The San Francisco call., 1896-05-17
and shattered to splinters in this settle
ment. Many barns were also destroyed.

| and shattered to splinters in this settle
ment. Many barns were also destroyed.
The special and regular trains which
came into the gloom-enshrouded city to-
| day were filed with volunteer physicians
and nurses, anxious relatives and friends
of the dead and injured.
Many parents of young ladies attending
the local colleges arrived to see that no
harm had befalIen them. Searching
parties were sent out along the path of the
grim reaper to gather the harvest of bodies
from the flooded wreckage and relieve the
sufferings Of those injured who had not
been found during the night. The women
| of Sherman were as brave as the men and
much heroic work was done for love of
humanity. The common sorrow obliteT-
ated the line which divides the negro from
the Southern white. Followers of the Red
Cross on the field of carnage could not
have done more than the white men and
women did to-day and last night for the
dying and suffering survivors of the black
race. who comprised the majority of the
victims.
The banks of Post Oak Creek, which the
cyclone made cemetery of, were lined all
day with hundreds of anxious and curious
visitors, watching with different feelings
the search for more bodies among the mud
and water soaked debris. Reports came
in from points down the creek that the
loss of life outside the city limits had been
worse than feared. At the suspension
bridge dead and injured lay in every di-
rection, and the few houses that had
escaped the wind were crowded with liv-
ing victims. AT the Houston-street bridge
corpses, dead and injured people formed a
heart-rending spectacle.
All available wagons were pressed into
the services of the volunteer brigade to
remove the dead to the morgue and the
living to the temporary hospitals. Seventy
one coffins had been sold at O'Clock this
afternoon, and neighboring towns were
called on to furnish more. 1t is known
that the death list in the outlying part of
this city will reach nearly 100.
Many persons are reported missing,
which is regarded as equivalent to being
nun bered with the dead; in some cases
whole families not being heard from. 1t
is believed that many bodies of negroes
will vet be taken from Post Oak Creek.
The storm missed Denison by gap of
two miles. The names of the victims in
the telegraph and telephone wires are
down. The excitement to, night has not
aba ed bit, but the colored people have
recovered from their fright and are among
the hardest workers in the searching par
ties. Van Alystine, Howe, Bells, Denison
and Whitewright sent a score of physi-
clans to help the local corps.
On Reynolds Prairie, twelve miles north
east of here, seven houses, all occupied,
were blown down. Several occupants
were seriously hurt.
Last night the relief conf mittee an
nounced that Grayson County would take
care of the dead and wounded without as
sistance. At that time the committee did
not know the extent of the destruction of
property or loss of life. They made the
following announcement this afternoon:
'The loss of life and property by the
cyclone is much greater than was sup
posed last night ana the number in jured
is much larger. The dead and wounded
exceed 200 and the loss of property will
exceed $500, 900. Sherman is taking good
care of all the wounded, but many families
have lost their all and are left destitute.
All contributions will be thankfully re-
ceived. as they will help US to give to those
who must commence life anew"