Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-13

happiness and hopeful expectation. The
season was at its height. Not only
was the hotel proper filed. but the
dozen or so cottages generally known
as the bachelors quarters"-were all
occupied by as high-bre as gallant
and gay company of gentlemen as the
entire South could show. 1t was agreed
that greater number OF representa-
tive Louisiana, Alabama and Missis-
sippi men and women had never been
gathered together at any Southern wa
tering place before. The season had
been fortunate In other respects. Thus
far none OF those morning rendezvous
upon the sands. which have been men,
toned before. had occurred. The cool,
white beach had not known the flash
of the colichmarde or the crack OF the
deadly duelling pistol that season. The
Southern women particularly hated
these things. but what could they do?
Thus far they had escaped any of these
horrors. and. for that, gentle hearts
full of kindly happiness and good will
to all the world thank God.
APPROACHING DOOM.
The morning OF September 10. 1856.
was one of almost unearthly loneliness.
The sea was sometimes as smooth as
translucent glass. now as green as an
emerald. then sapphire hued. Its sur
face was covered with faintish. mis-
ty haze. Its loveliness was supernal.
The fishing boats in sight seemed like
great white sea birds trailing their
wings as they basked in the morning
sunbeams. They were softened in the
semi-mst delicately vaporzed to an
ethereal beauty. Toward the main
land the forest visible seemed gray and
yelled in diaphanous, nebulous vapor
But 1t was early then and the sun had
scarcely had time to drive away the
ghostly gray fog Offended with that
nf tho SpDl I nfp
marshes lying along the nearest shore.
AS the sun rose higher the sea mist
vanished. But such a day as IL wa3i
The thermometric measurement OF
September In Louisiana Is not greatly
different in its altitude OF heat from
that of New York or Washington. This
day. however. there was such n down
pour of solar warmth that the island
was almost burning. Gentle puffs OF
wind blew and rippled the sea water
and turned 1t into opalescent green.
But the cooling sea breezes reviving
and refreshing all living things. did not
come. The day was uncomfortable.
Men wandered about llstlessly. Poll
tics-it was the great Know Nothing
year. yet talked of In Louisiana po-
litical annals-even ceased to charm.
In the air there was stiffness as
though Nature was watching and
waiting in silence, baleful. mysterious,
ominous. The sunset that evening af-
frighted the tinid souls. 1t went down
in the west. and the sky red as vermeil.
an angry sun, and left the Occident
blazing across the waves as though a.
world was in flames. All that night
the Dago fisherman Ca curious. super
StitiouS class. half Spanish Italian and
half creole, taking TO the waves like
sea gulls) heard out at sea strange
sounds, means as though some super
natural being was in awful agony.
The morning of the 18th was like that
or the previous day. Toward night
there came up terrible thunder
storm. The thunder was unlike that
or the northern dash OF storm as
tirecracker is TO the crack and roar
OF 6-inch gun. The dweller on the
mainland and the Teche and Lafour-
che planters had never before seen
such lightning. 1t flashed from the
horizon In great broad green. purple
| and famed covered hands of electric
blaze degree in width. And after
each awful crash. that almost rent the
tfnctly sulphurous tinge perceptible
In the air. Toward the morning OF the
18th the thunder and lightning ceased
but the rain continued, and the wind
grew stronger from the southwest. The
satlboats OF the frightened fishermen
could be seen in the early morning
light flying before the wind for secure
landings In the safe streams and wa
terS OF cheniere caminada.
THE LAST BALL.
There was to he at the principal no.
tel that evening the grand ball of the
season, for 1t was to be the last. The
band OF the French Opera House was
there from New Orleans, then un-
equaled for it's music in America
There were no wind Instruments ex-
cept the cornet. There We're flutes and
similar sweet sound producers. the
others "a he
distant from the main hotel perhaps
twenty yards. and was reached by
| covered way. elevated to the level of
both buildings. 1t was built very near
the sea and set upon brick pillars six
! feet above the surface of the earth.
| The motel was constructed in the same
| fashion so that the breezes could blow
under both edinces and produce bet
ter ventilation. Broad. wide piazzas
| surrounded the ball room on three sides
| upon which doors opened so that after
each dance one might take a turn in
| promenadinS on the gallery and enjoy
| the GOODNESS of the fresh night breeze
from the sea. The piazzas were about
100 feet long by so wide. Around the
ball room were two rows of chairs.
and the usual dressing rooms were in
| the rear. The musicians occupied a
| high dais that extended across the end
of the ball room. The buildings were
| lighted with gas. So much in the vay
OF description. Toward noon of the
18th the sun shone out for an hour. but
| 1t was a dull, orange-hued orb. sur
rounded by a yellow misty haze that
changed constantly. AS night came on
the sky was covered with cloud of
the deepest blackness. There was a re-
| newal OF the vivid sheet lightning. but
| no thunder The sea was in such agi-
tation as the oldest present had never
before seen. Great, brilliant lights
| burst from the waves as thew were
rolled In by the tremendous southwest
wind. Deep phosphorescent fires, in