The Great Calamity Submitted By Larie Tedesco May 2007 Daily Picayune 10-05-1893 pg. 4; Issue 254; col B ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ The hurricane, which has devasted some five hundred miles of the Gulf coast line, from Barataria Bay, in Louisiana, to Pensacola, in Florida, has wrough havoc and disaster in four of the great States that bound the Mexican sea; but its most terrible fury seems to have fallen upon Louisiana, and to have been particularly poured out upon waters and shores south of New Orleans, from the sea mouth of Bayou Lafourche to the Balize of the Mississippi River. Within these limits the death roll will climb up far on the way to 2000 souls, They are chiefly the hardy fishermen whose dangerous and industrious toll supplies this city with the delicious fish and oysters for which the markets are famous. Upon the hummocks and islands of a vast sea marsh many of these adventurous people live, with their wives and little ones, convenient to the waters in which they ply their trade. Numerous settlements dot this region, while the broad bays, the deep inlets and numerous bayous which with their tortuous channels, penetrate this region, convert it into a wonderful labyrinth of land and lagoon. These waters swarm with fish and fowl, and, wherever the depth will permit, are underlaid with banks of choicest oysters. Nearly three thousand people and a hundred luggers are engaged in these fisheries. In the genial climate of Louisiana , amidst this maze of land and water, a vigorous and healthful race work and live, while this great city, less than a hundred miles away, furnishes a perpetual market for their harvest of the deep. Nothing disturbs their busy, but peaceful lives, save the great storms which blow in from the sea. When the cyclones from the tropical seas breathe upon them they have cause to tremble, and when it pours upon them its fury they and their stout barks, rigged like the fishing vessels of the Mediterranean, are but as chuff before the winds and waves. It was such a storm which, in the darkness Sunday night, burst upon them. There was no warning of the danger, and no harbor of refuge if they had opportunity to flee. The wind was resistless, while the waves that rolled in from the sea covered the low shores and islands, and as the billows rushed along the constantly narrowing channels they rose higher at every turn, and, in walls of moving water, marched swiftly and piteously upon the people on shore or on the water. All, or nearly all, were swept away. More than a thousand are dead; boats and luggers are benched or sent to the bottom, houses are wrecked, and those who survived live only to realize bereavement and ruin. As soon as the first reports of this dreadful calamity reached the city the Picayune at once chartered the steamboat Emma McSweeny, louded her with provisions and dispatched in her a corp of reporters and artists, with orders to get all the news, give such relief as they cold, and to return at once with the fullest intelligence. The boat left this city at 4 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Some hours later they sent back reports and pictures of the experiences encountered, and these will be found in this morning's Picayune. Without an accident, the Picayune's boat must have reached Grande Isle and Cheniere early in the afternoon. In all probability she will be back in New Orleans to-night, in time to have her news in Friday's paper. As soon as the situation is made public, the boat will be sent back with further supplies and physicians. All who will contribute are invited to send in their names and contributions today, so that the provisions and other necessaries may be got with dispatch aboard the boat and sent to their destination without delay. This is the most terrible calamity that has ever fallen on Louisiana, and the people will meet it as becomes them. The Picayune is assured of this.