The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-10

"AUSTlN, Texas, Sept. 8.
Information has just reached me
that about 5000 lives have been lost
at Galveston, with enormous destruc-
tion of property. .5
"No information from other
points. JOS. D. sAYREs,
"Governor."
HOUSTON. Texas, Sept ., 10 p. M
The West Indian storm which reached
the gulf coast yesterday morning.
wrought awful havoc in Texas Re-
ports are conflicting, but It is known
that an appalling disaster hns befallen
the city Of Galveston, where. it is re-
porter, thousand or more lives have
been blotted out and a tremendous pro-
perty damage incurred. Meagre re-
ports from Sabine Pass and Port Ar
thur also indicate heavy loss of life,
but these reports cannot be confirmed
at this hour. z
The first news to reach this city from
the stricken city of Galveston was re-
celved tonight. James C. Timm!ns.
who resides In Houston and who is the
general superintendent OF the National
Compress Company arrived in the city
at s o'clock tonight from Galveston.
He w:s one OF the first to reach here
with tidings OF the great disaster.
which has befallen that city and the
magnitude OF that disaster remains to
be told because OF his ,endeavors to
reach home. After remaining through
the hurricane on Saturday. he depart
ed from Galveston on schooner and
came across the bay to Morgan's Point,
where he caught a train for Houston,
The hurricane, Mr.. Timmins said. was
the worst ever known.
Four THOUSAND Houses Destroyed.
The estimate made by citizens OF
Galveston was that four thousand
houses. most OF them residences. have
been destroyed and that at least 1000
people have been drowned. killed or are
lIllselilS Gutile busiiieao iiouoSS NSAS
also destroyed. but most of them stood
though badly damaged.
The city. Mr.. Timmins AYERS. Is n
complete wreck, so far as he could see
from the water front and from the
fremont hotel. Water was blown over
the island by the hurricane. The wind
blowing at the rate of eighty miles nn
hour straight from the gulf and forcing
the sea water before It in big waves.
The gale was steady one. the heart of
1t striking the city about O'Clock yes
terday evening, and continuing without
intermission until midnight last night.
when II abated somewhat. although 1t
continued to blow all night. Z,
or his own knowledge Mr.. Timmins
knew Of only one house succumbIng
with fatal results. although he heard OF
many residences being carried away
with inmates. The house that he saw
destroyed was Ritter's saloon and res
taurant at 2lOo Strand street, princi-
pal business street Of the city. This
three-story building was blown down
and nine men, prominent citizens, were
killed.
Prominent Men Dead.
Among the dead are:
Charles Kelner, sr.. cotton buyer
for an English firm.
Tanley Spencer, general manager OF
the Elder -Demstert S. S. line. and Rich
ard Lord, manager for McFadden's cot
ton company, whose body is still In the
ruins. E5g
Secretary Bailey, or the Wharf COM
pany and several walters and custom
ers saved themselves by jumping from
the upper story Just before the crash
came. 3F-g a asM
It was reported that the orphan asyl-
um and both the hospitals were de-
stroycd. and II this proves to be true,
the loss of}llfc VIII be great, rs these
Institutions were generally crowded,
and nc they were substantial buildings,
the chances arc that many had taken
refuge In them.
The water extended across the Island.
Mr.. TimmIns said It was three feet
deep In the rotundn OF the fremont no.
tel and was six feet deep in Market
street,
y Along tho water front the damage
was very great. The roofs had been
blown from all the elevators, and the
Hheds along the wharvcs We're either
wrecked or had lost their sides and
were OF no protection to the contents.
Most OF the snail sailing craft were
wrecked and were either piled UP on
the wharves or ioating bottom up In
the bay.
Small Steamer Ashore.
!. There ls u small stenmship ashore
three miles north Of Pelican island. but
Mr. Timmlrs could not distinguish her
name. She wns flying n British flag.
Another big vessel has been driven
nshorc at Virginia Point and stlll an-
other Is nground at Texas City. AT
me south point OF Houston island an
unknown ship Hes IN n helpless condl-
.on. The lightshlp that marks Calves
ION bar is hard and fast aground ut
bolllvar Point.
Mr. TlmmIns md the tnnn with him