The Great Galveston Disaster: Containing a Full and Thrilling Account of the Most Appalling Calamity of Modern Times Including Vivid Descriptions of the Hurricane and Terrible Rush of Waters; Immense Destruction of Dwellings, Business Houses, Churches, and Loss of Thousands of Human Lives; Thrilling Tales of Heroic Deeds; Panic-Stricken Multitudes and Heart-Rending Scenes of Agony; Frantic Efforts to Escape a Horrible Fate; Separation of Loved Ones, etc., etc.; Narrow Escapes from the Jaws of De
John Stuart Mill · en
“A conflict of authority, due to a misunderstanding, precipitated a
temporary disorganization of the policing of the city yesterday. It
seems that when General Scurry, Adjutant-General of the Texas Volunteer
Guard, arrived in the city with about 200 militia from Houston, he
conferred with the chief of police as to the plans for preserving law
and order.
“An order was issued by the chief of police to the effect that the
soldiers should arrest all persons found carrying arms unless they
showed a written order, signed by the chief of police or Mayor, giving
them permission to go armed. The result was that about fifty citizens
wearing deputy sheriff badges were arrested by the soldiers and taken to
police headquarters.
FREE USE OF DEADLY WEAPONS.
“The soldiers had no way of knowing by what authority the men were
acting with these badges, and would listen to no excuses. After a
hurried conference between General Scurry and Sheriff Thomas it was
decided that all deputy sheriffs and special officers shall be permitted
to carry arms and pass in and out of the guard lines. The deputy
sheriffs and special and regular police now police the city during the
daytime, and the militia take charge of the city at night.
“More than 2000 dead bodies have been identified, and the estimate of
Mayor Jones, that 5000 perished in Saturday’s great hurricane, does not
appear to be magnified. The city is being patrolled by troops and a
citizens’ committee, and a semblance of order is appearing.
“At a conference held at the office of City Health Officer Wilkinson it
was decided to accept the offer of the United States Marine Hospital
Service and establish a camp at Houston, where the destitute and sick
can be sent and be properly cared for. The physicians agreed that there
were many indigent sick in the city who should be removed from
Galveston, and Houston was selected because that city had very
thoughtfully suggested the idea and tendered a site for the camp. Acting
upon the suggestion to establish a camp and care for the sick and needy,
a message was sent to the Surgeon-General, at the head of the Marine
Hospital Corps, asking for 1000 tents of four-berth capacity each; also
several hundred barrels of disinfecting fluid.
“The health department is calling for 100 men with drays to clean the
streets. The plan is to district the city and start out the drays to
remove all refuse and dead animals and cart all unsanitary matter from
the streets. It is anticipated that by Saturday the work will have
advanced to cover the greater portion of the business district and part
of the residence section.