The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-09-12
WIND And WAVES.

Austin, Texas. Sept. 9.--Iuforma-
rion has just reached here that about
5000 lives have been lost at Calves
ton, with enormous destruction OF
property.
Houston, Texas, Sept. 9, 10 p. N.
The West Indian storm which
reached the Gulf coast yesterday
wrought awful havoc in Texas. Re-
ports are conflicting, but it is known
that an appalling disaster has befall-
en- the city of Galveston, where, it is
reported, thousand or more lives
have been blotted ont and tremend
Gus property damage incurred.
DESCRIPTION At GALVESTON.
"Galvestcn is situated on an island
extending east and west for q
miles, ard is seven miles in its great
est width north and south. No city
could be in greater danger with such
a horrible visitation as has now come
to Galveston. In no part Of the
city with it's $4,000 population is it
more than six feet above the sea
level. The fit condition not only
points to the desperate situstion of
the people at such a time as THE,
but their danger may be considered
emphasized when it is known that
exactly where the city is built the
island is only one and quarter
miles wide.
"On the bay, or north side OF the
city, is the commercial section, with
wharves stretching along for nesrly
two miles, lined with sheds and
large storage houses. Then, in that
portion of Galveston there are three
elevators, one Of l,5O0.000 bushels
| capacity, one of 100000 and the
third of 100000. The island from
the north side is connected with the
maiplsnd by railroad bridges and
the longest wagon bridge in the
world, the latter nearly two miles in
length. In 1872 the entire east end
of the city was swept away by the
tidal wave that followed terrific
storm that swept the Gulf coast for
three days. Then the eastern land
on which buildings stood was literal
ly torn away. The work OF replac-
iug it has since been going on, and
Fort Point, that guards the entrance
to the harbor, has since been built
aud on its parapets are mounted
some of the heaviest coast defense
ordinance used by the government.
By the force of the storm of 1872
six entire blocks of the city were
swept away.
1T is on the south side of the
city, beginning within SO yards of
the medium Gulf tide, that the
wealthy resident portion of the city
is located and which was the first
part of Galveston to be stricken by
the full force of the recent storm
and food. All of the eastern end Of
the city must certainly be washed
away, aud in this quarter. between
Broadway and I street, some of the
handsomest and most expensive resi-.
dence establishments are located.
There was located there one home
which alone cost the owner over
| S1,000,G00. Most of the residences
are of frame, but there are many of
stone and brick. In the extreme
eastern end of the city there are
many tf what we call raised cot
tages.' They are built on pilibg and
stand from eight to ten feet from the
ground as precaution against
foods, it being possible for the water
to sweep under them.
The only protection that has ever
been provided for the Gulf side of
the city has been two stone break
waters, but many times with ordinary
storms coming in from the Gulf, the
high tide water has been hurled over
the low stone walls right to the very
doors of the residences. From Vlr,
giria Point, six miles from Calves
ton, in ordinary conditions of the
atmosphere the city can be plainly
seen. II it is true that Galveston
cannot now be seen from the point,
then the condition of the people in
the city must be iudescribably horri
ble."
THE DAMAGE IN HOUSTON.
Houston, Texas, Sept. 9-The
storm that ragged along the coast of
Texas last night was tho M st disas-
trous that has ever visited this sec
ton. The wires are down and there
is no way of finding out just what
has happened, but enough is known