The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-21
APPALLING CALAMITY.
The Town Of Sabine Pass, Texas,
Completely Swept Away.
The Awful Effects of an Unprecedented Rise
of WaterS - Ninety Human Lives
Lost-The PitfabIe Condition
of the Survivors,

BEAUMONT, Tex, Oct. 15.-Desp:te
the difficulties encountered in the way OF
bad telegraph facilities and DISTRACTED
railroad communication, your CORE
spondent has succeeded in obtaining con-
frmation of the reported destruction of
the town of Sabine Pass. Beyond the
fact that the town has been almost ell
tirely swept away by the isod, very little
accurate information has been received
as yet. 1t is q certainty that there has
been great loss of life; a moderate esli-
mate places the NUMBER drowned at fiitT.
It is not known, and perhaps never will
be known just how many persisted.
THE TOWN.
Sabine Pass is tow Of some eight
hundred people at the mouth of the Sa-
bine River, on the Texas & Louisiana
line, sixty miles up the coast from Gal
weston, and twenty eight miles south
east OF Beaumont, the county seat of
Jefferson.
STORY OF THE sEEv vORs.
Two citizens who survived the terrible
affair." at the risk of their lives rowed in
a small boat five miles through the rag
ing food TO the railroad track, where
they secured the engine which brought
them here. They say that on Tuesday
morning some of the people noticed that
tie waller was rising rapidly, and by noon
the situation became alarming.
By two O'Clock the water began invad-
ing the town and spreading through the
streets. The food came from both lake
and gulf, but it appears that the danger
mol rnnufIorcd
lower floors of some of the houses were
actually flooded. The danger was then
seen, but not until IL WAS too late 10 es-
cape from the city. Safety by flight be-
ing out of the question, people who were
situated SO that they could do it betOok
themselves TO the roofs of houses
thought 10 be safe. The water kept rising.
Between three and four O'Clock the
smaller houses began to yield TO the resist
less force Of the waves, and not only
moved from their foundations but turned
on their sides and tops. 4 little later
and the gerhOuseS began to give away,
and death by drowning seemed in store
for every citizen of the place. With the
yielding of the smaller houses several
persons who had remained in them were
drowned, and when the residences ard
business places began 10 crumble the
fatality began TO double.
The situation during the latter part of
the afternoon beagars description. The
manifestation of terror and a~onv BY the
people looking death in the face and
realizing there was no escape; the diving
cries OF women rendered almost inaudible
by the rosr OF the wild sea; the hoarSe
voices OF pallid men trying to save those
dear to them-all combined made L scene
too horrible to be described.
SOME OF TIE LOST.
The parties who brought the informa-
ton here say they think about thirty to |
forty negroes and about TWENTY-FIVE |
white people were drowned. They |
could not give anything like q complete |
list OF the victims, but furnished the fol- |
lowing names of whites persons known (
10 be drowned:
James Vondy and family, consisting of |
wife and five children.
Otto Brown, wife and two children.
Homer King. wife and child.
Mrs. Pomeroy and five children.
Mrs. Junker and son.
Mrs. Stewart, daughter and on.
Mrs. Mcdonald, daughter and grand
sor.
Frank Mulligsn and family of four.
Columbus MHrter and family.
Mrs. Arthur McReynolds.
Miss Mshala Chambers.
Henry Nelson.
Ed Wylie.
Mr.. Chambers.
r. V. Wilson.
Mrs. B. L, McDonou@h.
Miss jackie McDonough.
II. V. Melam.
AptOw