The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-10-21
AWruL nlsAsTEn m rExAs. ],
A Town Wrecked by Storm--Niiole Families
Drowned-Business Houses and Residences
Capslzed and Occupants Drowned.

GALVESTON, October 14.-The town of
Sabine Pass, at the mouth of Sabine river,
the dividing line between Louisiana and
Texas, is reported TO be entirely washed away
. by the terrific storm of Tuesday night.
Over so lives are reported TO be lost out
of total population of 200. All tele-
graphic communication with the town is
cut off. Sabine Pass is 60 miles up the
coast from Galveston and % miles south
west of Beaumont, the county scat OF JET
ferson county.
Another report says that during the over
flow hotel containing 10 or 20 persons
was swept out into the bay and all the oc-
cupants were drowned.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
BEAUMONT, Texas, October Id 30 A.
M-Our town was in state of intense cX-
element tonight at news just received
from Sabine Pass. Wehavc no tGlcgraphic
communication with Sabine Pass, as the
wires are all down, but an engine arrived
here tonight over the East Texas railroad
that left there about 6 o'clock. Two citi-
zcns, who rowed in II small boat across the
cXpanse Of angry waters, n distance of sew
eral miles, from the town of Sabine to the
railroad track, came in on the engine and
gavca hcartrcndering account of the affair.
They say the waters began to invade the
town from the Gulf and the lake together
about 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, and
rose with unprecedented rapidity.
The citizens of the doomed place did moi
realize the imminent danger until it was
too late to escape; When safety by tigh
was recognized us being out Of the question
the people who were situated SO they coulc
do SO bctook themselves to houses ant
other resorts which they judged to be safe
The water kept rising, and between anC
o'clock the smaller houses began to yiclt
to the rcsistless force of the waves. which
mt only moved them from their founda
tions, but turned them over on their side
and tops. A little later the larger house
began to give way, and death by drownin!
seemed in store for every person in tn
place. With the yielding of the smalle
houses, several persons who had remained
in them were drowned, and when the resi-
dences and business places began to crum
bic the fatality began to double.
The following list of the drowned wa
obtained from the gentlemen who came il
on the engine: Miss NIahala Chambers
'' Jim Vondy and family of six; the wife O
2 Otto Brown and two children; Home
King, wife and child; Mrs. Junkcrand son
Mrs. Pomeroy and family Of five; Mrs
Stewart. daughter and son; q man by tn
name Of Wilson; Mrs. Arthur Mcllcynolds
Mrs. Mcdonald, daughter and grandson
Frank Milligan and family: COlumbu
Martin and family; about 25 colorcd person
whose names could not be learned
The above list comprises over 80 human
victims of the stOrm--among them some o
the leading families of the place. Their
are others, and many Of them doubles
drowned without any one living KNOWN!
anything about il. 1t is feared that who'll
families in different places have been swcp
away without leaving Il vcStigc of thc
fate.
1t is said that the situation during tn,
latter part of The afternoon bcggarcd dc
SCription. The manifestations OF terror
and agony by people looking face TO fac,
at death, and realizing that there was ne
escape: the dying cries Of women, audible
but rendered almost nOisccsS by the roar O
the mad sea: the hoursc voices of palliC
men, trying TO save those dear TO thnm-al
combined made Il scene too horrible to b.
described.
On receipt Of this news the citizens O
Beaumont immediately began preparation
1,,r the relief of the sufferers. The Ens
Tcxcs railway has placed an engine at thc
disposal, and II party Of men have gone I
procure n ,.Oat and start to the scene of IL
disaster. The damage to property is vcr
great. The wha1.F property of the tow
was owned by New Yu..k capitalists VII
also own the adjoining lan"$, ana WEI
aiming to make Sabine Pass I'm l,NpOrtar
point on the Gulf coast.