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
“The property loss in these three towns and the country adjacent will be
beyond the ability of the people to repair. Destitution stares them in
the face, and help is urgently needed there and in all other towns
within seventy-five miles of the city. The loss in proportion to
population and means is just as great and as keenly felt as the loss and
destruction in Galveston, and they should not be forgotten by the
generous public, which is responding with such noble promptness to
Galveston’s cry for help.
SOLID TRAINLOADS OF SUPPLIES.
“Supplies for the relief of Galveston’s sufferers are coming in from
every quarter as rapidly as the limited means of transportation here
will admit. Solid trainloads from the North and East are speeding
towards Galveston as fast as steam will bring them, while cities,
chambers of commerce and other commercial bodies in this country,
England and Continental Europe are subscribing thousands of dollars for
the sufferers from one of the greatest calamities of the century.
“The distribution of supplies here has not yet been put on a systematic
basis. There is one general relief committee, with sub-committees in
each ward. To these sub-committeemen sufferers must apply for relief,
and are categorically questioned as to the extent of their distress.
“If the answers are satisfactory, an order is issued for supplies. If he
is an able bodied man, although he may be houseless and may have lost
members of his family, or have some injured by the storm and needing
attention, he must perform labor before supplies are issued, and if he
refuses he is impressed and compelled to work.
“There are many so sadly injured or prostrated by the frightful
experience they have recently undergone that they are unable to apply
for relief, and would suffer from thirst and exposure unless housed, fed
and cared for by humane people who have been less unfortunate. No effort
thus far has been made by those in charge of relief affairs to hunt out
these poor creatures and care for them.
“And if they have male relatives, these are afraid to venture on the
streets for fear they will be impressed and put to work, and thus taken
away from those who need their constant care. The present method of
relief needs to be radically revised, or it will fail of its purpose and
defeat the object of those who are so generously contributing. Medical
relief is much better organized.
EXODUS SERIOUSLY HAMPERED.