The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-03
TRAGEDY OF LAST ISLAND.
A story. Hitherto Not Printed. OF the
Two Survivors,
Washington Pos'

W. ens IN recent number Of the 81.
r,onis C;lobe-Democrat a very graphic de-
seription of the great tidal wave which.
forty-four years ago. swept over Last
Island, about fifteen miles of the Louisi-
ana coast and Just south OF the parish OK
Terrebonne-not IAfourcbe. as the Globe
Democrat has r. This beautiful island
had gradually become the resort OF the
wealthy sugar planters OF that region
Ascension Terrebonne. Lafourche. 81.
Mary. iberia and doubtless. though In
much smaller degree. Tberviiie. Plaque
mines, 81 James. Pointe Conpee. ana
Rapldes II was not frequented 10 any
appreciable extent by cotton planters. Tor
the cotton belt OF Louisiana lies far to
the north OF the gulf shore. which was
not then easily accessible save 20 those
who dweit in it's immediate vicinity. II
had grown more and more attractive
every year however until IN iSs II was
one OF the most brilliant vssorts OF rich
and cultivated people 70 be found any
where in the world From every part OF
the Attskapas district. and even from
neighboring districts IN many instances,
the great sugar planters resorted TO this
beautiful Island bringing their families.
their troops OF servants and their habits
OF luxurious opuience. II was not heavi-
Nv populated. like Galveston. of course.
for no business found Judgment there
nor. indeed. any other consideration save
that Of pleasure. But n was alive With
the happies'. merriest ara most charming
company that ever gsth.csd upon an
area Of equal extent. and the calamity
which descended upon II that hideous
September night was the most appalling
then known In the history OF this conn
try.
How many human Beings were swept
away, drowned. or beaten 20 death upon
the storm-lashed coast was never accu-
rately known. There were very few sur
sivors, and those could not make the
count with any certainty Sreaking OF
these. the Globe Democrats story SAYS:
'The only survivors were a strong, pow
erfui negress who blndiv caught onto a
door that was floating nv and was car
rier In TO the mainland. and the other
was tiny baby, not more than ts months
old. She hsd been placed upon h,lliari
table. which ioated. and there she was
found on the IAfourche shore forty
eight hours after the storm" But this
IL not correct. for the writer personally
knew for many years Mr. William Ro-
chel. OF Bayou Teche large sugar
planter at the time Of the hurricane who
saved himself from death nv climbing
on billiard table when the Casino went
60 pieces. II was Mr. Rochei who rescued
the negro woman. snatchinR her as she
chung TO live oak tree and. with great
difficulty tfor he was cripple). drag
ging her 70 a place beside him on the
billiard table The child referred 10 was
not IS months old In fact. II was born
on the billiard table two days sf,erwsrd
ana for NJ least week Mr. Rochpl took
care OF both the mother and her baby,
feeding the woman on oysters and
shrimps. which ne gathered in snfscien.
quantities albeit he had but ono leg ana
was rreaiiv exhausted bv the frfghfful
hardships 70 which ne mad been subject
ed AT last they were picked up by one
~ the searching parties alive and we'll.
The woman and her child went hack 10
the estate 20 which they belonged. ana
Mr.. Rochei returned TO h's plantation on
The Tech~ fmore property called the At
chafalaya). where he lived for nearly
twenty years afterward
SO far as we know. this incident al
though every one In the Attskapas region
was familiar with II. has never vet found
IFS way into print Mr.. T.afcad.o Hearne.
the most brilliant and luminous writer Of
HIS day. got hold of the Last Island
story and put u into book form under
the title of ''Chiia." The book is
classic. 1t stands without peer IN
English descriptive literature. and has
been 50 appraised both IN this country
ard Great Britain. BOT our recollection
Is that Mr.. Hearne did not treat ~ this
'ncideni--of course because he was no,
aware OF r. His picture was stupendous
IN iis power. and perhaps needed no help
from the detail We have Just presented
We have alluded 20 the matter simply in
he Interest az history and by wsy OF
Illustrating one OF the finest exhibitions
u true chiyalry 20 be found in the chron-
icie- OF human sxaltation.