Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-21
Freat Destruction of Property-Several
Lives Lost.

Galveston, September 20. During the storm on
the l7th, the steamship Australian, loading with
roads and was driven ashore at t. Bernard, 60
| miles west She now is lying in seven feet of wa
| ter. No lives were lost.
| The bark Edward Mcdowell which was dis
charging from the wharf, was blown over on the
point of Pelican Island, and is now aground. She
will get OIL.
! The bayou steamer Deardstown was driven
| from her dock, broken 10 pieces, aud is total
wreck A number of her crew reported lost.
DIR. II. w. Pcet, health officer of the port, was
| at quarantine station with his family. On the
| evening of the 18th he sent his family, except
| little grandson, to the city. Next evening the
storm increased and the water rose rapidly, car
rying away buildings, etc. The last seen Of the
Dr. and little boy they were in the old fort short
distance from the quarantine station. No tidings
have been received from them, and it is suppose ed
they were both lost.
The government buildings, with all the matcrix
| a on hand which was being used in the construc-
ton of gabions for the harbor improvement were
swept away When the water carried away the
buildings q men chung to the piling through the
night, and all but two were saved by tugs thxfOl-
lowing morning.
Dwelling houses at the eastern point Of the
island, and along the beach at the south side ,were
| considerably damaged, and some were blown down
and washed off, In the central and business por-
tons of the city very little damage was done. 1t
is estimated that 100000 will cover all losses to
property at Bay Ridge.
Many telegraph poles were blown down, Rail-
roads were badly broken on the island, culverts
are gone and tracks washed off. The bridge
stands with the exception of 100 yards Of string
ets. The iron piling remains. Several days must
elapse before trains can resume.
The damage above, Oh the bay and bayous, is
reported to be very great. Commodore Morgau's
fleet of dredge boats were driven ashore and
number wrecked.
At Harrisburg and Houston terrific gale ragged
and the water driven up from the bay higher
than ever known before. 1t is feared damage
has been done at Indianola and western parts.
New Orleans, September 20. Telegraph COM
munication with Galveston is still interrupted. A
steamer arrived to-day at Brashear, bringing pas
sengers and files Of Galveston paperstothe morn
ing of the 18th. They contain long accounts of
thes torn, which is described as very severe. Pas
sengcrs report that from one-half to three fourths
of Galveston Island was submerged.
New York, September 20. A special from Gal
weston, dated the 18th, has the following
The city shows but little signs of the storm
AS soon as people saw the storm coming they be-
gan to prepare for it. Nearly all goods on lower
floors were hoisted sp to second and third stories
and saved
In the east end of the island the storm was the
seyerest The Texas and Gulf City cotton press
es were destroyed. The street car tracks in the
east end Of the town were torn up and several cars
demolished. The car buildings were ruined, and
sewers and streets badly damaged. Many houses
were unroofed.
The destruction Of life in the city was small,
not more than a dozen being lost.
Sixty men at work on the breakwater were cut
Oft from the city, but all were saved except four
A number of wrecks are reported on the island
coast, but nothing definite is known concerning
them.
1t is supposed that S., 900 900 will not more than
cover the losses sustained in the city. People
whose property was destroyed are being cared for
by the city.
Nothing has yet been heard from Red Fish bar.
special from Houston, Sunday night, says:
Private dispatches from various points along the
line of the Great Northern road represent the
storm as causing great loss. The train from ST.
Louis, due yesterday morning, is detained at Will
lis by break in the bridge at Spring creek which
cannot be repaired until the water subsidies.
From specials at various points it is learned that
the storm extended to Austin, where great dam
age was done to buildings.
What is known as the Herkley prairie repre-
sents perfect sea of water.
Several times trains had to stop while stock
which the train men sought to keep from drown
ing, was driven from the track.
At Hempsted, three churches were blown down
and other damage done.
Bayou City presents scene of devastation.
Merchants and others suffered very heavily.
Between and o'clock Friday, the lower por-
tion of the Hanson Compress, including the office,
was washed away and lodged against the railroad
bridge over White Oak bayou. A gang Of men
were engaged all day yesterday in hauling cotton
and at dark seve,a al hundred bales were saved.
At the New Compress the destruction is much
greater than at first reported and is said to be
total loss. A great portion of the ten foot brick
wall enclosing the press is down. with equal
amount of the cotton sheds. The Central rail
road track leading TO the compress is broken and
under water in several places.
At Brownville, Corpus Christi, Indanola and
Al -
0O0 Capt. Harry CASTOR, of the Hanson Derrick
Navigation tug Ontario, reached here last night.
Capt. CASTOR says the gale is the severest expert
enced in 30 years of seafaring life. In this city
the destruction has been terrible. Reports are
prevailing that the cotton crop has been severely
damaged.
At Morgan's point Thursday night, two barges
and two dredges were drived ashore. Morgan's
despatch tug Lama, after striking pile, drifted
in the bay and sank. During Friday, the board
ing house, barn and the sleeping boat were driven
ashore. dump scow and float, with an engine
on board, and another with pile driver, also went
ashore. Three houses were swept away from
Morgans point.
swept away and totally lost, but no lives reported
lost at this point
AtSpiman s island, two houses were destroyed
but no lives lost.
At Baytown, Vests store and dwelling house
were destroyed Mr. West and his family have
not been heard from and are supposed to have been
drowned.
At Midway Davis store is gone.
AT Adams island, Rev. Mr. Alexander and fam
lily are supposed lost, as no tidings of them have
been received. tts
At Barron's island, Barron's dwelling is gone
and nothing is known of his fate.
I.ynchburg presented a scene of devastation
such as is seldom witnessed. The whole place ap-
peared to be washed away. Every house in the
business part of the town is gone. DR.. Chamber
lain's house was washed away and his wife was
drowned.
Across the river, at San Jacinto almost the
same scene of ruin is presented. Abont half the
houses are washed away and those left standing
are damaged more Or less. Capt. Passman's schr.
and Hugh Gibbs tug were driven ashore, and
some OF the Direct Navigation Co.'S barges were
damaged. i' Yes
rELEGRAMSI GENERAL.