The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-09-10

Houston, Tex. Sept. 9. 10 p. m.-The
West Indian storm. which reached the
gulf coast yesterday morning, has
wrought awful havoc in Texas.
Reports are conflicting. but it is
known that an appalling disaster has
befallen the city of Galveston, where it
is reported a thousand or more lives
have been blotted out and tremendu-
Gus property damage inflicted.
Meager reports from Sabine Pass and
Port Arthur also indicate heavy loss
of life, but these reports cannot be con-
firmed at this hour
The first news to reach this city from
the stricken city of Galveston was re-
.ceived tonight. James c. Timmins of
Houston, general superintendent of the
National Compress company, arrived
here at o'clock tonight from Calves
ton.
After remaining through the hurri-
cane on Saturday. he departed from
Galveston on a schooner and came
across the Uay 10 morgan tonU, Wnere
he caught a train for Houston.
The hurricane. Mr.. Tfmmins said, was
the worst ever known.
Estimated Loss of Life 1000.
The estimates made by citizens of
Galveston was that 1000 houses, most
of them residences. have been de-
stroyed, and that at least 200 persons
have been drowned. killed, or are miss
inE.
Some business houses We're also de-
stroyed. but most OF them stood, though
badly damaged
The city. Mr.. Timmins averred. is a
complete wreck. so far as he could see
from the water front and from the Ire
mont hoJeI.
Water was blown over the island by
the hurricane. the wind blowing at the
rate Of eighty miles an hour straight
from the gulf and forcing the sea water
before it in big waves.
The gale was a steady one, the heart
Of il striking the city about O'Clock
yesterday evening and continuing with
out intermission until midnight last
night. when il abated somewhat, al
though it continued 10 blow all night
OF his own knowledge. Mr.. Timmins
knew of only one house succumbing
with fatal results. though he heard of
many residences being carried away
with inmates. The house that ne saw
destroyed was Ritter's saloon and res
taurant at 2109 Strand street. a princi-
pal business street of the city.
This three-story building was blown
down and nine men, prominent citizens,
were killed.
First List of Dead.
Among the dead are:
charles Kelner. ST., a cotton buyer
for an English firm.
Stanley G. Spencer, general manager
or the Elder-Demster steamship line.
Richard Lord. manager for McFad-
den S Cotton company, whose body Is
still in the ruins.
Secretary Bailey of the wharf COM
nanv and several customers saved
themselves by jumping from the upper
story lust before the crash came.
Crowded Hospitals Destroyed.
It was reported that the orphan asv-
lum and both hospitals were destroyed,
and if tins prove true. the loss of life
viii be great as these Institutions were
generally crowded, and as they were
substantial buildings, the chances are
that many persons had taken refuge
in them
The water EXTENDED across the island
Mr.. TimminS Saiu il was three feet
deeD in the rOtunda Of the fremont
hotel and six feet deep in Market
street.
Along the water front the damage
was very great.
The roofs had been blown from all the
elevators and sheds along the wharves
were either wrecked or had lost their
sides and were of no protection to the
contents.
Ships Are Wrecked.
Most of the small steam craft were
wrecked and were either piled W on
the wharves or floating bottom-side up
in the bay.