The Forrest City times., 1900-09-28
TO THE AMERICAN pEopLR
SURFING appeal In Behalf of thu suffer-
ers and Survivors OF the CAL
weston Disaster

N"i'ostoh' lex, sept. 20.-The fol-
lowing signed appeal was issued last
night:
TO the American People:
seventeen days after the storm at CAL
weston II Is still impossible to accurately
estimate the loss of life and property. II
- known that the dead in the CITY will
number at least six thousand. or approxi-
nately one-sixth of the Census ponulatIon
The island and adjacent mainland will add
perhaps 1000 to this NUMBER.
ne actual property damage is incalcula-
pie IN precise terms, tut we believe The
INDIVIDUAL losses and losses in public prom
si.y' such as paving, waterworks, schools,
nospI.ais' churches. ETC.. will easily
amount to ssOooo.ooo. This estimate takes
no account of the direct and indirect i'm.
jury to business
Aiohg the beach front upwards of 2 600
houses. by actual map count We're to-
taly destroyed. OF these not a timber
IeHains upon the original site and tn.
Sa, suNase constitutes an embankment of
ueofls extending along the entire beach
from three to four blocks inward for
ABOUT tnree miles, the removal of which
VIII cost from $4,000 to $1,000, 900.
FROM TINS debris there are still daily un-
covered by the workmen. now systemati-
SaHy employed, from thirty to fifty bodies
when are burned or buried upon the
spot.
moreover, we estimate that 97i5 per cent
vi the remaining houses throughout the
ci'y are damaged in greater or less de-
gree. On the removal of this debris in the
clearing OF the streets. to make temper
airy repairs on houses. partly DESTROYED
IN distributing supplies and in the general
work or restoration, our entire citizenship
are engaged. Men whose services could
not be secured at this season ordinarily
are giving their time without compensa-
uon. Firms whose affairs ordinarily re-
quire the attention of three partners re-
tam one for the transaction of their bust
ness, and lend the other two to the pub
nc service. The stevedores cotton lam
mers and other bodies of organized skilled
workmen who command handsome wages
az this time of the year have been giving
their time free of cost and one associa
tion has, besides, contributed from the
charity fund 81. 600 in cash to the general
relief while all other organizations are
their resources.
This devotion to the general welfare at
the expense OF private interests is shown
now here will bear witness to this uni
Versal condition of self-sacrifice.
The burdens of our committees have
peen ilghtened in great degree by Gov
:. ~. savers, who has personally under
taken the supervision of relief to the
mainland sections, and by the splendid
maintaining discipline and directing la
Dor from the beginning of this work
the regular relief work and city goyernt
lnent.
We can not command language to ex-
Plies OF food. clothing, disinfectants, etc,
from all quarters and all agencies. Nor
can we overrate the service performed
by the American press. And we desire
TO make special recognition of the metro
poltan newspapers and the Red Cross
society that have raised funds and sent
w
.sentatives are here not only distributing
their supplies but joining hands with us
the occa sion.
BY the worlds generosity there has been
no hunger and no nakedness in Galveston
thanks for the surprising and unlimited
generosity of the railroads. express tele-
graph and telephone companies, without
whose prompt assistance we would longer
nave remained in isolation and chaos and
who are not only rendering services for
relief work free of charge, but are giving
IL precedence over any other business
The munificent contributions in money
sent TO the governor and directly to the
relief committee are perhaps sufficient to
defray the necessary expenses of removal
of the wreckage and dlsposfng of the dead
bodies and meeting the most urgent SAM
But when this is done the special work
OF restoration viii have begun. The home
hold goods; the mechanic without tools,
the washerwoman without wash tubs and
the seamstress without a machine.
Our people are meeting this disaster
with characteristic American pluck Not
forgetting their dead, they. nevertheless,
hide their sorrow and turn their faces
Were our task but to afford temporary
relief and to care for the wounded and
orphans. an appeal to Texas alone would
be sufficient. The wounded and orphans
are comparatively few, since only the
sturdiest were able TO combat the mad
dened elements But a greater and a
cOnfrOnIS Snma nf
homes, be they ever so humble, must be
provided for the i0ooo people now huddled
proviscd camps, to the end that they may
not become pauperS. but may speedily set
up their households wherein repose all
that is best and noblest in American life.
We believe that the well-to-do and char
table people of this nation will not be
contented to merely appease hunger and
measure. and with more far-reaching ef-
feet contribute to the restoration of this
people to plane of self-support and self
respect. II is for this purpose that we
make this further appeal
Fer such temporary measures as are ex-
planned In the foregoing we have at pres
ent sufficient supplies. But they are only
a 1.-THE of the larger needs herein set
forth and generous people of the nation
aims by making their contributions in
money.
Barton, of the Red Cross, or to any prom
inent firm or bank In Texas, in regard to
the business ability and discretion of our
central relief committee.
In the midst of sorrow such as no other
American community ever suffered. we
are consoled by the gracious sympathy
and prompt relief rendered by our ceun-
trymen and other nations in the demon
stration of the kinship of the world.
With our last breath we will bless the
donors of these funds and our every eff
fort will be devoted to proving our peo-
pie and our city worthy of their assist
ance.
WAITER G. JONES. Mayor,