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 — John Shaqi
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 storm of September 8th did not, as has been supposed, come upon the
city without warning. The same storm, less ferocious perhaps, had swept
along the South Atlantic coast several days before. It had its origin in
that breeding place of hurricanes, the West Indies, and, after swirling
along the Florida and Carolina shores, doubled on its tracks, entered
the Gulf, came racing westward and developing greater strength with each
hour, and centered all its energies upon the Texas coast near Galveston.
On September 7th there was official warning of the approach of a severe
storm, but no one expected such a tempest as was destined to devastate
the city. Such warning as was given was rather addressed to mariners
about to go to sea than to those living on shore.
Simultaneously with the approach of the hurricane was a great wind from
the north, known locally as a “Norther.” This developed at Galveston
about 2 A. M., on September 8th. The approaching hurricane from the east
and southeast had been driving a great wall of water toward the shore at
Galveston. The tremendous wind storm from the north acted as a counter
force or check to the hurricane element.
The north wind blew the water from Galveston Bay on the one side of the
city and the storm in the Gulf hurled its battalions of waves upon the
beach side of the city.
Early in the day the battle between these two contending forces offered
a magnificent spectacle to a student of scenery of nature. As long as
the north wind held strong the city was safe. While the winds dashed
great volumes of water over the wharves and flooded some streets in the
business portion of the city and the waters of the Gulf on the other
side of the city encroached upon the streets near the beach there was no
particular fear of serious consequences, but about noon the barometer,
which had been very low, suddenly began to drop at a rate that presaged
a storm of tremendous violence.
Following this came the warning that the wind would, before many hours,
change from the north to the southeast and to the fury of the wall of
water being driven upon Galveston by the approaching hurricane would be
added all the tremendous force of the wind that had previously acted as
a partial check to the Gulf storm.