The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-09-30
THE GULF CYCLONE.
Destruction of Indianola, Texas, and
Many Lives Lost.

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most entirely destroyed by the storm of
the 18th inst, and more than one hum
dred and fifty lives were lost. The tele-
graph wires were carried away at the
start, and it was several days before the
news was communicated to the outside
world. We give sketch of the scene,
as portrayed by business correspondents
| received by firms in Galveston:
On Wednesday, the 18th, winds from
eastward veering to north. On Thursday
morning it became more steady, increas-
ing to gale. The water was waist deep.
Every man, woman and child were seek
place of safety. 1t blew fearfully.
The situation was awful. Screams from
women and children could be heard in
every direction. The water was six feet
deep in the street. About two o'clock
Friday a. M, the wind veered to the
northwest; the waves then become
chopped, and houses washed away or
tumbled to pieces. The wind, toward
a. m., began to lull a little, the water
was getting lower, the wind yeered to
the north, then came hope. Daylight
began to break, and then did we behold
the awful destruction around us, and
thanked our God that we had been saved,
and that our perilous condition was as
nothing compared with the sufferings of
our neighbors and citizens along the bay.
Broad daylight revealed a scene that was
terrible to behold. The town could not
be recognized as the Indianola of the
day previous-ruim, total ruin Every
where people were seen walking and
jumping over one gully and another.
Neighbor met neighbor and told of the
troubles and tribulation of the previous
night. Death and destruction were all
around us. Houses were crushed to the
ground others swayed round and lean
ing over. The wind was dying and the
water disappearing from places in the
streets. Those that could rallied to learn
the news. Bodies of men, women and
children were found in all directions.
Police and guards were organized and
the search was made for missing relatives
and friends. How many have lost their
lives in this fearful storm, it is impossible
to learn. Up to this time sixty or seven
ty bodies have been found and buried
Women were found, and men also, who
had Aoated off on doors or anything they
could get hold of. Some were beneath
the roofs, carried away long distances.
The escape of so many of our citizens IS
almost miraculous.
The search for bodies is still going on,
and the number of human beings
drowned will never be known, as there
were a large number of strangers in
town. We estimate the number of lives
lost at $50. II. ]. Huck lost everything
but his houses. Eighteen bodies were
found yesterday, and search will be con,
tinued until all the dead are deposited
in their last resting place. You cannot
imagine the extent of the disaster.
Nothing short of its full details will give
proper knowledge. Numbers of per-
sons were out on RATS for hours, but in
many cases were not saved. VIM. lay
lor, on trial for the Sutton murder, was
let out of Jail to prevent his being
drowned, and made his escape.
All the churches in the town are
swept away. The Court House is safe.
One hundred and fifty-ive persons, in
Guiding Capt. Sam Brown and two of
his family, were saved. They took ref
uge in the light house, and were thereby
saved. Brown is now the only survlv-
ing pilot at the pass. Great destitution
prevails The Victoria people, hearing
of it, nobly sent us assistance at once.
Information from Corpus Christi reports
that town safe. They escaped the heavy
gale. The town Of Saluria was entirely
washed away. Telegraph lines are pros
trated for miles.
THE STORM AT GALVESTON.
The New Orleans Times gives the fol-
lowing account of the storm at Galveston,
derived from newspaper accounts and
statements of passengers from that city:
''To briefly summarize the disaster, the
gale by Wednesday, at midday, reached
such proportions that captains of steamers,
who have been accustomed for generations
to traversing this portion of the Cult, de-
clined to put to sea. Almost slmu!tane-
ously with the announcement OF this de-
termination came the report that ship
ward at the extreme eastern end of the
island had been inundated, and that the
men were fleeing for their lives. A rap
idly falling barometer indicated an IN
crease of the storm, and the waters of the
Gulf on the south side of the island
gradually begun to encroach upon the
gardens of the scattered residences skirt
ing the beach, and they were soon over
flowed, the water during the day reach
ing a depth of two feet. All day long
and during Thursday it blew hurricane,
pushing the waters of the Gulf over the
entire island and covering even the high
est elevations to a depth of two and q
half feet. This ridge embraces an area
of perhaps tweleve blocks of buildings,
extending from Mechanic street to Mar
ket street, distance of two squares lat!-
tudinally, and from Centre street to Bath
avenue about six squares longitudinally:
In the entire of the cast and west ends OF
the city the water rose to sufficient
depth to float large wooden edliices,
many of which are very valuable. The res
idence portion ofthc city was affected from
Vremont street for distance OF at least
one mile and half. Every garden and
every foundation is destroyed. DOml-
Giles arc scattered promiscuously in the
centre ofthe thoroughfares, many of
them being jammed together.
Further to the west, in the neighbor-
hood of Oleandcr Park, where there are
many small farms and a number of styl-