The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-11-11

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 a downpour Of solar
warmth that the island was almost burn
ing Gentle puffs of wind blew and rip
pied the sea water and turned it into
opalescent green. But the cooling sea
breezes reviving and refreshing all living
things, did not come. The day was I'M
comfortable. Men wandered about list
lessly Politics-it was the great Know
Nothing year. yet talked of in Louisiana
political annals-even ceased to charm.
In the air there was a stiffness as though
nature was watching and waiting in 81
lence. baleful, mysterious, ominous.
The sunset that evening affrighted the
timid 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 fishermen Ca
curious superstitious class, half Spanish
Italian and half Creole. taking to the
waves like sea-gulls) heard out at era
strange sounds. means, as though some
supernatural being was in awful agony.
The morning of the 11th was like that ot
the previous day. Toward night there
came up terrible thunder storm. The
thunder was as unlike that of the north
ern dash of storm as a firecracker is TO
the crack and roar of a 6-inch gun.
Lightning Was Terrifying
The dwellers on the mainland and the
Teche and Lafourche planters had never
before seen such lightning. 1t flashed
from the zenith TO the eastern and west
ern horizon in great. broad green. purple
and fiame-eolored bands of electric blaze.
degree in width. And after each awful
crash that almost rent the ear-druns
there would be distinctly 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 sailboats of the fright
ened fishermen could be seen in the early
morning light flying before the wind for
secure landings in the safe streams and
waters OF cheBiere caminddd.
There was to be at the principal hotel
that evening the grand bail of the season.
/ for it was to be the last. The band of
the French Opera House was there from
New Orleans, then unequaled for its
music in America There were no wind
instruments except the cornet and flute !:
( the others were stringed- The ballroom
was distant from the main hotel perhaps
twenty yards. and was reached by COW
cred way. elevated to the level OF both
buildings Ii was built very near the
sea and set upon brick pillars six feet
above the surface of the EARTH The hotel
I was constructed in the same fashion, so
that the breezes could blow under both
edifices and produce better 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 promenading on the
gallery and enjoy the coolness of the fresh
| night breeze from the SEA
The piaxzas were about 100 feet long
by 50 wide. Around the ballroom were
rows of chairs. and the usual dressing
rooms were in the rear. The musicians