The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-23
The DESTRU( ton OF LAST
ISLAND FORTY YEARS AGO
Iafeadio Heafn's Description OF Terrible
Storm On the Gull OF
Mexico.

YTORTy years ago or more Last fsi-
Ia and the outmost of the group
IL south Of New Orleans. In the Gulf.
was swept by storm like that whieh
has iust wrecked Galveston. Last ISL
and was "A pleasur. resort II had great
hotel and many cottages. and there We're
hundreds OF guests when the end came.
For DAYS the weather had been line
Then came a little swell, then a Htise
more. then a little wind. and then more
wind Swell and wind grew heavier day
after day but stiil no one OF the guests
thought OF danger. A steamer from the
mainland arrived al last. her captain
knowing the danger, but determined TO
GO perhaps" he said. they'll have
need of me tonight" He arrived and
anchored OF what happened before ana
after I.afcadio Hearn has written most
admirably. and here Is n small part OF his
story. the story OF more than one South
ern island. and the story ~ Galveston
except for the accursed deeds or men
after nature had done her work. u need
only be said tina, the passage begins With
dance at the hotel.
someone shrieked In the mids; q
the rcVels- some girl who found her
pretty slippers wet. What could " bel
Thin streams % water Were spteaa-
ing over the level plandng. curling
ahnut the feet of the dancers
What could 81 be- Al ne land had
begun 20 quake. even rs. bui moment
before the polished floor vne irem-
hiins 70 the pressure Of circllug steps.
an the building shook nov. every
beam uttered iis groan- What could
mere vas cismor. a panic.
rush 70 the windy night, Infinite
darkness above and beyond; bat the
lantern beams danced FAR out over an
unbroken circie % beaving ana swirhns
black water Stcalthliy swiftly, the
re2rurslesS Eearood MAS rsalus with
awful mufteFlrEs
De 'Mossisurs~ mss1arisa, ce nest rein
Nothing serious ladies. ! assure you.
Mats nous On aFors va hien
Solvent les inoudafians CONNIE css.ie-
e.; ca passe Nite, Fhs water WI -
down IN 4 few huuTe, ladies q never
rises higher thsn this. MY pas l.
rnolndrs danger. 90 r@us 9is' AAans}
u n'y My Cod. what e INST
"FoT a moment there was g Naastly
hush of voices And thruaGh thar hWsh
there b8rst gron the ears - ail
fearful and unfamiliar sound as ~
colossal rannanads rolling up frurn
"a south Vsh yaliesinR uEbtninEs
Naztit and swiftly ue&ref and nearrT
q cams-a panafrcus AID unnrekeu
thunder roll. terrible as the lupR NUT
tcrtnE - earthquake
The nearest mainland. across maa
Gallon bay 80 the SEA r}Gr.hns, lay
twelve miles northi west Pr ihe GtlG
miles distant There NFre BOATS yfst
bgt TIE stoafsst sSimnarr migh' never
reach 'hem now
Thea ross frigh'ful cry~the
hoarse. hlde0us, iu1eSersaanie rrv 81
hopeless faar-fha Departing animal
crF man utterH whsn -HIteriN br44ght
face SO face with NofhigNrrss. wiineut
Preparation, slthout consolation. with
oui possibility % RESPITE EaBve
qai p~ut' Some srsrchet down he
doors some chung 20 hR heavy hae-
Duet tables 90 fhe sofas. 20 ere BID
Hard tables. during enc ferTf,8e t--
xtant--againSf fruitees hersismE.
AGAINST Futile Ceurrositses ragged an
tha FRENZY 90 zrlGshmesE. aii the hru-
talfles ~ panic All fheu-iheu
came laundering through the hiar&-
hess. the giant sWell@. boom on unamI
One crash,-the huge frame
building rocks Hike cradle, seesa WE,
craCkles. What are human shrlsks