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
ROBBERY AND MUTILATION OF THE DEAD.
A reporter has telegraphed from La Porte the story of the robbery and
mutilation of the dead in Galveston and death of the offenders.
Ghouls were holding an orgie over the dead. The majority of these men
were negroes, but there were also whites who took part in the
desecration. Some of them were natives and some had been allowed to go
over from the mainland, under the guise of “relief” work. Not only did
they rob the dead, but they mutilated bodies in order to secure their
ghoulish booty. A party of ten negroes were returning from a looting
expedition. They had stripped corpses of all valuables, and the pockets
of some of the looters were fairly bulging out with fingers of the dead,
which had been cut off because they were so swollen the rings could not
be removed.
Incensed at this desecration and mutilation of the dead, the looters
were shot down, and it has been determined that all found in the act of
robbing dead shall be summarily shot.
During the robbing of the dead, not only were fingers cut off, but ears
were stripped from the head in order to secure jewels of value. A few
Government troops who survived have been assisting in patrolling the
city. Private citizens have also endeavored to prevent the robbing of
the dead, and on several occasions have killed the offenders. Singly and
in twos and threes the offenders were thus shot down, until the total of
those thus executed exceeds fully fifty.
A REFUGEE’S STATEMENT.
J. W. B. Smith, who went to Galveston from Denver, was in Saturday
night’s storm, and reached Houston, after having an experience which he
will remember the remainder of his life.
He started from the city on Monday afternoon, and in walking from the
foot of Broadway to the Santa Fe bridge, counted two hundred dead bodies
hung up on wire fences, to say nothing of those floating in the water.
He constructed a raft out of planks, and in company with Clegg Stewart,
made for the mainland, which they reached after hours of exposure.
In every direction crossing the bay they saw the feet of corpses
sticking out of the water. Upon reaching land they walked to Hitchcock,
Mr. Stewart’s home, and found that twenty-five persons had lost their
lives there, and that, in addition, fifty bodies that had floated ashore
had been buried near there.
MONEY BADLY NEEDED.
The Galveston local relief committee sent out the following:
“We are receiving numerous telegrams of condolence and offers of
assistance. As the telegraph wires are burdened, we beg the Associated
Press to communicate this response to all. Nearby cities are supplying
and will supply sufficient food, clothing, etc., for immediate needs.
Cities farther away can serve us best by sending money. Checks should be
made payable to John Sealy, Chairman of the Finance Committee.