A Sad Story Told by One of The Rescue Crew of the Emma Hand Submitted By Larie Tedesco May 2007 Herald Weekly Mississippi 10-07-1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Death in the Marsh! Many Biloxians Sleeping Their Last Sleep There! Bodies Decomposed Beyone Recognition! Capt. Pank, of Slidell, La. the Hero of the Storm! He Rescues Eight Men! Wrecks and Floating Bodies in Every Direction! Last Tuesday night on the arrival of the steam tug Julius Elbert with eight of the rescued fishermen from Louisiana marsh, the news was brought that the marshes were filled with dead and living men. Messrs. Lopez, Dukate and Ramsay tendered their schooner, the Emma Hand, to go to the relief of the suffering. A call was made for volunteers, which was immediately responded to, and the following true and tried men composed the crew sent out on their mission of mercy: Capt. Don Ramsay, Capt. John Goodler, Capt. Tom Morrison, Messrs. Richard Lusk, Tony Gazzo, J. Cavacovich, Joseph Sprinkle, Frank Gazzo, C. Cox, Chas. Henries and Ernest Desporte. The start was made at midnight, and even at that late hour hundreds of men and women whose relatives were supposed to be lost in the terrible storm of Monday were out to wish them God speed and pray for their safe return, with the hope that their loved ones would be rescued. The following report of the cruise of the Emma Hand was given to the Herald on the return, of the vessel, Friday night by Ernest Desporte, and is a true and accurate account of the trip. It is impossible to describe the horrifying sights witnessed on the voyage. The marshes are filled with dead and putrefying bodies, and in but few cases are the corpses recognizable, and then only from the garments worn or som peculiar and well known mark of distinction: In many cases the skin from the bodies have fallen off and the stench from the putrid bodies corpses was so fearful that carbolie acid, had to be used in all cases before attempting to handle a body, and sponges saturated with camphor and whiskey were applied to the nostrils of the relief party. All over the island were seen crosses, indicating the resting place of some poor unforunate who had given up his life to the cruel waves. The number of lives in these marshes will never be known, and doubtless many who have perished have drifted out to sea. All over the marshes and in the water thousands of dead animals and water fowl were seen. The territory covered by the Emma Hand, extended from Bayou Pier on the north to Point Chicot on the south and Indian Mound Bay on the west, a distance as traveled of at least 200 miles and throughout the entire course was marked with newly made graves and decomposed bodies. The only sight of live seen in the marsh was one raccoon and it was floating on a log. Hundreds of oyster ?, anchor buoys and bedding ground stakes were seen, but no sign of life. Among the vessels wrecked and lives know to be lost in that section are the following: Lugger Sunnyside, of New Orleans, Lost - Martin Bandolovich; Stephano Bandolino. Saved - Capt. Trenovich and one man, named unknown. Vessel now lying at Jack Williams bayou for Dry Dock bay, badly damaged. The lugger Inocici, of New Orleans, Captain Marco Androvich and Joseph Eranovich saved two others lost. Vessel not found. Lugger Independence, of New Orleans, lying at Drum Bayou. All the crew lost. Names could not be obtained. Lugger Rosalie, lying at Door Point, dismasted and bottom up. Three of the crew, belonging to New Orleans, had been removed. The body of Capt. Louis Romero, of Biloxi, was found and buried alongside the vessel. Schooner Isabel, of New Orleans, fishing smack lost. Only one man saved, Pedro Pamosina, three others lost. Sloop, Ago de Lario, lost at Drum Bay. Alex Francovich saved and Capt. Caddeo lost. Schooner Young America, Biloxi,lying at Crane Town, south side dismasted but otherwise in good condition. The crew, Paul and Frank Rubio are lost. Schooner, Santa Maria, of Biloxi, with load of oysters, sunk Grand Pass, with 2 men lost and Capt. Schumann saved. Schooner, Clementine, of Biloxi, lying bottom up a Crane Town. The crew, Capt. W. H. Patten and Hugh Miller, drowned and buried. Two men were found and buried at Crane Town. One was about 5 feet 7 inches high, black hai and dark complexion; the other heavy set, gray hair and light