The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-09-15
A TIDAL WAVE
And lts Fearful Damages In Texas

About midnight on the night Of
the 10 the inhabitants along this
part of the Gulf Of Mexico were
taken completely by surprise.
In comparatively q short time
the waters of the Gulf were troub.
led by some phenomena Of nature
to the natives of the
place, the result Of which they
called a tidal wave.
Some who had spent their lives
upon the coast or the water took
timely warning, were upon their
guard and were saved; but many
who closed their eyes to dream ofa
fate, awoke in the bottom
Of the mighty deep.
Between twelve and one o'clock
at night a great billow, thirty feet
in height and white as snow, came
rolling across the raging waters;
striking the sandhills, it broke, and
sweeping over the weak barriers it
dashed across the prairie, carrying
drift, timber, houses, cattle, human
beings and all things before the
charge Of irresistible power, leav-
ing death and desolation behind.
Short Branch was situated north.
west Of Indianola, about seventy
miles south Of Galveston and about
sixty yards from the Gulf of Next
co. It was the resort Of sixty or
seventy persons, including Mr..
Lafayette Winston (whose son and
daughter were formerly students
Of Maryville College,, and family,
with whom I was spending the
summer.
According to the account Of old
settlers all previous storms were
characterized as follows: they oc'
CURED during the full moon in Sep.
TENDER and were preceded by a
strong gale blowing constantly
three or four days from the north.
east; causing a gradual elevation
Of the waters and increasing the
size and violence of the breakers
thus giving ample time to the peo'
pie to seek places of safety in the
interior.
On the night of the 10th there
was a dead calm, indeed there was
not enough air to breathe without
an effort; 1t was very warm. Even
up to 10 or II a. m. on the 10th thu
water was as smooth a. q mirror
the wind being from the north.
The wind now suddenly turnet
to the northeast, but It was not un
til about dark that there was any
thing like q gale. And until lat
at night, in fact few moments he
fore the catastrophe each recedine
breaker revealed the sandy beach
yesterdays peaceful promenade.
Towards midnight q huge blacl
cloud like a moving continent roll
ed along the coast, and roarinI
thunder mingled with the louder
yet still more solemn groanings 0
the sea. Suddenly strange an,
distant rumbling, above the con
slant roar Of the angry waves an,
muttering thunders was heard
Nearer and nearer 1t came. AM
when the blazing lightnings she'
its glare upon the deep q rollinl
mountainous wave snow white wa
seen bearing down, thirty feet higf
upon the coast.
| Mr.. Winston had lived on tn
coast most Of his life; had passe
through the terrible storm Of SeE
TENDER, 1875, in which he lost u
his property and only saved hin
4 self and family by taking refug
In the tops Of live oak treess fiv
; miles distant from the gulf. In thl
storm all turned to him for advic,
He spent the day of the 10th
quieting the fears of the wome
; and children; telling them, MS h
honestly believed, that there coul
be no storm in August, especial
with such light wind and that ia
accompanied by a rain cloud. H
laughed at the fears Of the mel
and told them that he had slept 1
his bed when he could hold hi
hand out and dangle it in the W,
ter running through the house
and yet there was no danger. h
said he would 60 to bed and slice
soundly that night. So, when tn
. wave came, all were equally su
, prised and frightened.
Fortunately, at this plac
through the efforts of young maj
horace woro hrourht from, ~