The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-26
NOT IN THE STORM
DR.. A. M. Wassum Writes of
GaIveSton's Loss.
WAS AT EUREKA SPRINGS
And Started for Galveston on
Following Day.

has written a letter to H. C. Kendrick,
the druggist, concerning the situation in
that city.
II was feared by many that Dr. Was
sam and his entire family had persisted
in the storm, but none Of them were at
Galveston at the time Of the storm, and
all were in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
DR.. Wassam started for Galveston
from the Springs the morning after the
storm. but had learned nothing of the
terrible destruction in that city until
Houston. Texas, was reached.
His letter concerning the situation In
Galveston follows:
Gaveston, Texas, Sept. %, 1900
H C. Kendrick, Esq, Wichita, Kan.
NY Dear Sir and Friend-Your letter
of Inquiry of the 18th at hand and
noted. 1t is some consolation and COM
fart to know that one is not forgotten
nv old time friends. Yes, thanks to God,
the Omnipresent Divine Spirit. we were
AT eureka Springs, Arkansas, on the
date Of the storm, for a few weeks out
ing: LETT here August 10. My wife,
Laura and Dot are still there, but win
return hdme Saturday, 22nd. 1 started
for home on the 9Th, $50 a m, which
was the xt morning after the great
storm. but was not aware of what hao
happened until the train reached Dallas,
on same day at 10 o'clock in the night
From there down We heard all kinds Of
rumors, but could get no definite infor-
nation. as all wires were down, even
the cable to Vera Cruz, Mexico, and
knew it was down and gone from the
fact that no news came to the outside
that way l had a terrible time getting
here from the point where the train
could come no further, which was thir-
teen miles out from here and seven from
Virginia Point There We're eleven of US
for Galveston. From the point seven
miles up from Virginia Point all the
railroad track was washed away, and
we started afoot over the grade of the
railroad. which still was a vast lake to
the Point. But I knew the lay Of the
land and where there were streams to
cross we waded, swan or made pontoon
bridges with telegraph poles, debris, ETC.,
and after an eight hours battle we ar
rived at Virginia Point at 10 o'clock at
night But from this it is two and one
eighth miles across the bay to the island,
and all the bridges being gone and no
boats. we had to remain there wet and
cold until 2 o'clock p. M. next day, when
a boat came along and took Us over for
81 each. We could form some idea of
what had occurred at Galveston from
the debris along the railroad. Hundreds
of cisterns. dead horses, cows, hogs,
chickens and every conceivable article
of household effects, trunks hats, beds
and bedding, and passed seven dead wo-
men and men, etc. Some places the drift
was three feet deep. But when We
reached the city-wel, ii was simply APP
palling. 1 will not attempt TO describe
IT. Colonel Murdoch or Victor might if
they had been here to see it at first But
tongue nor pen will ever describe the
awful fate of Galveston that night.
am convinced from the best informa-
ton l can get and from what ( can see
and know. that 5000 people persisted in
that storm. But the exact number will
never be known. The property loss is
fully $S0.0O0000 or more.
The work of cleaning and disinfectine
Is hravely going en- under martial law.
They had to shoot two or three body
robbers before it was stopped. While We
were not here and the house We have
lveG in for over four years is not a total
wreck, yet there was over three feet Of
mud and water on the first floor. DESTROY
Ing practically everything. Then the
breaking Of the roof and windows del
nged everything from above. so our loss
there. book accounts, real estate and Sc
cnrties held, / estimate at 5000 I had
about got on my feet again" but this
WiH he a hard blow. However we have
something left Yet, so We are not a.. had
on as some who have lost all
This IS September p. I was caIIe4 -
see patient yesterday and It was TOO
late 10 finish. Things are booking so,,e
better today. Martial law is declared off
The work of removing debris copt,,nos
ana repairing is going on. Piano rena,r-
t'S could do good business. as several
thousand need it that stood in water ana
Inud one 70 four feet for four hours.
ne weather IS very fine~a sood thing.
Tor all roofs need repairing I expect n
remain here FOR the present. but had
never seriously thought of ren7sinine
here permanently. Il I can find some
thing at some good point 7 shah take If
] have thought some Of Wichita Kan
sas CITY and points in Colorado had
fully expected 10 take q little run ~
Eureka and Wichita while at Eureka
Springs. but found I could not give IL
time / do not expect much from, nrso-
tee here for some time rs all tba ohv
s'ciarS are here but one who we-s here
beIore. and I doubt Il we AT present f,av.
over 2-.@oo people as I calculate abou,
NN9 are dead. and as many have lef,
since, some Of which will return b..
very many Of my customers are e,,,a
and the rest are not able to nav. Sor,s
might. but on Such occasions MANY vybq
are really able Viii rake the 7dvantars
Of the situation and plead poverty s
! viii count nothing on a very hao5sor,s
hook account ] had. All in all nv or-.
look here s not good. and 10 sit saDr
and build M a new practice. which takas
time, hardly think viii suit me. 7 MAJ
turn my attention in some Other lin,
Although my success in practice IS ve~y
Srsat-sn fact, phenomenal. far. far h..
Ncnd What II ever was and is very cas-,
for me for the reason that 7 understs, ~
very many things in regard 70 our beng
n'0oh better than I used 70. have Ia.
'"5e~S and teleErauls from different
states iuGuiri0E about cur welfare
rote7 last S0~inc in connection with ar
eEc'lsi1n--I think the MllIer's-a Afr