The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-09-26
Tho Great Storm on the Texas Coast.

no GreaL Oh tHo AeAoS SO"SN'
In onr last issue we stated that grave fears
were entertained III this city for the safety OF
Galveston, tn g latest accounts from which place,
dated Thursday, 10th, 6 p. NJ, reported that a
terrible storm had been raging since the morn
ing previous, and was then at its height. These
fears were dissipated, however, Monday morn
ing. The storm commenced late Tuesday
night, the 14th inst, and continued till Friday
morning, Il th, when it began to abate and by
noon that day had subsided, The whole city
and island were covered with water to the
depth of six feet in some places, and nearly
two hundred houses were washed away, most
of them being wooden building. The loss OF
life in the city was limited to one old woman,
| and out at the breakwater to six persons in
Guiding DR.. Peete. 1t is estimated that $780,
600 will fully cover all damages sustained
throughout the city.
But while we were rejoicing over this news
from Galveston, which dispelled the gloomy
forebodings of thousands of our citizens, intell-
eence of the destruction of the city of 1ndianola
and the loss of two hundred lives, was receiv ed
The following extract from private letter,
written the day after the storm had subsided,
gives concise and accurate account of the
terrible visitation:
| On Wednesday, Is, inst the winds were
! from the eastward, veering to the north. On
Thursday forenoon they became more steady
| increasing to q gale the water waist deep
| every man, woman aud child seeking place oi
safety. The winds 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 streets. About
O'Clock Friday morning the wlndS Veered 70
! the northwest, the waves became cnopped
and houses washed away or tumbled TO pieces
The wind towards morning began TO lnii a
! little. The water getting lower until the
wind veered north. Then came nope untli
/ DAYLIGHT began to break, and then did we be-
hold the awful destruction around, and thank
ed our God that we had been saved and our
perilous condition was as nothing compared
| with the sutferngs of neighbors and citlzens
along the bay. Broad dayNSht reTealeu
scene that was terrible to behold. The town
| could not recognized as the lndlanola OF the
day previous TO the storm; ruin, total run
| everywhere. People were seen walking ano
jumping over gully and another; nelgh-
Dor met neighbor and told their troubles and
tribuations of the previous night. Death ano
destruction were all around us houses were
crushed to the ground, Others Swayea ar0unu rLo
and leaning over. The wind fully dying down
the water disappeared from places In the
streets. Those that could sailed out TO learn
| the news. Bodies of men, women ana chlld
! rem were found in all directions. police ana
guards were organized and search was mace
| for missing relatives and friends: How mauy
have lost their lives in this fearful storm IL II
| impossible to learn. Up to this time sixty OF
| seventy bodies have been found and buried
Women were found, and men also, who Aoated
off on doors or anything they could get hold
of miles away; some were beneath their TOOLS
carried away leng distances. Inc escape OF so
many of our citizens is almost miraculous
The town Of Cedar Lake was washed away
and all the people lost. On Matagorda penin
aula fifteen families resided all of whom are
supposed to be lost. OF twenty-five Person'
at East Bay only five escaped. The towns oi
Matagorda, vilasco, Quintaro, and Sabine
were entirely swept away, all the inhabitants
escaping. The water for eight miles on the
land side of Vllasco, was said to be five feet
! deep.
Probably we have so far only heard of one
| half the loss of life and property, as number
of small settlements had grown up on the
coast, which had little communication with
the outer world, and from which no tidings
have been received The destituton and
suffering of the poor in the places heard from
are sad to be heart-rending, but food and
clothing and money are flowing in from all
quarters, while those who lived in isolated
places, and who may have escaped the Hood
may, possibly, have perished Of starvation be-
| fore any one can reach them.
Joe Jefferson appears in London, NOvembsE