Bismarck weekly tribune., 1886-10-22
THE r AT A. / r y OOD.
The Number Of Lives Lost, in the
Destruction Of Sabine, Over
3sa8 One Hundred.
"A Tidal Wave Seems to Have Moved
Over the Land in One High,
Unbroken Wall.
Many miraculous Escapes.

3i Unbroken Wall. .s..2
Many miraculous Escapes. @
GALVESTON, TEXAS, Oct. 15 The vii
lage Of Sabine Pass is located at the mouth
Of the Sabine river, within half mile Of
the extreme point jutting from the Texas
side. The town lies only four feet above;
the main tide mark, and is bounded by a
great swamp on the west and Lake Sabine
on the north. The entrance to Lake Sa-
bine is mile and half above the town.
The lake is fifteen miles long, with an av-
erage depth of seven feet, which is always
maintained by the huge volume of water
pouring into the basin from the two navi-
gable rivers, Neches and Sabine. 1t was
this lake, according to the most expert
enced navigators, that F
DESTROYED THE TOWN.
The hurricane of last Sunday in the West
Indies blew the waters with great violence
toward the Texas coast. This hurricane
was at first noticed on the coast on Monday
morning, attaining its maximum on Tues
day afternoon and was maintained at
high point by the impetus of the waters
behind. The hurricane itself did not reach
these coasts at all, as scarcely a breath of
wind was stirring when the tidal wave first
touched the coast. When the maximum
was reached on Tuesday afternoon, how
ever, a fierce northwest gale sprang up
along the whole coast. This
GALE BLEW THE WATERS
out Of Lake Sabine and drove them to-
ward the gulf, where they were met by the
great swell caused by the hurricane, This
resulted in driving the lake waters upon
the little town, submerging the country for
ten miles around without a moments no
tice. The collector of customs ordered the
government tug Penrose to make trip to
Sabine yesterday, and to-day she returned
with report. 1t is certain that the flooded
district embraced an expanse of country
many times larger then was at first sup
posed The gulf seems to have moved over
the land for miles in one high unbroken
wall of water. The committee report that
lol persons are missing, ninety Of whom
ty-fye Of the victims were white and
dfty-fye colored. Joseph Smith, a famous
local character known as "Alligator''
Smith, was supposed to be among the lost,
as the people on the relief train saw him
driving before the gale on Lake Sabine at
the rate of twenty-five miles an hour, cling
ing to his skitf and calling loudly for help.
Great was the surprise here when "Alliga-
tori Oyerhauled the steamer on it's return,
bringing with him in his small boat three
persons whom he had rescued in the
swamp. Many other
MIRACULOUS ESCAPES
are reported. Ninety-one half-clad, shiver-
ing, wretched victims of the storm were
brought up to Beaumont on the Lamar.
Bedding was Immediately carried from
house to house for the comfort of the
broken-hearted sufferers, everyone of
whom has some dear friend or relative
among the dead. Nearly all of the refu-
gees are sick and Frustrated from exhaus-
tion and hunger. They are being tenderly
cared for by the citizens of Beaumont
r FROM ONE WHO WAS THERE.
DR.. B. F. Calhoun, one of the relief COM
mittee, says: Language cannot exaggerate
the state of affairs at Sabine Pass. Out of
more than $50 houses in the village less
than six remain standing, and they are
ruined. Wives and children were swept
away and drowned in the presence of their
husbands and fathers, who were power
less. The waves broke against the light
house in solid walls fifty feet high, tearing
cut windows at the very top of the stuc-
lure. COrpSeS have been picked up at a
distance OF thirty miles from the scene of
the disaster. Friends and relatives of the
drowned residents are coming into Orange
and Beaumont by every train. The steam
boat Lamar took on board cargo of food,
n1nthinr oil
relief committee and at daylight this
morning started down the Neches to
succor the unfortunates. She will probably
reach here on her return trip about mid
night: The pecuniary damage to Sabine,
including that to government works, will
aggregate nearly $5OO,OO0. Many Of the
neighboring plantations sustained serious
injury.
THE LATEST LIST
of those known to have been drowned is as
follows: Mrs. W. A. Junke; Charles c.
Junke; Mrs. B. F. McDonough; Miss Nc
Donough; Mrs. Columbus Maree and child;
Mrs. Pomeroy and three children; Mrs.
Mulligan and four children; Mrs. Vonduay
and three children; o. F. Brown; Miss Ma
hala Chambers; two children of VIM. Shaw:
q child Of Captain Steward; Mrs. Whiting:
John Wilson; Benjamin Foley. The fore
going names are all of white persons. The
name of fifty-fve colored victims have not
been ascertained.
= AN EDITORS ACCOUNT.
ORANGE, Texas, Oct 15.-The following
mte account of the disaster at Sabine Pass
and Johnson's Bayou is given by the editor
Of the Tribune, who was with the relief
steamer Lamar: "The steamer made good
time and we were soon ON the lake, cross
ing and dropping skiffs and other boats
with men and provisions at every point
where it was thought people would be
likely to be found. Shortly after daylight
we reached Sabine Pass, having picked up
anumber Of men on the way. The sight
here presented to the view was deplorable.
The little town is a total wreck the few
buildings left being
TWISTED AND FLATTENED
into all manner of shapes, some completely
upset and removed from their foundations
one to four hundred yards. There is not
an inhabitable house in the place, not even
rio ,<>fo c4o