The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-10-22
APPALLING CALAMITY.
The Town of Sabine Pass, Texas.
Completely Swept Away.
The Awful Effects OF AN Unprecedented Rise
Of Waters - Ninety Human Lives
Les:-The PitiabIe Condition
of the Survivors.

BEAUMONT, Tex, Oct. l5.-Desp!te
the difficulties encountered In the way OF
bad telegraph facilities and obstrucied
railroad communication, your CORE
spondent has succeeded In obtaining con-
firmation 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 food, very little
as yet. 1t is a certainty that there has
been great loss of life; a moderate csti-
male places the NUMBER drowned al fifty.
1t is not known, end perhaps never viii
be known Just how many persisted.
THE TOWN.
Sabine Pass is to an 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 SCEy vORs.
Two citizens who survived the terrible
affair, at the risk of their lives rowed in
u sIlidli DCGt i've HllieS tutOuSu the EdSp.
ing food 10 the railroad track, where
they secured the engine which brought
them here. They say that on Tuesday
morning some of the people noticed that
the wafer 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 flood came from both lake
and gulf, but it appears that the danger
was not considered very great until the
lower floors of some of the houses were
actually flooded. The danger was then
seen, but not until it was too late 10 es-
cape from the city. Safety BY fight be-
ing out of the question, people who were
situated so that they could do it betook
themselves 10 the roofs OF houses
thought to be safe. The water KEEP. 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. A little later
and the larger houses began to give away,
and death by drowning seemed in store
for every citizen of the place. With the
Welding of the smaller houses several
persons who had remained in them were
drowned, and when the residences ard
business places began TO crumbe the
fatality began 10 double.
The situation during the latter part of
the afternoon bc.cars description. The
manifestation of terror and agonv by the
people looking death in the face and
realizing there was no escape; the dying
cries OF women rendered almost inaudible
by the rosr OF the wild sea; the hoarse
voices of pa!lid men trying to save those
dear to them-all combined made scene
too horrible 10 be described.
SOME OF THE LOST.
The parties who brought the informa-
tion here say they think about thirty to
forty negroes and about twenty-five
white people were drowned. They
could not give anything like i 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
son.
Columbus Marier and family.
Mrs. Arthur McRcvnolIs.
Miss Mahala Chambers.
Henry Nelson.
Ed Wyiie.
MIR. Chambers.
r. V. Wilson.
Mrs. B. +. McDonouch.
Miss Jackie McDonou.h.
r V Melam
II. B. Antow.
W. NARROW.
Henry Dew.
Ed Wantrew.
Joseph Smith.
Besides these, your correspondents in !
formants say they have personal knowl- |
edge of the drowning of about twenty |
five negroes.
CoNFIRMAToRY DETAILS.
HOUSTON, Tex, Oct. l5.-The reports |
regarding the overflow and terrible disas-
ter visited upon Sabine Pass, have teen |
positively confirmed. Citizens of Hous-
ton have been wiring TO Beaum ont and !
trying in every possible way to ascertain
the extent of the damage done and the |
number of lives lost.
The Houston Post sent correspondent |
10 the Pass and the following facts from
the Post were ascertained. The cores
pondent describes many heartrendng in
cidents. He states that Major S.anford's
wife and infant were at Sabine anG tine