The record-union., 1897-09-14
SEVERE STORM
IN The SOUTH.
Great Damage Done by Wind al the
Town of Port Arthur.
Railroad Round House and a Number of
Other Buildings Demolished.
A Number of People Save Nothing
but the Clothes They Had on
When the Storm Struck the
City-Reported That a Number
of Persons Were Killed.

KANSAS CITY, Sept. 13-The fol-
lowing was received by the Kansas
City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad Off
cials at $50 p. m. from Shreveport: A
severe storm hit Port Arthur last night, !
blowing down and demolishing the
Gulf Railroad roundhouse and a num-
Der of buildings in the city. There was
said to have been several people killed
and number are reported missing
The regular north-bound Pittsburg
and Gulf passenger train got out as
the wind shifted into shore. A number
of people came to Beaumont on No 3,
saving nothing but what clothes they
had on. Conductor Ming and the crew
of No. , was run right back to render
all assistance possible, and to move
the people if any should be in danger
of a tidal wave
AT p. m. General Manager Gfllham
received a message from Superintend-
ent w. K. Morley who had arrived at
Beaumont, twenty miles north of Port
Arthur, confirming the previous dis
patch from Shreveport, but giving no
further details of the storm.
The Gulf Railway officials do not
expect to be in wire communication
with Port Arthur before morning
Port Arthur is a town of about I 900
or l POO population, and has probably
300 houses, many of which are sub
stantial structures. The Gulf Railroad
owns a magnificent $4,000 depot, and
the principal hotel is a costly structure
of seventy-five rooms. Port Arthur is
the southern terminus of the Kansas
City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad, and
is situated sixteen miles inland from
Sabine City. In 1856 a wave swept
over Sabine City, covering that place
with six feet of water, destroying
many houses and causing several
deaths. Great distress was caused, and
there We're many narrow and thrilling
escapes. When the Gulf road was first
projected land on Sabine Pass, owned
by kountz Brothers of New York City, !
was offered the railroad company for
a terminal. Both because of the fear
of tidal wave and owing to a failure
to reach a satisfactory price for the
land, the proposition was rejected. Port
Arthur then became the southern ter
minal of the road, and was built upon
the strength of that enterprise.
THIRTEEN REPORTED DEAD.
KANSAS CITY, Sept. 13.-A message |
just received at the headquarters of
the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf
Railroad states that thirteen are dead
at Port Arthur. The message gives
no particulars.
An earlier dispatch received by f. A. |
Hornbecker, Land Commissioner for
the railroad company and manager of
the Port Arthur Townsite Company
from George NJ. Craig, townsite agent
at Port Arthur, says: "The dead are
Frank Albright, electric light employe;
Fritz Michaels, carpenter; George Mar
tin, bricklayer; May Ainsworth, a six
months-old child, and an unknown
man. Loss at Sabine Pass, one schoon-
er, four tugs, many buildings and ten
or more people drowned, including
Moore and Belds, contractors. There
is six feet of water in Sabine Pass"
WAS A MOST DISASTROUS STORM. !
PORT ARTHUR CTex.), Sept 13.-A
tornado, terrible in it's intensity, struck
this city at an early hour last evening |
Six people are known to have been
killed, while many others were injured |
Buildings were blown down, and great |
damage was wrought by the cyclone.
Dead-Frank Albright, Kansas City |
employed by Electric Light Company; |
George Martin, brickIayer, residence
unknown; Fritz Michaels, laborer, res
idence unknown; unknown man, aged
3S; May Ainsworth, 13-year-old daugh-
ter of William Ainsworth; infant son
of w H. Johnson, blown from its
mothers arms and drowned
Injured-Mrs. Roy Stafford, right leg
/
badly bruised; daughter of Stafford,
| seriously injured
Many buildings were blown down,
including the railroad round house,
where May Ainsworth was killed The
Natatorium, the bank building. Town
Site Companys barns, Hotel Hayden,
Strong & Leagues building, shifted off
foundation; Brennan building, Colon
made Hotel. Spence & Lyons building,
c. j. Miller's grocery store, several
barns, Kanadis saloon, the Herald
office. Alfred VOLTS saloon, the Hayes
building, and A. A. Silinski's grocery.
Several residences suffered severely,
that of DR.. W. a. Barraclough being
carried across the street. Many out
buildings were completely blown away
From early morning, the sky was
threatening. and a stiff gale blew. No
rain of consequence fell until 4 o'clocl.
and then it was accompanied by a
heavy wind that increased in intensity
until it reached the velocity of eighty
miles an hour. Every building in the
town is of frame construction, except
one brick, the Port Arthur Packing
Company's building, the far end and
roof of which was blown away.
The bodies of the victims have been
sent to Beaumont for interment, no
cemetery having as vet been started
here
There We're many acts of bravery.
and the suspense during the severity of
the storm was terrible
Advices from Winnie, Texas. say that
nearly all the houses there have been
blown down and torn away.
| At Webb all of the barns and one
house were demolished and scattered
over the country
Nothing can be heard from Sabine
Pass, as all telegraphic communica-
| ton has been interrupted A relief