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
“This is considered the greatest piece of relief work done since the
storm. The bodies buried had been lying in the fields a week, and were
decomposed and spreading disease germs. An extra car of provisions is
being shipped to that district.
“Insanity is developing among the sufferers at a terrible rate. It is
estimated by the medical authorities that there are 500 deranged men and
women who should be in asylums, and the number is increasing. These poor
creatures form the most pitiable side of Galveston’s horror. They stand
in groups and cry hysterically. They are harmless, for their troubles
have left them without strength to do harm.
“Mentally unbalanced by the suddenness and horror of their losses, men
and women meet on the streets and compare their losses and then laugh
the laugh of insanity as a newcomer joins the group and tells possibly
of a loss greater than that of the others. Their laughter is something
to chill the blood in the veins of the strongest men. They are maddened
with sorrow, and do not realize their losses as they will when reason
returns, if it ever returns.
“Some of them are absolute raving maniacs. One man, Charles Thompson, a
gardener, as soon as he was out of personal danger that awful night,
commenced rescuing women and children, and saved seventy people. He then
lost his mind. Two policemen were detailed to capture him, but he heard
them approaching and leaped from the third-story window of an adjoining
building and escaped.
THE YOUNGEST NURSE.
“The Chicago Relief Corps has the youngest, and, considering her years,
most efficient nurse among the hundreds engaged in relief work. She is
Rosalea Glenn, eleven years old, a refugee from Morgan Point. Together
with her mother, Mrs. Minnie F. Glenn, and two smaller children, she was
received at the hospital last night.
“To-day Rosalea asked to be assigned to part of one of the wards. She
astonished trained nurses by her cleverness, and her services proved as
valuable as those of any one on the force. She is now the hospital pet.
Her father is Albert W. Glenn, a boatman. The home of the Glenns was
washed away, but the family were saved by a flight of seven miles into
the country.
“Some of the advertisements in the Galveston News are very striking.
Garbadee, Iban & Co. make this announcement: ‘Our help has generously
volunteered to work to-day to assist the necessities of the flood
sufferers. Our store will open from 9 A. M. until 5 P. M. Orders from
the Relief Committee will be filled.’”
CHAPTER XIV
Dead Babes Floating in the Waters—Sharp Crack of Soldiers’ Rifles—Tears
Mingle With the Flood—Doctors and Nurses for the Sick and Dying.