Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-29
WORSE THAN REPORTED.
One Hundred Persons Drowned
at Sabine Pass.
A Horror Unprecedented.

I
The first reports of the great disaster at
Sabine Pass were not in the least exagger-
ated, IN fact they under estimated the
number OF deaths caused by the storm
The death-roll now reaches ninety, with a
number missing. IL is thought that fully
100 persons niSt their death on the night of
the gale. The relief trains could not get
within twelve miles of the town, but over
dozen tow-boats were sent out and set
to work saving life and property. There
l. considerable back water yet at Sabine.
hemmed IN and he'd there 10y the railroad
embankment. The most intense excite
ment has prevailed along the coast since
the nrSt news or the fearful catastrOphe.
The people have neither eaten nor slept and
crowds have surrounded the wharves and
depot waiting for the return of the train
or boat rom the devastated town. The
steamboat Lamar left Orange with a relief
turn no one knew, but constant watch
was kept at Orange. At exactly midnight
the next night the whistle OF the Lamar
was heard. The people hurried heiter-
skelter to hear the news and to receive the
sick and destitute
The relief committee aboard the Lamar
consisted OF twenty citizens from Beau
mont and about forty from Orange. They
Travelled up the Neches river between I y.
III. and midnight, which was an eXtaOrdin-
airy trip, fraught with fearful danger.
Twenty -five OF the committee were left at
Sabine Pass To recover some OF the bodies,
many of which are reported 70 have
washed dozens of miles over into LOuisi-
ana. The members of the relief committee
who returned were so tired and worn out
and so overcome 10y the horrible devasta-
ton they had witnessed that ii was next
TO impossible 20 get IA cohereD. story from
them, and as each OF the rescued refugees
was surrounded by about a hundred peo-
pie II was equally impossible 10 get de-
tailed account from any one of them. The
exact extent of the storm-sw :pt district is
yet unknown.
From reports brought by the committee
it is certain that the flooded district en-
braces an expanse of country many times
larger than at first supposed. The gulf
seems TO have moved over he land for
miles in one high, unbroken wall Of water.
The committee report that ltl persons are
missing, ninety of whom are known TO
have been drowned. Thirty-fve of the
victims We're white and fifty five colored
Joseph Smith, n famous local character
known as Alligator Smith was Suppos-
ed 10 be among the lost Gs people on the
relief train saw him driving before the
gale on Lake Sabine at the rate of twenty
five mile, an hour, clingirg to his skIH and
calling loudly for help. Great was the
surprise therefore when ALLIGATOR over
hauled the steamer on it's return, bringing
with him in his small boat three persons
whom he had rescued in swamp. Many
other miraculous escapes are recorded
Nnety-One half-clad, ghivering wretch
ed victims OF the storm were brought up
on the Lamar. Blankets and bedding
were Immediately & ithered from house 10
house for the comfort OF the heart broken
sufferers, every one OF whom has some
dear friend or relative among the dead.
Nearly all the refugees are sick and pros
trated from exhaustion and hunger
They are being tenderly cared for by citi-
Zcns Of Beaumont
DR.. b. +. Calhoun II the relief commit
tee says there are many persons in the
vicinity Of Sabine Pass who are utterly
destitute, being without clothing 20 cover
their nakeduess. DR.. Calhoun requests
aid for the destitute. He says il makes no
difference what Is sent, whether food.
clothing medicine, or money, they need
them all. Or. Calhoun is mayor of Beau
mont, and he will distribute through com
mittecs whatever is sent 20 him.
From all the accounts gathered. Ian
guage could not eNaggerate the state Of
affairs at Sabine Pass. Out of more than
main standing, and they are ruined.
Wives and children were swept away and
drowned IN the presence Of their husbands
and fathers, who were pcwerlesS TO save
them. The wave, broke against the light
house in solid walls, fifty feet high, tear
ing out the windows ut the very top Of
the structure. Corpsc- have been picked
up at distance OF thirty miles from the
scene OF the disaster. Friends and relatives
of the drowned are coming into Orange
and Beaumont 10y every train. The steam
boat Lamar took on board cargo of food,
blankets, and clothing. and also a fresh re-
lief committee, and started down the
Neches 90 .uccOr the unfortunateS.
The pecuinary damage at Sabine, in
Guiding that To the government works,
will aggregate nearly 100000, rs many OF
the neighboring plantations sustained
serious injury.
The excitement and interest over tho
dreadful catastrophe at Sabine Pass is in
no way abatcd The citizens of al jacent viii
lagos are taking steps toward extending
substantial relief 10 the surviving victims.