complexion, about 5 feet 8 inches. The first found in a perfectly nude condition. The schooner Idonia, of Biloxi, is lost. Of the lost crew of 3 men only one was found, that of Frank Lepp. The sloop Georgiana is safely lying at Crane Town Point in good condition. Geo. Miller and his 12 year old son were drowned. The body of Miller was found and buried at Crane Town. The schooner Antonio P., junior, of Biloxi, crew and vessel lost. Crew Antonio Perez and Boy Balius. Schooner R. Seal, lying 4 miles southwest of Indian Mound bay, in good condition. Capt. E. Nelson and his nephew Drury Nelson, picked up Tuesday morning by Capt. Pank, of the sloop Maud S, of Slidell, La. Capt. Pank rescued seven men, who would have perished but for his timely assistance. Two of the men saved were from the lugger St. George, of New Orleans. Manuel Velasquez, of the fishing schooner Premier, of New Orleans was picked up by the schooner Nymph, of Biloxi, and brought to this city. He was the only one of a crew of six that was saved. For three days he was without food or water and when picked up was in an almost unconscious condition. The schooner Della, of Biloxi; is lying at Caraboa bay, upside down dismasted, but otherwise in good condition. Crew Wm. Parker and R. Balius were drowned. Lugger Angelina, of New Orleans, lost with 4 men, The only one whose name could be acertained was Antonio Barraeko, who was buried by friends in Carahoa bay. One body was seen floating in Carahoa bay so badly decomposed could not be recognized. The schooner F. Welmer, of New Orleans, lost with all on board. Names could not be ascertained. Capt. Pank, of Slidell, La., had a thrilling experience. In a little vessel of only 21 feet in length he was one of the few who weathered the storm. He drifted from Mosquito inlet, between Petet Pass and Nine Mile Bayou; to Bayou Mussel, a distance of about 25 miles. Lost both anchors, and caught on a large tree which prevented his swamping. After the storm he picked up 7 men at Ten Bayou or Little Rigolets on Tuesday morning and one in a row boat at Indian Mound bay. Capt. Pank, alone in his boat, commenced looking for survivors of the storm Monday evening and continued until Thursday. He is certain that the cat-rigged boat, T. M. Favre, of Pearlington, is lost, with Capt. Davis, aged 63 years. At Indian Mound Bay there were 3 luggers, 1 sloop, 1 schooner, which he is certain is lost. Captain Pank, is a seaman of 56 years of age, a native of Prussia?, and has resided in Slidell for the last 7 years, and has made a living on the sea fishing for 12 years. Yesterday, the schooner San Bartolomeo Apostolo, of New Orleans, was sighted lying bottom up on north marsh, of Bayou Boudreaux or Three Mile Bayou, both masts broken, sails and rigging lying near by. It is almost certain that the entire crew is lost. The schooner Roma, of Bay St. Louis, a fishing vessel, is lying in the marsh at Grand Pass between Drum Bay and Turkey Bayou; both masts broken off and sails lying near by. Nothing seen of the crew who are suppose to be lost. About 2 miles south of the Roma, a lugger is lying broadside, suppose to be the Danillo, of which the entire crew was saved. Another sloop, of Slidell which weathered the storm was the Mystic, the captain of which reports that he buried 3 men between Creole Gap and Grand Pass. The wreck of a large vessel is lying 3 miles north of Cat Island sand split. The Raphael Romana and the Angelina, both luggers of New Orleans, are lost with all on board. A floating body was passed 3 miles southeast of Morgan harbor. The body was face down and so badly decomposed that recognition was impossible. At Mitchell Keys the relief party was told that no vessels had gone south, and on receipt of this information the Emma Hand proceeded to Point Chicot, but no bodies were found, and thence, cruised westward to Indian Mound Bay. The schooner, Birdie, of New Orleans, is lying bottom up in Grand Pass. Complete wreck and all crew lost. Cat-rigged boat, Estella, of Biloxi, belonging to 4 Manillamen, who were on board, were all drowned on Point. At Bayou Pierre the schooner, Mary, of New Orleans, weathered the storm and the crew of 4 men were saved. The scooner Mary reports that the schooners Jumbo and Borio, of New Orleans, are lost with all on board. A dead body was also found between Grand Pass and Drum Bay.