The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-12
THE STORY OF THE STORM.
Graphic Description of Its Frightful Havoc
at Galveston.
(By the Associated Press.)

(by the ASSOGIdtGu IIcSS.J
Galveston, by Western Union Dispatch
Boat to Houston, Texas, Sept 10.-The
terrific cyclone that produced such dis
tressing disaster in Galveston and all
through Texas was predicted by the Uni
ted State Weather Bureau to strike Gal
weston Friday night and created much APP.
prehension, but the night passed without
the prediction being verified. The condi-
tions however were ominous, the danger
signal was displayed on the flag staff of
the weather bureau, shipping was
warned, etc. The southeastern sky was
sombre, the Gulf beat high on the beach
with that dismal thunderous roar that
presaged trouble, while the air had the
stiffness that betokens storm. From
out of the North, in the middle watch
of the night the wind began to come in
spiteful puffs, increasing in volume as
the day dawned. By 10 O'Clock Saturday
morning it was almost gale, at noon 1t
had increased in velocity and was driv-
ing the rain, whipping the pools and tear
ing things up in lively manner, yet no
serious apprehension was felt by resi-
dents remote from the encroachment OF
the Gulf. Residents near the beach were
aroused to the danger that threatened
their homes. Stupendous waves began
to send their waters far inland and peo-
pie began a hasty exit to secure places in
the city. Two gigantic forces were at
work. The Gulf drove the waves with
irresistible force high upon the beach
and the gale from the northeast pitched
the waters against and over the wharves,
choking the sewers and flooding the city
from that quarter. The streets rapidly
began to fill with water; communication
began to be difficult and the helpless peo
pie were caught between two powerful
elements, while the winds hoWled and
rapidly increased in velocity. Railroad
communication was cut off shortly after
noon, the track being washed out; wire
facilities completely failed at O'Clock and
Galveston was isolated from the world.
The gale momentarily increased in We
ocity while the waters rapidly rose and
the night drew on with dreadful appre-
hension depicted in the face of everyone.
Already hundreds and thousands were
bravely struggling with their families
against the mad waves and fierce wind
for places of refugee. The public school
buildings, court house, hotels, in fact any
place that offered apparently safe ref
uge from the elements became crowded
to it's utmost. Two minutes of $50 p.
M, just before the thermometer blew
away it had reached the frightful We
locity of 100 miles an hour Buildings
that had hitherto stood, tumbled and
crashed, carrying death and destruction
to hundreds of people. Roofs whistled
through the air, windows were driven in
with crash or shattered by flying slate,
telegraph, telephone and electric light
poles, with their masses of wires, were
snapped off like pipe stems, and water
communications were broken. What We
locity the wind attained after
the thermometer blew off is pure
ly matter of speculation. The
lowest point touched by the barometer in
the press correspondents office, which
was filled by frightened men and women,
was 28.0412; this was about 1880 p. m.
1t then began to rise very slowly, and
by 10 p. m. had reached 28.09, the wind
gradually subsiding, and by midnight the
storm had passed. The water, which had
reached a depth of eight feet on the
strang at 10 o'clock, p. m, began to ebb,
and ran out very rapidly, and by a. m.
the crown of the street was free of water.
Thus passed one of the most frightful
and destructive storms which ever de-
vastated the coast of Texas.
TWENTY TWO FLOOD VICTIMS.
Houston, Texas, Sept. 11.-Edtor 0. O.
Nation, of the Velasco World, brings in
formation CT the death of twenty-five per-
sons in and around Velasco as result of
the storm. Seventeen are negroes, The
names of the five white people killed are
given below:
T. w. Perrin, wealthy stock broker, Gal
weston.
Rev. Thomas Keeney, Galveston.
Samuel Bly,, Clarendon, ARK.
Mr.. Parker. Nellie Mills, his grand
daughter.
The jetty work under construction by