The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-10-03


Through the efforts of Capt. Eel
ing men were brought to realize the
necessity of taking hold with their
own hands, and influential citizens
wero seen helping with the removal Of
the dead bodies. AT first an attempt
was made to have the dead ell brought
to the undertakers' places aud have
them identified; but when about 500
bodies had been accumulated it was
seen that this would not do ut all.
Then the bodies were carried out to
sea; but they aoated back, and at last
they began to burn them. You read
OF that, didn't you? You have read,
too, of the funeral pyrc of some coun-
tries, where, after all due and formal
ceremonies, the body of dead chief
or other is laid in state upon heap of
faggots and incinerated. In Calves
ton heap Of poor, disfgured, half
naked bodies, maybe score, but more
likely several hundred, we're laid to-
gether, and broken lumber, trees and
rubbish Of any kind, piled upon them
and fired. There was no ceremony; a
solitary attendant stands beside the
dreadful pile and places more fuel un-
til the mass is reduced to ashes.
Sometimes there were dozen Of these
fires burning on all parts of the is
land. 'Horribler you say; we'll, what
could be done? The sea refused the
dead, aIi the ground was merely mud,
and hole dug filed with water before
the spade could be removed. To burn
the dead Was tbs only recourse, and
while it took strong hearts and strong
nerves to do such work, there were
men ready to undertake it,.
"Hunger, thirst and nakedness
stared the survivors in the face that
Sunday afternoon. There was sorrow
enough for those who had lost family,
loved ones, friends, property and
home, but there was, no time for Ia.
mentations; the living must be cared
for.
Il think it would be safe to say that
for twenty-four hours at least the sur
vivors never had drink of water of
any kind. Hundreds and hundreds of
people never tasted food for forty
eight hours, and it was several days
before many had full suit Of clothes.
[ spent two days and two nights in
bathing suit, and know of a great
many Others whc were similarly situa-
ted. Not only men. but women, lost
their clothing in the storm and we're
forced to wear whatever they could
get. [ remember one day on the
Gulf beach friend, walking with me,
pointed to group searching in lot of
debris-not for money or valuables-
but no doubt fearing to find missing
reiative-aGd said: "Do you see that
woman? Well, she is one Of the rich
est women in Galveston" And her
costume? It was an old bathing suit,
and she had neither shoes nor hat.
81 r home had been carried complete
ly away, and she was only able to be
about and looking for some missing
one through the kindness of another
woman, who had loaned hen the
suit.
"The patrol did it's work we'll, and
no doubt the closing Of the saloons
was one Of the moves that saved Gal
weston from second storm. If the
rough element had been turned loose
to drink and steal as it willed the is
land would have indeed become hell
within few days. Possibly some
people may be found who would con-
demn the summary orders given about
looting. Well, If there are any worse
who think that the negroes who cut
lfngers and ears from dead men and
women, in order to get rings aud ear
rings, did not deserve their fate they
should SO down that way and see
what they will be told. I saw negro
Who had been shot one day, and it
made me almost wish chat he was alive
so that he could be killed over again.
he was caught by q sentinel chewing
the finger off dead woman's hand in
order to get gold ring. Tho papers
have told also of how several were
found with the fingers and ears in
their pockets.
s'The doctor and I, walking down
the Strand, one day turned over a
piece Of lumber lying near the side
walk, and there, lying with her little
face turned upwards and her golden
curls still damp from the cruel water,
lay child Of about S years. The
storm had torn her clothing all away,
and her little life had gone out. after
all nf a mnfhar' q oora oo1 a fotho.,,