The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1900-09-22
TEXAS LETTER.

diligent in sending out particulars
of the great calamity which befell
this city a week ago, but 1t nor any
human agency can ever approach
the possibility of giving a state
ment that would convey more than
a glimpse of the horrible realities
of the situation. Pen pictures may
inspire the imagination to its Wild
est compass and lead it on to revel
in fields of limitless privilege, and
lend 1t the brush of fancy to color
at it's will, and yet not reach be-
ycnd very low tide in its task! Be
lieving that many of my dear old
friends in Kentucky would be In
terested in something coming from
one}they know, who was himself
participant and eye witness and
survivor, / am moved to send you
few lines anent the subject.
AS intimated in the beginning, it
would be useless to attempt descrip-
{ ton of what human language has
neglected or failed to provide for.
The oft quoted expression cit beg
CARS description has it's fullest in
depreciation here, and | shall con-
tent myself with simple recital of
some of the horrors of the scene.
The people residing in Galveston
Gold citizens) have all along nursed
and believed i'm the theory that such
a result could never come to their
doors because of it's peculiar geo.
graphical position with reference to
the Gulf Stream and the vast main
land lying back of it over which
the gulf water could spread in case
of inundation, thus relieving the
island and protecting it from an ex-
cess of water. The storms that de-
stroyed other coast towns in the
past and only slightly damaged this
place were referred to as evidences
of security here, inducing a degree
of confidence which disarmed fear
that like calamity could or would
ever be theirs.
Alasl they reasoned without re-
membering that nature takes
strange freaks sometimes, and
plays with the calculations of men.
This time an entirely new order of
things developed. The favOrite
theory is that two storms were
abroad at the same time, and that
they met and fought their great
battle on this devoted isle. Ger
tainly there was fierce north wind
for 4S hours previous to the final
catastrophe-wh which wind, under all
previous records, should have blown
the water out of Galveston Bay
into the Gulf, but instead it had no
effect whatever. Meantime there
was tremendous agitation in the
gulf-tide flowing inland nOtwith-
standing the northern gale combat
ing III, which always heretofore had
made low tide on the beach. This,
doubtless, was because of the great
West Indian clycone, which had
been raging several days and re-
ported coming this way.
AS time went on the wind in
creased to hurricane, though 1t
did not change it's course. It came
from the north and the tide came
in from the east. 1t commenced TO
rain in torrents, which was carried
in binding sheets, and the wind
was so fierce that one could hardly
stand against it. By this time peo-
pie began to understand that dam
ger was at hand and increasing
every instant. Those in more ex-
posed localities (some of them)
commenced to move their families
to safer quarters. Some succeeded,
but many were drowned in this en-
daavor.
About p. m. the water COM
menced to flow into the city from
the bay. Driven by the north wind
it's coming was rapid and frightful.
The oldest men began to tremble,
for this was new departure, upset
ting all their faith and ominous OF
direst results. Fear gave place to
terror, while the wind shrieked and
came with added fierceness at each
successive blast. Darkness was
now spread over all, AID the water,
already some ten feet deep in the
streets, continued to rise. Houses
n,rant nv on the current passing on