New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-09-08
ST. PETER WOMAN VICTIM OF
FLOOD.

FLOOD.
Mrs. H. "A. Chouinard, sister Of Otto,
julius and Max Schleuder of St. Peter,
was one of the victims Of the Gulf storm
and flood which swept over the coast Of
Texas during the middle of August.
Mrs. Chouinard was living with her hus-
band and family at Texas City, Texas,
and lost her life as result OF shock and
exposure following an operation for ap-
pendicitis which had been performed
but few days previous to the storm.
She was recovering iron the operation
and was able to take nourishment when
the storm drove them from their home
and caused her death.
A letter from Rev. Chouinard to re-
latives in St. Peter describes the horrors
of the flood in such a way as to make
people here realize what it means to go
thru such an experience. That we may
all better realize our good fortune in
living in section remarkably free from
great catastrophes part of the letter is
reproduced herewith: it was written be-
fore Mrs. Chouinard succumbed.
when the storm broke on Monday
last Julia was of course confined to her
bed; fortunately we had an excellent
nurse, big and strong and with lots of
nerve and courage. We tried to get an
ambulance to remove Julia to a place of
safety but all electric and telephone
wires were down so we were obliged to
remain in the house, considering it the
safer plan. About one clock that night
with the hurricane still raging and the
water from the sea constantly rising, it
commenced to come over the threshold
and we knew we would be obliged to
leave. While the nurse looked after
Julia, the windows having been blown in,
I knocked. down two doors within the
house, also the kitchen shelves and the
back porch railing and made raft that
would carry the four of us. Just as I
I had finished the man who lived next
door, also with an invalid wife, called
to me, and after talking it over we de-
cided to carry the two invalids to place
Of safety. It was decided to take Julia
first. We rugged up stretcher from a
cot and started out with her for the near
est two story house. The water in the
middle of the road came up to our arm
pits, but we kept Julia pretty well out
of it by holding the stretcher over our
shoulders, although the waves dashed
over completely drenching her. We
got on to the second floor of the first
story house we came to, there was three
feet of water on the ground floor. The
house however rocked so badly and was
so apparently unsafe we left it and start
ed out again. This time we found a
better one. We found another man and
went back and got the nurse and Fanny.
About half an hour afterwards we were
again obliged to move. This time
remained behind with Julia while the
others starting out found safe house,
about three blocks away. They then
came back and carried Julia there.
The next day we moved to a house that
mad been deserted. The waters had
but conditions were so bad no
drinking water, all sewers broken and
lead animals everywhere. General
Bell ordered all women and children to
Houston. We were thus obliged to
move Julia once more; she could not
nave lived at Texas City. We cannot
ell how long present conditions will last
The shock has been terrible to Julia"
Mrs Chouniard was native of St.
Peter, grew to womanhood there and was
married to Rev. Chouinard who at that
lime was rector of the church of the
Holy Communion. Since their marriage
hey had lived in Cuba and in Platts-
burg, N. Y, only removing last year to
Texas. She had visited St. Peter friends
asst winter for several weeks and was
n good health at that time. She was
nearly fifty years of age. Mr.. and Mrs.
4. 0. Schleuder of this city attended the
uneral which was held at St. Peter Thurs
Law.