The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-09-25
FEARFUL STORM ON THE GULF COAST.

southwest had prevailed for two days. and by
Wednesday evening had so raised the water
of the gulf as 10 submerge lands usually nine
or ten feet above the highest tide. The
result was, that all the towns along the coast,
few of which are more than from three to SIX
feet above high tide, were completely sub
merged and the most fearful obstruction of
life and property were the consequence.
At Galvt sion the scene Is thus described
By Thursday noon the gulf water covered
the entire island, covering the highest eleva.
ton to depth oftwo feet and half. This ridge
embraced an area of perhaps twelve blocks,
extending from Mechanic street to Market, II
distance Of two squares latitudinally, and
from Center street to Bath avenue, about six
squares longitudinally. In the entire rear of
the east and west ends Of the city the water
rose to a sufficient depth to float large wood.
en- edlfices, many of which were very valua-
BILE. The residence portion Of the city was
most affected. From fremont street, where
this section begins, for . distance Of at least
one mile and half west, every garden and
every foundation Is destroyed. Domciles
are scattered promiscuously in the center of
the thoroughfares, many of them being Jam.
med together Farther to the west, IN the
neighborhood OF Oleander Park, where there
are many small farms and number of stylish
residences, the water reached depth Of from
six to nine feet.
On Sunday, after the water had fully sub
sided, the scene is thus described:
The streets in some parts of tho city were
filled with sand, rubbish, fences, trees, els
terms, and broken furniture, and amidst all
L,,p1 ral ,t, N,,1n l,A 1,nI ~
ed out or driven from their homes by the
flood. searching tor the remnants of
their household,goods, some searching even
for their houses, which, IN some instances,
had been washed blocks away, and some be.
ing found upon the beach, half buried in
the sand. These sufferers generally were Of
the poorer classes, and will feel the loss keen
ly, as the future presents but poor prospects
for them. Scarcely tree remains standing
in the city, and the shrubbery, in all except
the highest yards and gardens, was swept
away, as was also everything in the shape OF
vegetables, the gardens being filled with sand.
A freak of the storm at Galveston city was TO
cut channel through in from the gulf to the
bay, some 70 feet in width at the bay and
double that at the gulf, through which lug
gers found sufficient depth OF water to pass.
The storm extended the entire length Of the
coast from Galveston east, and westward to
Indianola, distance Of 200 miles. The cs-
tlmated loss of property IN Galveston will
reach over four millions. The harbor pre-.
sented a sad spectacle, and one which could
in nowisc be realized without personal OBJ
servatiOn. Small crafts of every description
were beached, while many were capsiZed by
the gale and LAID bottom up, others being
buried in the sand, their masts above indicat-
ing their location.
But the destruction Of Indianoa, 200 miles
west of Galveston, was even more terrible,
upwards Of 500 houses were swept away, and
about 200 persons persisted by drowning.
The floods rose in some places to the depth
of nine feet, and all over the town the water
was fully SIX feet in depth. The gale ragged
fmiously during Thursday and Friday, and
as the water Slapped the foundations of the
weakest houses, the wind blew them down,
burying the inmates IN the ruins or drowning
them. The steamer Harlan reached Indian
ola for Galveston on Sunday morning, and
found the wharves and every portion of the
town which had occupied the beach swept out
of sight. The crew went ashore and found
the situation to be one of utter desolatiOn and
destruction. Nearly every house was more
or less damaged. The streets were filled with
wrecked buildings in every direction, and
hundreds of families were without particle
of shelter The energies of the living we're de-
voted to the rescue Of the dead from avid
erness of debris, and in the confusion ard
f,o rf, Il triHaly nrDvo1nnt IL i'm
possible to gather more than a meagre intel.
ligence.
A Mondays dispatch from Galveston says
of lndianola, "The loss of life and the
suffering are terrible. Dead bodies are
strewn for 90 miles along the beach. Citizens
here are organizing for relief and will send
them food and clothing. Over 100 bodies
had been found and buried up to the time
the steamer left Telegraph Manager San
born is reported safe, but the offices and lines
are gone for miles"
Numerous other small towns along the
coast for 200 miles shared the same fate with
Galveston and Indianola, but being smaller,
of course the damage is less Among such are
Harrisburg, Wallsville, Midway Landing,
Baytown, and Hog Island, all of which are
reported as completely washed away. All
the houses a, Green's Bayou werr under wa
ter, and an immense loss in stock is reported.
The same condition existed at DIR. Massie's
place, where the bayou was "a inches highe r
than at the time OF the great flood of 1854.
At Lynchburg, nothing is left standing except
Lemels MILL The loss of life Is unknown,
but the names of some dozen persons are Civ
en- that are known to be lost
The Ottawa Republican hypocritically al
fects surprise that the FREE TRADER should
suggest that JEFF Davis was guilty OF capt.