Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-17
GOOD PROGRESSM MADE
Galveston Gradually Resuming Nor
NAL Condition in Business Sections.
TRANSPORTATION LINES RESUME
Resident Portion, However, Is Still
in Bad Plight.
NEW LIST OF DE A D

GALVESTON, Texas, September IL
| Great progress is being made in the resto-
ration of the city. Horse cars were in op-
Grafton in the business part Of the city,
| and the electric line and water service has
been partially resumed. However, the re-
manning portion of the city has not been
put in anything like it's normal condition;
| but order and system prevail, and the peo-
| pie who have been giving Galveston such
noble assistance have good reason to be
satisfied with what has been accomplished
| in the face of such fearful odds. Accord
| ing to General Scurry, Mayor Jones and
| others, the progress of the work during this
week will be even more satisfactory.
| Today the board of health began a sys-
tematic effort to obtain the names of the
dead so that information can be used for
legal purposes and for life insurance settle
ments. Charles E. Doherty was stationed
at the headquarters of the central relief
committee to receive and file sworn state
mentS in lieu of coroner'S certificates. Per-
sons who have left the city but are In pos
session of information concerning the dead
were requested to send sworn statements
to Mr. Doherty
Anxious for Railway Communication
The people of Galveston are anXiously
looking forward to the establishment oil
rail communication. They will not have to
wait long, for the work of relaying the
| tracks and rebuilding a bridge across the
| bay is being pushed with great energy. The
officials in charge of the work believe that
they will be able to run trains into Calves
ton union depot on Thursday.
The work thus far done has been remark
able, and has been accomplished under the
greatest difficulties. Track has been laid
along right of way which has been swept
by the sea and washed into ravines along
line bestrewn with dead bodies of men
and animals. The men worked under a
blazing sun, in water, slush and mud, in
surroundings sickening to the senses, and
at first without adequate supply of food
The greatest difficulties in the way of Sc
curing material for the work, or rather in
getting the material to the places where 1t
is needed, have been encountered. Not
withstanding these difficulties the work
has gone on day and night. and the struc-
ture that is to bring Galveston in real
touch with the outside world Is being
steadily pushed forward toward the strick-
en- city, which is rapidly and marvel
ously recuperat1ng.
Work on the Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe system has concentrated
nearly all its best bridge and track men
on the work of restoring communication
with Galveston. Mr.. Barr has been on the
round since early last week, and has GOO
trackmen and 25O bridgemen engaged in
the work. The track was completed to
Virginia Point at 1870 o'clock last evening.
State Health Officer Blunt left here yes
terday for Austin, where he will make
report to the governor concerning condi-
tions in Galveston. 1t is said that this
statement will estimate the mortality at
5000 people. DIR. Blunt was in Galveston
several days and made a thorough investi-
cation of the results of the storm.
The relief corps sent by the North Amer
lean of Philadelphia has been at Texas
to this city. The corps has fifteen nurses,
number of surgeons and three car loads
of medical stores.
The work of the relief committee has
been systematiZed.
The different ward chairmen are getting
there individual wards thoroughly organ
who are residing in their wards. At
meeting yesterday the several chairmen re-
ported excellent progress.
Steady Stream of Refugees.
The steady stream Of refugees from Gal
weston is kept up. There is not departing
train from across the bay which is not
packed to it's platforms. There will be
refugees leaving for a week to come.
No sadder sight could be imagined than
the picture presented by a boat load of
refugees. when the ropes were cast off and
the craft swung out into the bay and away
from the storm-Swept city. There was not
face that was not turned toward the
ruins There was not an eye that was not
moistened by tears. So great has been the
rush to leave behind the scene of the storm
that the Lawrence, the boat which con-
meets with trains at Texas City, has not
failed to leave her wharf single day
without denying passage to a portion of
those who wanted to get away.
Instead of waiting until Galveston was
reached to begin work, Immediately steps
were taken to care for refugees at the bay
terminal of the Galveston, Houston and
Henderson railroad and during the night
hundreds Of hungry refugees were fed,
while numbers of sick and wounded were
cared for.
There is plenty Of work on hand for ten
times the force of laborers at present en-
ployed. The area which has as vet been
untouched embraces four and a half miles
or frontage on the beach and bay, and be-
fore 1t is cleared the bodies which lie rot
ting beneath the tangled timbers will fall
to pieces.
There is urgent need of money to nav the
laborers employed in clearing the streets
There is great deal of trouble in prop
erly distributing supplies the rush at the
depots being as great yesterday as at any
time since they were opened.
In line before the relief stations were
women of evident refinement
Fortunate Weather Conditions
1t has indeed been Divine mercy that
the weather since the storm has been
clear and dry. Had it rained a single day
the suffering would have been terrible for
there is scarcely a whole roof in Galveston
There are about 400 soldiers in Galveston
doing guard and police duty. The camp
on the wharf is being rapidly put into
shape and the soldiers will soon be COM
| fOrtably housed
There are now In Galveston five COM
| mands-the Dallas Rough Riders, Captain
| Ormonde Paget, with forty-five men, the
Houston Light Guards, Captain George Nc
Ccrmick, with forty-five men; the Calves
| ton Sharpshooters, Captain A. Bunschell
with thirty-ive men, and Battery D of
| Houston, Captain G. A. Adams, with fif-
| teen men. and Troop A. Houston Cavalry,
commanded by Lieutenant Breedlove, with
twenty men.
Captain Mccormick of the Galveston Life
Guards, is acting major. commanding the
| battalion. He said today that he expected
| the men would be needed in Galveston for
| several weeks. They had been doing splen-
! did work. and he was more than satisfied
| with them.
There are numerous cases of insanity in
| Galveston as a result of the terrible be-
! reavements sustained by the people,
| Not twenty-five people got into Galveston
/ Sunday from the outside world. The lines