Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-09-29
CONTRACTORS RESIGN
Relief Committee Has Charge of
Galveston Streets.
Funds Needed to Maintain the Police,
Fne, Water and Other Necessary
Departments of the City
Government.

GALVESTON, Tex, Sept. 23.-At the
meeting of the general committe held
today, Messrs Kicker and Lee, who
had taken the contract for clearing
away the debris, rendered their resigna-
tions because they said some dissatis-
faction had been expressed. Mr.. Kicker
rendered the continuance of his per-
sonal services free of charge, as he has
given them to the city during the past
two weeks.
The committee passed a resolution
that some member of the committee
should take charge of removal of the
debris without compensation, and Jens
Moller, prominent shipbroker, was
appointed to take charge of the work.
A committee from the city council
appeared before the central committee
today to confer with reference to OBJ
tanning funds to maintain the police,
fire, water and other necessary depart
ments of the city government. The
central committee appointed a sub
committee to request Gov. Sayers to
come to Galveston to confer in regard
to this and other pressing matters In
response to the request Gov Sayers
has telegraphed that he will leave
Austin for Galveston tomorrow night.
The transportation committee has
been advised that the Tailroad lines
leading out of Houston will honor no
more requests for free transportation.
The pay rolls for laborers who worked
on the streets under the military re.
gime from September 18th to Septem-
Der 2lst, were completed Saturday
night. Distribution Of pay checks COM
menced today and about $500 was
paid out. This covers about seventy
per cent. of the pay rolls at S1.5O per
day for the forces employed clearing
the streets of debris and dead bodies.
Improvised Churches.
No church bells called the worshipers
to the temples today; no organs pealed
the sacred hymns; strange faces looked
down from many pulpits, but the word
of God was told.
Buildings that had been used as
morgues, structures that only few
days ago sheltered the injured and
dying, were today inhabited by the fol-
lowers of Christ, and many a mother
who had lost son, many a man whose
family had been so suddenly swept
from him on that awful night, gathered
in these places and there upon bended
knee feryently prayed that the souls OF
their dead might rest in peace. And
when the benediction had been pro.
nounced and the people slowly filed
through the narrow passageways and
out on the streets, the very trees seemed
to bow their heads in sympathy and all
humanity was at peace with one
another.
Scarcely minister that did not have
for his text the storm and its lesson.
The words from the pulpit carried com,
fort to the hearts of many, inspired
them to better things gave strength tc
the weak and courage to rebuild on
grander scales. And while there were
many persons at prayer there were
others disposing of the dead, Funeral
pyres blazed on all sides. Famed by
a brisk southerly wind, the flames
leaped heavenward and cast their lurid
shadows on the sky.
In all about forty bodies were taken
from the ruins today,
Tomorrow it is estimated $500 men
will be at work on the streets clearing
the wreckage. Thirty days will be re.
quired to do the work.
The plan to erect homes for those
who lost everything by the storm, SC
earnestly advocated by Miss Clara Bar.
ton, of the Red Cross Society, is meet,
ing with every encouragement. A
large fund is to be raised for this pur.
pose to be disbursed by direction OF
Miss Barton. Five hundred and seventy.
six persons were treated at the emer.
gency hospital today Many serious
cases are reported and several deaths
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