The Gigantic Tragedy at Last Island The Cheniere Caminada Disaster Recalls Its Predecessor Submitted By Larie Tedesco May 2007 Daily Picayune 10-05-1893; pg. 6; Issue 254; col E ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ The Cheniere Caminada Disaster Recalls Its Predecessor The Dismal Tale Told by Rescuing Parties And a Survivor in the Picayune of August 16, 1856 The Winds Demolished the Buildings and Rising Waters Drowned the Inhabitants. The Cheniere Caminada and Grand Isle disaster of course recalls the sad story of the destruction of Last Island. Like the great storm of to-day it occurred on Sunday, beginning early in the day and increasing in violence until the whole dread work was done and 200 persons were dead, The calamity of to-day excels the famous Last Island horror, in the fact that two islands have been submerged, while the indications are that four or five times as many persons were killed. The account of the Last Island disaster published in the Picayune at the time, will be of exceeding interest. It is here reproduced from the Picayune, August 16, 1856, viz: Statement of rescuing party returned from Grand Isle: They informed us that the storm commenced about 10 o'clock on Sunday morning , and a faithful picture of the calamity they declare to be beyond realization. The gale did not abate until Monday morning, and then the rain continued almost without intermission up to the time of their leaving the island, at times the wind rising pretty strongly again. The number of the victims they estimated at over 200, at least 182 having been already counted. The island was swept by 2 o'clock on Sunday, having been overflowed between noon and that hour. The wind blew first from the north and the northern part of the island was then overflowed. Next the wind came from the east, which bent the water off from the north side of the island; afterwards the wind shifted to due south, and then island becamed overwhelmed by the water of the gulf. Horses, cattle and even fish lay strewn dead about the island among the victims of the storm. It is believed that many bodies have been washed out into the gulf. The following is a letter written by a survivor of the disaster: Bayou Boeuf, August 14, 1856 Dear Pic -- You may have heard ere this reaches you of the dreadful catastrophe which happened on Last Island on Sunday, the 10th inst. As one of the sufferers, it becomes my duty to chronicle one of the most melancholy events which have ever occurred. On Saturday night, the 9th inst., a heavy northeast wind prevailed, which excited the fears of a storm in the minds of many; the wind increased gradually until 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, when there existed no longer any doubt that we were threatened with iminent danger. From that time the wind blew a perfect hurricane; every bilding upon the island giving away, one after another, until nothing remained. At this moment, every one sought the most elevated point on the island, exerting themselves at the same time to avoid the fragments of buildings, which were scattered in every direction by the wind. Many persons were wounded, some mortally. The water about this time (about 2 o'clock p.m.) commenced rising rapidly from the bay side and there could be no longer any doubt that the island would be submerged. The scene at this moment forbids description, men, women and children were seen running in every direction, in search of some means of salvation. The violence of the wind, together with the rain, which fell like hail, and the sand which blinded their eyes, prevented many from reaching the objects they had aimed at. At about 4 o'clock the bay and gulf currents met, and the sea washed over the whole island. Those who were so fortunate as to find some object to cling to were seen floating in all directions. Many of them, however, were separated from the straw to which they clung for life, and launched into eternity; others were washed away by the rapid current and drowned before they could reach their point of destination. Many were drowned from being stunned by by scattered fragment of the buildings, which had been blown asunder by the storm. Many others were crushed by floating timbers and logs, which were removed from the beach, and met then on their journey. To attempt a description of this sad event would be useless. No works could depict the awful scene which occurred on the night between the 11th and 12th insts. It was not until the next morning, the 12th that we could ascertain the extent of the disaster. Upon my return, after having drifted for about twenty hours, I found the steamer Star, which had arrived the day before, sad was lying at anchor, a perfect wreck, nothing but her hull and boilers, and a portion of her machinery remaining. Upon this wreck the lives of a large number were saved. Towards her each one directed his path as he was recovering from the deep, and was welcomed with tears by his fellow sufferers, who had been so fortunate to escape. The scene was heart-rending; the good fortune of many a poor individual in being saved was blighted by the news of the loss of a father, brother, sister, wife or some near relative. I will not prolong the detail of this unparalleled catastrophe, but will give you the list, as correctly as I could oobtain it of those who were lost.