The Portland daily press., 1900-09-10

Houston, Texas, September 80 p. m.
The West Indian storm which reached
the gulf coast yesterday morning, wrought
awful havoc in Texas. Reports are
conflicting, but it Is known that an
appalling disaster has befallen the city
Of Galveston where it is reported thou
sand or more lives have been blotted out
and tremendous property damage
incurred.
Meagre reports from Sabine Pass and
Port Arthur also indicate heavy loss
of life, but these reports cannot be con-
tirmed at this hour.
The first news to reach this city from
the stricken city of Galveston, was re-
ceived tonight James G. Timmins, who
resides in Houston, and who is the gen
eraI superintendent of the National Com
press company, arrived in the city at 8
O'Clock tonight from Galveston. He
was one of the first to reach here with
t1dings of the great disaster which has
befaIlen that city and the magnitude of
the disaster remains to D9 told beca use
of his endeavOrs to reach home After
remaining through the hurricane of
SATURDAY., he departed from Galveston on
a schooner and came across the bay to
Morgan's Point, here he caught train
for Houston. The hurricane. Mr.. linn
minis said, was the worst ever known.
The estimate made by citizens of Gal
weston was that four thousand houses,
most of them residences, had been de-
stroved and that at least 1000 people
had been drowned, killed or are missing
Some business houses were also destroyed,
but most of them stood, though badly
damaged.
The city, Mr.. Timmins ayers, is a COM
plete wreck, as far as he could see from
The front and from the fremont hotel.
Water was blown over the island by the
hurricane, the wind blowing at the rate
of 80 miles an hour straight from the
gulf and forcing the sea water before it
in big waves The gale was q steady
one, the heart Of it striking the city
about o'clock yesterday evening and
continuing without intermission until
midnight last night, when 1t abated
somewhat, although it continued to
blow all night.
OF his own knowledge Mr.. Timmins
knew of only one house succumb1ng
with fatal results, though he heard of
many residences being carried away
with inmates. The house that he saw
DESTROYED was Ritter's saloon and res
taurant at 219 Strand street, principal
street of the city. This three-story build
ng was blown down and nine men
pr0minent citizens-were killed. Among
bl6 QGtl0 c4Oe
Charles KeIner, ST., a cotton buyer
for an English firm
Stanley q. Spencer, general manager of
the Elder Denpster steamship line,
Richard Lord, manager for McFad-
den's cotton company, whose body is
still in the ruins.
Secretary Bailey of the wharf compa-
nv and several walters and customers,
saved themselves by jumping from the
upper story just before the crash.
1t was reported that the orphan asy-
Ium and both the hospitals were de-
stroyed and if this proves true the loss
of life Will be great at these institu
tfons were generally crowded and as they
were substantial buildings, the chances
are that many had taken refuge in
them.
The water extended across the island
Mr.. Timmins said it was three feet
deeD in the rotunda Of the fremont
hotel and was six feet deep in Market
street.
Along the water front the damage
were very great. The roofs had been
blown from all the elevators and the
sheds along the wharves were either
wrecked or had lost their sides and were
Of no protection to the contents.
Most of the small sailing craft were
wrecked and were either piled up on