Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-16
NINETY DEAD AT SABINE.
~upRrpTE DEVELOPMENTS
FROM THE RUINED TOWN.

REAuMoNT, TEX, Oct. 15.-The hrst
reports OF the great disaster at SABINE
Pass were not exaggerated, IN fact the
death roll now reaches ninety Souls Inc
relet parties that went down as near
Sabine as possible on the Sabine anu
East Texas railroad are yet there, succor-
,ng the destitute and sick. The train
could not get within twelve miles OF the
town. but over a dozen tow boats nave
heen sent there, and are at work saving
life and property. There is considerable
hack water vet at Sabine, hemmed In ana
neld there by the railroad embankment.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
Most intense excitement has prevailed
here since the first news OF the ieariul
catastrophe. The people nave neither
eaten nor slept, and crowds have sur
vounded the wharves and depot waiting
for the return of train or boat from
the devastated town. The steamer La
mar left Orange Wednesday night at 10
O'Clock with relief committee on board.
When she would return no one knew, but
constant watch was kept at Orange and
here. At midnight last night she arrived
here. The people hurried to hear the
news and receive the sick and destitute.
The relief committee aboard the Lamar
consisted of twenty citizens from Beau
mont and forty from Orange. they tray
eled I'D the Neches river between O'CLOCK
Yesterday afternoon and midnight, which
was an extraordinary trip fraught with
fearful danger.
TO SEARCH FOR BODIES.
Twenty-Five of the committee were left
At saoine Pass to make attempts TO re-
eover some of the bodies, many OF winch
are reported to have been washed dozens
of miles over into louisiana. The men,
bers OF the relief committee who returned
were so worn out and overcome by the
horrible devastation they witnessed that
it was next to impossible to get the story
from them and as each Of the refugees was
surrounded bv about hundred people 1t
was equally impossible to get detailed
account from any one of them.
THE AREA COVERED.
The exact extent of the storm-swept
district is vet unknown. From the re-
ports brought by the committee 1T is GER
ain that the flooded district embraced an
exp8nse of country many times larger
tnan was at first supposed. The Cult
seems to have moved over the land for
miles in one high, unbrokeu wall of
water. The committee report 101 persons
missing, 80 OF whom are known to have
been drowned.
THTRTY.FIVE OF THE DEAD WHITES.
Thirtv-ive Of the victims were white
and ttty-tive cOlored. Joseph Smith, a
famous local character, known as tAlli-
gator' Smith, was supposed to be lost,
as the post on the relief train saw him
driving before the gale on Lake Sabine
at the rate of twenty-five miles an hour.
Great was the surprise, though, when
Smith overhaued the steamer on its re-
turn, bringing with him in his small boat
three persons whom he had rescued in the
swamp. Ninety-one half-clad, shivering
and wretched victims of the storm were
brought up on the Lamar. Blankets and
bedding were gathered from house to
house Tor the comfort of the heartbroken
sufferers, every one of whom has some
uear friend or relative among the dead.
ALL THE SURVIVORS FRUSTRATED.
Nearly all the refugees are sick and
proerated from exhaustion and hunger.
Tney are being tenderly cared for by the
citizens OlBeaumont. DR.. Calhoun, one of
Inc rellef committee, says there are
many persons in the vicinity OF the Pass
VINO are utterly destitute, being without
Ciothlhg 10 cover their nakedness. DIR.
Oalnoun requests all correspondents to
ssk ald for the destitute. He SAYS il
makes no difference what is sent, food
clotalng, medicine or money. they
nneed them all. DR.. Calhoun is Mayor OF
neaumont, and he will distribute through
committees whatever is sent. From all
accounts language could not exaggerate
tle state OF affairs at Sabine Pass. Out
ol more than $50 houses in the village
@ TESS lhah SIX remain standing, and they
are ruined. Wives and children were
swept away and drowned in the presence
oltnelr husbands and fathers, who were
po"erless TO save them.
SOLID WALLS OF WATER.
Inc waves broke against the light
;use uouse 10 solid walls fifty feet high, tear.
TS ,uS OUT the windows at the very top.
HUroses .L:es nave been found aJa distance Of
ta tnni'! miles from the scene Of the disas-
'eI: Friends and relatives of the drowned
Ipes,oents pSts are coming into Orange aud
DoSULont ny every tram. The damage
a. sabine, including that TO the gov
nnan o.naeuC works, Will aggregate
u.eary 100000. The latest list Of
;uose known to have been drowned
a. dS follows: Mrs. W. A. Junke,
"uaries =. Junke, Mrs. b. f. McDon-
h hhSug9' Miss McDonnaugh, Mrs. Colum.
s yuo haftee and child, Mrs. POmerv and
Me- children, Mrs. q. Pomerv and child.
SIs' Auiiigan and four children. Mrs,
nonuusy and three children, o. f, Brown.
wis a'isS Aahalia Chambers, Hover King.
Snd "ie and cdld. two children of William
yWTeS", child OF Capt. Stewart. Mrs.
EIIluhg, John Wilson, and BENJAMIN
10y Inc foregoing names are all of
s, sui'e persons, The names of the tiftv-
cer,oi rv oDlored Victims have not yet been as
AHh DEVASTATION COMPLETE.
Ioi1ana4 nu arrival from Sabine Pass brings the
bnn,o "iiu4' There is not one inhabited
t,e stn. 10 me place. Not even the sign of
ALL diie building could be found, and not
eomid worth of goods, so far as we
nbaNtll earn, was saved by all the mer.
artv oomoined. Every vestige OF prop.
lies as s gone. The schooner Silas
vsrds ost ON the land about 400
wreoA h0m ON the water, and is a total
Mnsta.. me tug Fowler is beached near
railwoae, point but will be saved. The
mas ~ LOT SIX or eight miles is a twisted
ms,r,ool IRON. Our steamer found the re-
food nus inhabitants suffering for want OF
nYnoa,,uu" water and from the nights terrible
was ~ Z, ana the work of relieving them
strooeat AZ once begun. The water in the
| feet SsN vi the town was from one TO two
ahoes1e All the sufferers we're gotten
| HE sn5 .ne steamer as speedily as posi-
could. ""n's Supplieo as oest we
W.. AT THE LIGHTHOUSE.
of for 'u ia all were aboard the steamer put
IA nt,n,ke we lighthouse tower, out OF which
] uunoer OF sutferars were takar uara