Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-09-30
THE CALAMITY IN TEXAS.

work, are cash in advance
THE CALAMITY IN TEXAS.
By recent advices we learn that the late
storm in Texas was far more disastrous in it's
effects than at first reported. Besides i'm
mense damage to shipping on the gulf, lives
and property on land were lost to an alarm
ing extent.
At Indanola the light houses, wharves,
and nearly every house, were swept away, and
from one hundred to one hundred and fifty
lives we're lost. A steamer, returning to Gal
weston from Indianola, reports that at the lat
ter town 40 place could be found to land her
cargo. The same vessel reports loss of life
and suffering to be terrible. Dead bodies
were strewn for twenty miles along the beach,
and over one hundred had been found and
buried up to the time the steamer left
A dispatch from Houston says that only five
houses are left at Matagorda, though no lives
were lost. Fifteen families, living on Mata-
gorda peninsula, are supposed to have perish
ed. The losses of the planters are estimated at
two-thirds of the crop. The picking is back
ward, and the sugar-cane is levelled. The tide
rose twelve to fourteen feet. 1t could be seen
coming forward in wave six feet deep on
land hitherto untouched. Only two or three
houses are left in Velasco and Quintara. The
people saved nothing. One hundred and if-
ty people lived at Quintara, and fifty at We
lasco. The open cotton is all blown out over
large area.
The town of Velasco was entirely swept
away. The storm or cyclone appears to have
taken in its course a belt of country, some
forty miles IN width, from the north OF Gal
weston Island, and extending to the north of
Houston. The hurricane swept over this en-
tire section of the coast, to the west of India
nola, into the Gulf. Galveston was to the
south of the more severe storm.
The following letter from Indianola gives a
vivid description of the extent and ravages Of
the storm:
"On Wednesday, 18th, the winds were from
the eastward, veering to the north. On
Thursday, A. NJ, they became more steady,
increasing to a gale. The water was then
waist deep, and every man, woman and child
were seeking place Of safety. 1t blew fear
fully, and the situation was awful. Screams
from the women and children could be heard
in every direction. The water was six feet
deep on the streets, and about two o'clock
Friday, A. NJ, the wind veered to the north
west, and the waves then became chopped.
Houses were washed away or tumbled to
pieces. The wind, toward morning, began to
Iul little, and the water was getting lower.
The wind veered to the north and then came
hope, and daylight began to break. Then
did we behold the awful destruction around,
and thanked our God that we had been saved,
and that our perilous condition was as moth
ing compared with the sutferings of our neigh
bors and citizens. Along the bay broad day
light revealed scene that was terrible to be-
hold. The town could not be recognized as
the Indianola of the day previous. Ruin, to.
tai ruin, was everywhere. The people were
seen walking and jumping over one gully and
another; neighbors met neighbors and told
of the troubles and tribulation of the previous
night. Death and destruction were all around
US. Houses were crushed to the ground and
others we're swayed round and leaning over.
The wind was dying and the water disappear
ing from places in the streets. Those that
could, rallied to learn the news. Bodies of
men, women and children we're found in all
directions The police and guards were or
ganized and the search was made for missing
relatives and friends. How many have lost
their lives in this fearful storm it is impossi-
BILE to learn. Up to this time sixty or seventy
bodies have been found and buried. Women
were found and men also who had hoated off
on doors, or anything they could get hold of.
Some we're beneath the roofs aud carried away
long distances. The escape of so many of our
citizens is almost marvellous. The search for
bodies is still going on, and the number of
human beings drowned will never be known,
as there was large number of strangers in
town. We estimate the number of lives lost
at one hundred and fifty H. ]. Huck lost
everything but his house. Eighteen bodies
were found yesterday. and the search will be
continued until all of the dead are deposited
in their last resting place. You cannot imag-
inc the extent of the disaster, and moth
ing short of its full details will give proper
knowledge of it. 4 number Of persons were
out on RATS for hours, but in many cases we're
not saved. VIM. Taylor, on trial for the SUIT
ton murder, was let out of jail to prevent his
being drowned, and made his escape. All the
churches in the town are swept away, but the
Court House is safe. Capt. Sam Brown and
two of his family were saved; they took
refuge in the lighthouse and were thereby
saved. Brown is now the only surviving
pilot at the Pass Great destitution prevails,
and the Victoria people, hearing of it, nobly
sent US assistance at once"
The greatest suffering prevails at Galveston
among the poorer classes, and many of the
wealthier class are in distress. The people at
the eastern portion of the city have been
washed out of their houses, their clothing lost,
and provisions destroyed. The suffering at
other towns in the course of the storm is equal
ly great.
In reply to an application for Government
aid, as in the Alabama case, the Secretary of
War says that Texas does not come within
the scope Of country provided for by law, in
consequence of which the sufferers will have
to rely upon private contributions.