastated BY
storm without parallel in history. The
historic gale of 1856, which destroyed
Lost Island, while terrific, does not COM
pare with the last disaster.
On Cheniere Caminda it reached q
climax OF horror. Cheniere is one OF
that group OF islands which extend
along the lower coast and to which be-
long Grand Isle, Tambalier and Lost
Island. 1t was q station for fishing
boats. 1t contained one town, Gamma
daville, of about 800 people, the major
ity fishermen. On Sunday evening
there were 1000 dwellings within it's
limits; to-day twenty-five only remain
standing, and OF these not one is
uninjured. The very ground upon
which they were bull; is torn and rent.
The pier has disappeared, only a heap
Of oyster shells marking the spot where
it stood. As one advanced the foot sank
into u slime that covered tho paths.
This was the relic of the seas, which
had for many years covered the island.
CImanidaville was renowned for its
luxuriant shade trees and lovely gar
dens. Not leaf remains upon the
branches and tho trees, for the most
part are prostrated upon the earth.
Paths have been obliterated and the re-
porter was Obliged to scramble through
the bushes, mounting the accumulated
rubbish from ruined homes.
DLorrED FROM EXISTENCE.
Fields had formerly existed in con-
siderable numbers along this portion of
the front, but these have been blotted
from the face of the landscape. The
plants, almos! without exception, had
been blown from the beds. and those
which the gale had spared were dead
and yellow.
The people who came went in parties
Of two and three passed silently or
stopped and muttered few words OF
coincidence. 1t was no unusual thing to
see the great rugged fishermen, bronzed
and hardened by life of almost con-
slant exposure, embrace each other in
tears. All had shared in the losses Of
the storm, fathers and mothers are
burying their sons and daughters, and
children their dead parents.
AS many as ten people are placed in
one grave. Hundreds OF bodies are
still unburied. Some are under the
wrecked buildings, others are floating
on the Bay OF Caminida. The brave
little band OF grave diggers is ex-
hausted. They have already buried in
the rude graves on the island $50 per-
sons, and their work is not yet done.
THE HORROR TOO AWFUL FOR TEARS.
A ten-year old son helped to bury his
aged father and his elder sister in the
same grave. There was no weeping
either for father or sister. Tho gloom
and horror Of the situation was too aw-
iuI for tears. -
In the house OF Mr.. l.. Terrebonne
the grave diggers found his body and
that OF his wife and six children. The
body OF the husband and father was
lying on the kitchen floor. Itwas buried
about fifty yards from the wreck. The
party went to the front OF tho house
and there found Mrs. Terrebonne's
body. Clingingin her arms was babe.
Near where the mother was found were
five OF the other children.
In the rear OF the island, hundreds OF
little mounds marked tho resting places
OF those who were killed in the terrible
storm. There were many other burial
parties. Men, women and children
Joined in the search ior the dead. With
poles and hooks and ropes they drew
the Corpses from the water or dragged
them from the debris that strews the
land and buried them.
FORTY BODIES IN ONE HOUSE.
In Nine. Duiro's house we're found
fully forty bodies all manGled in some
manner and could not be identified.
They were buried ten and fifteen in q
grave.
All the members Of the Pisani family,
except two were killed. Arthur Pisani,
Leo Paul, their wives and children with
numerous cousins, aunts and other rel
atives were all drowned in the home
stead Of the family. This family con-
sisted o. twenty-five people. The bodies
were dragged out and were buried in the
west centre OF the Island in three
graves.
Hundreds Of bodies have been found
since Monday morning and they we're
buried without II prayer and the chill
ing wind signing through the leailess
trees over their unmarked graves is the
only dirge for tho dead.