Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-08-25
Texas Storms.
WINDS THAT DEALT WIDESPREAD
DESTRUCTION AND DESOLATION.
THE DAMAGE AT VICTORIA AND INDIANOLA--
LOSS OF LIGHTHOUSES SWEPT
AWAY, &C.

VICTORIA, TEXAS, August 20.-A disas-
treus wind-storm visited this city yesterday,
leaving destruction and devastation in its
track The wind blew perfect hurricane.
About O'Clock in the morning the east
bound passenger train, which was standing
at the depot, was blown over on the plat
form. Several passengers were on the train
but all of them escaped uninjured. The
freight depot and the Masonic hall, both
large buildings, are total wrecks, while the
whole cOlOred section is almost literally
swept from the earth. Two church steeples
were blown down and two churches unroof-
ed. The High-School building and Jail
were considerably damaged. Altogether
there were about seventy five houses COM
pletely demolished and one hundred and
eighteen more or less injured. Few build
ings escaped uninjured. The trees and
most of the shrubbery in the city were blown
down and the streets were filled with debris.
Business was entirely suspended. The loss
is roughly estimated at 100000.
Old citizens say it was the most terrible
storm ever known in Victoria. The tele-
graph wires are all down, and there is no
connection south of here. News from Cuero
says the storm was very disastrous to prop
erty there also Advices from the country
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crops and destroying property.
A special train from Indianola brings sad
news as to that place. A relief party that
went down On it report the following:
When the train arrived within four miles
of Indianola the tracks were washed out
very badly and were partly gone. The
party walked to within half a mile of the
town in water waist deep and could 60 no
further. They saw MIR. Clements across
the bayou. The bridge was washed away.
He said they should have the train there
very early in the morning, as everybody
wanted to get away. They have nothing to
eat and DO clothes. 1t is reported that the
lower end of the town is gone, from Mrs.
Lagues's to the ice house, on both sides of
the street. The wharf is also gone. There
are supposed to be many lives lost, as many
persons are missing. The only body found
was that of a sister-in-law of Mr.. Hodges,
of Cuero, Texas.
HEAVY FIRE IN INDIANOLA--sTORMD
AND LIVES LOST.
VICTORIA, TEXAS, August 21.-Intelli-
gence has Just been received from lndianola
that fire broke out there yesterday during
except two on both sides of the street from
and including the signal office to Villenueve
corner. Captain Reed, the signal officer,
and DR.. Rosencranz were crushed and burn
ed in the signal Office. DR.. Lewis is miss
ing, and is supposed to have been lost The
Knapb family, Mrs. Shepard and her chill
dren, aud sister-in-laW of DR.. Hodges, of
Cuero, are reported to be missing.
VESSELS swAMPED--Loss OF LIFE AND PROP
ERTY.
GALVESTON, August 21.-The schooner
Livonia Perkins, of about forty-tons' bur-
then, engaged in the lumber trade, was
capsized by the force of the gale abont 9
o'clock Thursday night, off the bar, in six
fathoms of water. There were four persons
on board-Captain John Mitchell, Mariana
Maragos, a seaman, and Pritchard (the
cook). When the vessel went over Pritchard
seized small barrel, but was forced by the
action of the waves to let it go, Swimming
with the tide, he crossed to the east end of
the island through what is known as Hospit-
al channel. When he reached a point
abreast of the new wharf he hailed the
steamer S. 7. Maddox, which was moored
there, and succeeded in making the wharf,
where he was helped ashore. The distance
swum by Pritchard from the place where
the schooner was swamped to the point of
his rescue must have been nearly ten miles.
All the others of the crew of the Inflated
craft persisted. This and the drowning of
negro boy on Thursday are the only in
stances of the loss of life so far as reported.
Several small fishing boats and yachts,
anchored along the wharves, were swamp
ed, but no serious damage was done to the
shipping in the port. Much apprehension,
however, is felt for the brig Belle of the
rub; ol, in he,
outer Roads Thursday afternoon. She has
disappeared from her anchorage, and it is
hoped that her captain, who is familiar with
the coast and it's weather, stood out to sea
as the gale increased in violence, and that
the vessel will turn up all right in few
days.
While this storm does not compare with
the great storm of 1875 in violence aud des-
Effectiveness, the water was much higher and
covered greater portion Of the city. All
the street railways are badly damaged, and
that portion along the line of the beach is
completely destroyed. The street pave
ment is washed up, bridges and culverts
are gone and the damage done in this di-
reeticn is heavy. A just estimate of the
damage cannot be made until the storm
shall have abated.
Many families have lost their all and are
destitute. 1t is thought by conservative
men that the loss will reach fully 5000, 900,
and perhaps more. Telegraphic commune
cation was interrupted at o'clock A. M.
yesterday, but was restored at 5 A. M.
Railway communication, which was broken
at midnight Thursday night, has not been
restored in consequence of the dangerous
condition of the bridges across West bay.