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
“All hospital relief stations and all points in the city are thoroughly
disinfected. Dr. Peckham, of the United States Marine Corps, has
established a camp for the injured and ill at Tremont and Beach avenues.
Directly opposite is a camp for refugees. Camps will be established on
the beach at the foot of Fifteenth street.
“Reports from Sealy Hospital, St. Mary’s Infirmary and other temporary
hospitals are that sanitary rules are strictly followed, and the
buildings are in fairly good shape. A great many patients from Sealy and
St. Mary’s have been sent to Houston.
SERIOUS CASES OF INJURY.
“In the vicinity of the hospitals there is a mass of debris containing
many bodies, and the Health Board has sent an urgent appeal to
headquarters to have this debris cleared.
“Emergency hospitals report wounds dressed on an average of 150 to 200 a
day. Many report serious cases.
“A census has been taken of St. Mary’s Catholic parish, embracing the
territory from Sixteenth to Twenty-seventh street. It shows a loss of
267 from this parish alone. A census of the city is now being taken,
which will embrace a list of the survivors, the dead and the amount of
personal and property losses.
“Death from a broken heart was the doctor’s verdict when Miss Clara
Olson died at an early hour this morning. When the storm was at its
height the little house Miss Olson occupied with her aged mother
collapsed. Mother and daughter found refuge on a floating housetop for
several hours. A floating timber driven with terrible force crushed Mrs.
Olson’s skull. The girl drifted to the Ursuline convent, where she was
cared for by the Sisters. She grieved constantly for her mother, and at
last died of a broken heart.”
Houston, Tex., Sept. 20.—Official reports of conditions of interior
towns have begun to come in from agents sent out by Governor Sayres.
Following are summaries of reports so far received showing the
conditions of half a dozen towns on the Santa Fe. There are probably
fifty small towns, which are in just as bad shape and from which reports
have not been received, but which are being supplied with provisions,
clothing, and drugs from Houston by the committees:
Pearland—Fifty families depending on Relief Committee; some supplies
received but assistance in other ways than provisions needed. Families
at Erin and Superior are to be supplied through Pearland.
Algoa—Twenty-five families to be supplied; enough provisions for the
present.
DESTRUCTION IN OUTLYING DISTRICTS.