The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-16

DEVASTATION AT SABINE PASS.
CHE ORIGIN OF THE STORMS.
The DAMAGE AT VARIOUS POINTS,

-"H 80 '@ANSS %NANAN
BEAUMONT, Texas, Oct, l5.-The 6IGt
reports Of the great disaster at Sabine
Pass were not In the least exaggerated, in
fact they under estimated the number OI
deaths caused by the storm, The death
roll now reaches ninty with number
missing, Itis thought that fully one hum
dred persons met their deaths on the
night OF the gale, IThs relief party that
went down as near Sabine as possible on
the Sabine and East Texas railroad are
still there, The trains could not get with.
In twelve miles OF the rnined town, but
over q dozen toBboats have bean sent
there, and are at work saving
life and property. There Is
considerable backwater yet at Sabine
hemmed In aud held thera by the rail,
road emhankment. The most Intense ex.
cltement has prevailed here since the first
news Of the fearful catastrophe, The pso,
pie have neither alto nor slept, and crowds
have surrounded the Wtlarves and depot
waiting for the return Of the train or boata
from the devastated town. The steamboat
l. Q, 0, Lamar, left Orange Wednesday
nignt at 10 o'clock with relief committee
on board. When she would return no
one knew, but constant watch was kept
at Orange and here, at exactly midnight
last night tho whistle Of the Lamar was
heard,
RETURN OF THE RELIEF poAT.
The people hurried helter.Skelter to
hear the news and to receive the sick and
destitute. Tho relief committee aboard
the Lamar conaisted Of twenty citizens
from Beaumont and about forty from
Orange. They travelled up the Naches
river between 4 =. NJ. and midnight, which
was an extraordinary trip, fraught with
fearful danger.
Twenty five OF the committee were left
at Sabine Pass to recover some of the
bodies manyot which are reported TO
have been washed dozens OF miles over
into Louisiana.
The members OF the relief committee
who returned were 80 tired aud worn out
aud 30 overborne by tho terrible dsvasta.
ton they had witnessed that 1t was next
to impossible to get coherent story from
them, and rs each Of the rescued refugees
was surrounded by about Five hundred
people 1t was equally impossible to get
detailed account from any one oil them.
The exact extent Of the storm swept dis
trict Is yet unknown. From reports
brought Ia by the committee It ia certain
that The flooded district embraced an ex-
parEe of country many times larger than
at hrst gupposed. The gulf seems to have
moved over the lRnds for miles In one
high unbroken wall OF water.
NINETY PERSONS DROWNED.
Tho committee report 100 peEBons miss.
ing, 30 Of whom ara known to have been
drowned. Thirty-lve Of the victims were
white aud 55 Colored.
Joseph Smith, famous local character,
known as "AlliVAtor' Smith, was suppos.
ed to be among the lost, as people on the
train saw him driving before the gallo on
Lske Sabine at the rate Of 25 miles an
hour, clinging to his skid and calling
loudly for help. Great waB tho surprise
when "AlliGator" oyerhaulod the steamer
on ito return, bringing with him in his
small boat 8 persons whom Lie had res.
Cued In swamp.
Many other miraculous escapes are re.
corded. Ninety-one half clad, shlVerlng,
wtetched victims OF THE storm were brought
10 on the Lamar Blankets aud bedding
were Immediately gathered from house 10
house for the comfort Of the heart. broken
sufferers, every one OF whom hiss some
dear friend or relative among the dead.
Nearly Gll the refugees are aiCk and pros.
trated from exhsnstion and hunger. They
are being tenderly cared for by Citissns Of
Beaumont.
DR.. 3, F. Calhoun, one OF the Relief
Committee, says there are many persons
In the vicinity Of Sabine Pass who are ut.
terly destitute, being without clothing to
cover nakeduess. DR.. Calhoun reguests
aid for the destitute. He says 1t makes no
difference what 10 sent, whether food,
clothing, medicine or money, th0y heed
them all. He is Mayor Of Beaumont and
he will distribute through the committees
whatever is sent to him, From all the
accounts gathered language couldn't ex.
agRerStO the state Of affairs at Sabine
Pass. ....l
rnR WORK OF DEarRveTIoN
Out Of more than 150 housea in the vii.
lage less than six remain standing, and
they are ruined. Wives and children
were swept away and drowned iu the
presence Of their husbands and Of others
who we're powerlesa to save them. The
waves broke against the light house in
solid walls fifty feet high, tearing out the
windows at tho very top Of the structure.
Gorpses have been picked up at q dis.
lance Of 30 miles from the scene Of the
disaster. Friends aud relatives OF the
drowned residents arc cominR into
ORANGE and Beaumont by every train.
The steamboat Lamar took on board o
cargo Of food, blankets and clothing, and
Slpo q fresh relief committee, and at day.
light this morning started down theNeCheB
10 succor the uuiortunsteS Sho Will prob.
Gbly reach here on her return trip about
midnight tonight. The pecunlNry damage
Al Sabiua including to the government
works will aggregate 500, ,0OO,ss many Of
The nSighboIing towns sustained serious
injury. .-
LIST or TnE VICTIMS.
The latest list Of those known to have
been drowned 10 as iollowSi
Nus. ", A. JuNkER.
CHAs. o. JuNkRR. M
Mis-, PoNRRoY and three children.
Mas, q, PoMERoY and child.
MRs. b +. MCDoNoUuH.
Miss MCDoNouaH.
Mas MuLLiuAN and four children.
Mis- OoLuNHUs MARTEE and child.
MRs VoNDUAH and three children.
0. 4. BRowN.
Miss MAnALA CHAMDGRs.
HovER KiNG, vile and child.
Two CHILDREN Of VIM, Shaw,
A CHiLD Of Captain Shaw.