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 Norwegian Gyller, a steamer of considerable tonnage, now lies
stranded between Virginia Point and Texas City. Its course varied
considerably from that of the Kendall Castle. A channel would have to be
cut so far to float out the Gyller that there is doubt whether it would
be warranted by the amount at stake.
One of the most serious results of the storm has been the damage to the
electric light and street car plants. The city has been in absolute
darkness for several nights, and only a few concerns who operate their
own illuminating services are enabled to do business. Nearly every
residence has gone back to the primitive candle. The absence of street
lights drives all who have no imperative business on the streets to
their homes at nightfall, but the work of the patrol system is made more
difficult thereby and the opportunity for looting greater.
The motormen deserted their cars when the fury of the wind and the rush
of the water made it no longer possible to operate them. Attempts are
being made now to get the cars in shape again. The great destruction of
live stock has eliminated the carriages and cabs as a means of
transportation.
The work of relief continues energetically. Mayor Jones and his
associates are bending every nerve to open a direct line of
transportation with Houston by which he may be enabled promptly to
receive the great quantity of provisions which are now on the way to the
city. The Relief Committee is striving to systematize its work. On
Tuesday an ordinance was passed authorizing rescuing and burying parties
to set fire to wrecked buildings and burn them. In these funeral pyres
hundreds of corpses were cremated.
CARING FOR HOMELESS REFUGEES.
Houston now is the haven of the unfortunate people of Galveston. Trains
have already brought in between 500 and 1000 of the survivors, and a
motley crowd they are. Men bareheaded, barefooted, hatless and coatless,
with swollen feet and bruised and blackened bodies and heads were
numerous. Women of wealth and refinement, frequently hatless, shoeless,
with gowns in shreds, were among the refugees. Nearly all of those who
came in have suffered the loss of one or more of their family. It is
remarkable, however, there is no whimpering, no complaining.
The refugees are being housed and fed, and those in need of medical
attention are placed in the hospitals. General-Manager Van Vleck, of the
Southern Pacific, says the damage to the wharves is fully eighty per
cent. The Southern Pacific, he says, expects to begin work on the bridge
within two days. It is expected that trains will be run into Galveston
within forty days.
John J. Moody, a member of the committee sent from Houston to take
charge of the relief station at Texas City, reports as follows: