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
In various parts of the city the smell of decomposed flesh is still
apparent. Wherever such instances are found the authorities are freely
disinfecting. Only to-day a babe lashed to a mattress was picked up
under a residence in the very heart of the city and burned.
The following editorial, signed by the publishers, A. H. Belo & Co.,
appeared September 13th in the “Galveston News”:
HOMES MUST BE REPAIRED.
“At the first meeting of Galveston’s citizens, Sunday afternoon, after
the great hurricane, for the purpose of bringing order out of chaos, the
only sentiment expressed was that Galveston had received an awful blow.
The loss of life and property is appalling—so great that it required
several days to form anything like a correct estimate. With sad and
aching hearts, but with resolute faces, the sentiment of the meeting was
that out of the awful chaos of wrecked homes and wretched business
Galveston must rise again.
“The sentiment was not that of burying the dead and giving up the ship,
but rather bury the dead, succor the needy, appeal for aid from a
charitable world, and then start resolutely to work to mend the broken
chains. In many cases the work of upbuilding must begin over. In other
cases the destruction is only partial. Still, the sentiment was,
Galveston will, Galveston must, survive and fulfill her glorious
destiny. Galveston shall rise again.
“Galveston having been isolated since the storm of last Saturday night,
the stricken citizens of the town have not been informed as to the
thrill of horror which went over the world when the news of the
catastrophe was spread. The Associated Press brings the cheering news
that in every town and city in the United States, commercial, religious
and charitable bodies have organized into relief committees. At present
thousands of dollars and hundreds of cars of supplies are en route and
will reach the sufferers of Galveston just as soon as it is possible to
boat them across the bay. If the desolation here has been awful, the
sympathy and humanity of a great nation has been ample, and very soon
the local committees will be enabled to assist the destitute thousands.
“What the ‘News’ desires most to say to the surviving victims of last
Saturday’s catastrophe, is that in the knowledge of a world-wide
sympathy which is encompassing us, we must not give way to despair. If
we have lost all else, we still have life and the future, and it is
toward the future that we must devote the energies of our lives. We can
never forget what we have suffered; we can not forget the thousands of
our friends and loved ones who found in the angry billows that destroyed
them, a final resting place. But tears and grief must not make us forget
our present duties.
TIME FOR DAUNTLESS COURAGE.