The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-10-07
Letter froIn EIat .gorda..
- MATAGoRDA, Texas, !
September 20. 1875.

u
September 20, 1875.
Editors Democratic Statesmdn--We have
just had the most terrible and disastrous
storm here that was ever known. Col. X.
B. Williams, a resident OF this county gfoI
tifty-oDe years. says that he has never seen
anything to compare toit worse, and by far
more runIous, to the people on the coast
than The storm of 1874 Our town suffered
awtully. From One-haf to two-thirds of
the houses are either down fiat or unroofed
and second stories gone. The most OF hose
remaining are badly Damaged. The Epis-
copal Church is a wreck, with the roof off.
The other churches are down, The Odd
Fellows Hall is fiat. The Colorado House
is blown down to the first story. The court
house is badly damaged; the windows are
| all gone above, and one end blown out be-
low. The records are all safe, and but little
damaged, as the storm did not strike the
southwest conner of the house. The
| storm appears 10 have been worse east
or northeast. The mail rider left here We'd
nesdaY for Galveston, but was overtaken by
the storm at Kenner post Office. He could
get no further; says as far as he Travelled or
could learn that the whole of Gulf Prairie
was emerged, and many lives lost. Among
those mentioned are old man Sargent, Il be-
Mr.. John Sargent, several OF F. Minister'S
family, Mr.. William McNeil's wife, and
several others whose names do not remem-
Der now. A boat came from the peninsula
last night, and reports twenty-one persons
drowned, and several houses washed into
the Gulf. The peninsula is cut from the
Gulf to the bay in many places. In one
place, / learn, their is a channel one-half
mile wide and twenty-five feet deep. or
those lost on the peninsula, as far as we caH
learn. are Mr.. William Mitchell aud family.
Mr.. Alexander Fiorrestier and family, Capt
Hutchens lost his whole family, he himself
is alive, he is an old Texan. Poor old man.
after trying to save his wife and children.
and being unable to do so, tried and did
save himself by climbing tree (water cedar,
believe), he was found holding on with
one hand and with an ear Of corn IN the
other. They are suffering on the peninsula
for food and water, as the provisions are all
gone and the water salt. Our boats here
are all sunk, smashed up or washed ashore,
and though we have been trying TO get
them of, 50 far have not succeeded, except
9 skif rugged up and sent to the peninsula.
Our crops are all gone on lower Caney. The
higher you 60 up, the better the planters
Jared. John DIniean, jr., came in last
nlgut anu caih nc tuOuBub nc Nouiu make
about one-fourth of = cop The most Of
the gin houses and cabins on Csney are
down Mr.. Kemp, the mail nder, tells us
that in Col. Hawkins field the water was
salt. We have not heard anything from
Galveston or Indianoia, and dread the news
from those places, more especially Calves
ton, as it is on the Gulf. Our citizens hold
meeting to day 20 solicit aid for the desti-
tufe amoRn us. Is manT are left srifltnuf
homes clothing or provisions for their FAM
Ines. Aa the mail Is about 70 leave. via
Wharton for GAlvestoa, must close, and
hope you viii be able 70 receive these few
lines 50 hurriedly written.
Very respectfully
JoHz L. CROOK