Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-21
Story Of a Gulf Hurricane


i-----------~ Lafcsdfo Woarn. -----~----------
A LNosT every evening throughout the season
n there had been dancing IN the great haii-thero
wac dancing that night also. The population OF the
hotel had been augmented BY the advent OF families
from other parts Of the island who found their sum
er cottages insecure places OF shelter; there were
nearly four hundred guests assembled fcrhaps Il was
for this that the entertainment had been pre-
pared upon grhnder plan than usual. that u MS
sunied the form Of fashionable ball And all those
pleasure the wealth and beauty
Of the Creole parishes-whether from Ascension or
Assumption, 81. Mary's or g. Landry's Ibervlie or
Terreboune. whether inhabitants Of the nulti-coIored
and many baoonied Creole quarter Of the quaint
tropois. jewellers IN the dreamy paradise Of the
Teche-sneied joyousy, knowing each other. feeling
IN some sort akin-whether affiliated by blood con-
naturaised by caste, simply interassocaed by ira
ditonai sympathies Of cass sentiment and class In
terest Perhaps IN the than ordinary rnerriment
OF that evening somethine o. exataton might
have been misunderstanding like feverish resolve
to oppose apprehension with sayety. TO combat
eaalnees by diversion But the hours passed In mrth
funsss the first general feeling OF depression began
TO weigh less and less upon the guests: they had
found 20 confde in the sodity the massive
building; there positive terrors outspoken
fears and the conviction OF ali had found express
sion In the words OF the host himself: I'll n'ya rien
de mieux fairo que dc sanuseri" OF what avail %
lament the prospective devastation Of caneneids-o
discuss the possible ruin OF crops7 Better TO seek
soiace in cboregrapho hsrmonies. in the rhythm OF
gracious motion and Of perfect melody than hearken
10 the dscords OF the wild orchestra OF stormswiser
10 the grace or PARTISAN toilets, the eddy OF
trailing robes with its fairy foam lace. the ivorins
ovelness glossy shoulders and jeweed throats
giimmering Of satin slppered feetthan 20 watch the
raging OF the flood without, or the flying OF the
SO the music and the mirth went oni they made
JOY for thsmsslveEthose elegant gueststhey tested
and slipped rich wines:--they pledged ana hoped and
loved and promised with never thought OF the NOR
row. the night OF August TO- 1856 observant parents
were there planning for the future bliss Of their
at ana dearest; mothers nd fathers OF handsoms LADS
1.-THE and elegant ne young pines and fresh from the
polish Of foreign university trainnG: mothers and
fathers Of splendid girls whose simplest attitudes were
witcheries Young cheeks flushed. young hearts fiut.
tered with an emotion more pussant than the
ment OF the dance young eyes betrayed the hapcy
secret dscreeter lips would have preserved. Slave
servants crced through the arHtooratc press bearing
daines and Wines praying permission TO pass in terms
at humble and officious-always IN the excellent
French which we.trained house servants were taught
to use on such occasions.
Night wore on; ETH the shining floor palpitated to
the feet OF the dancers; st the pianoforte pealed
and stl the volins and the sound OF their sing
ins shred through the darkness in gasps Of the gale
20 the ears OF Captain smith, he strove keep his
roofing on the spray drcnclied deck Of the star
Christi" no muttered "a dancei II that wind
whips round south. there1l be another dance But
guess the star will stay"
Half an hour might have passed. still the lights
famed calmly. and the vioins triiled ana The rar~
veercd "''N
"ait1inHi cried the captain. God help theml
God help US all nowi The wind waItzes tonight.
with the Sea for his partnerl"
someone shreked in the midst OF the revels; some
sirl who found her pretty slippers wet. What could
Il beg Thin streams OF water were spreading over
tho level Notwithstanding about the rect OF the
dancers What could II BET All the land had begun
70 quaxc even, but moment before the ,oiiahad
floor was trembling the pressure Of circlinr steps.
all the building shook now: every bean, uttered i.s
eroan. What could IL be?
There was clarnor. panic rush to the windy
night Infinite darkness above and beyond; but the
lantern beams danced over an unproen circle
OF heaying and swifng black water steaithIiy
swiftly, the measureiess sea flood was rising
For moment there a CHASTITY hush Of voices
And through that hush there burst upon the ears of
all fearful and unfamiliar sound as OF a colossal
cennonade-rollins up from the SOUTH with volieying
ightnings. Vastly and swiftly nearer and nearer n
eane-a ponderous and unbroken thunder roll terrific
as the long muttering OF earthquake
The nearest mainIand-across mad Gallon bay 10
the sea marshes-lay twelve miles north; west by the
gulf, the nearest solid ground twenty miles dis
tant There were boats yes the stoutest swimmer
might never reach them now
Then a frightful cry--the hoarse hIdeous IN
descrbabe cry OF hopeless fearthe despairing animal
cry man utters when suddenly brought race TO face
with Nothingness without preparation. without CON
ISOLATION. without possibility OF respite sauve uu oul
some wrenched down the doors; some chung 10 thu
heavy banquet tables. to the Sofas 90 the billiard
tables;-durns one terrible instantaeafnst frutiass
nefoismn against fuule senerosites--fAeed all the
frensy Of selshness all tho brutaites OF panic And
then-then came laundering through the biackness
the giant swelis boom on boomi One crash,-the huge
frame building rocks like cradle. seesaws crackles
What are human shreks now?-thc tornado Is shFiek-
ing Anotheri-chandeers splinter lights are dashed
out; sweeping cataract hurts in; the immense haii
rises oscillates. twirls upon pivot. erepitates
erumbles into ruin Crash agains-the swirfng wreck
dissoives into the wallowing monster blow
and hundred cottages overturn. spin IN sudden
eddies culver, disjoint and melt into the seething
So the hurricane passed--tearing off the heads Of
the prodieious waves. 20 hur them hundred feet In
ar-heaplng up the against the land-upturning
the WOODS Bays and passes were swollen 20 abysses
rivers yeGoreed the marshes were changed 20
raging wastes Of water Before New the flood
OF the mile broad Misssalppi six feet above high
est watermark. One hundred and ten miles away
Donaidsonvilie temblod AZ the towering tide Of the
Lafourche Lakes StroTe to burst their boundaries
Fer-on river steamers tugged Wildly At their cables
nhivering like tethered that hear by night
Hhn alm.aa