The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-14

ter. This, Mr.. Timmons regards as the
most serious problem TO be faced now.
The city is in darkness, the electric
plant having heen ruined. There is no
way of estimating the property damage
at present. So far as he could see or
hear, Mr.. Timmons says the east end
portion of the city. which = the resi-
dent district, has been practically
wiped out of existence. On the west
end, which faces the gulf on another
portion of the island, much havoc was
done. The beach has bee swept clean
many OF the residences are total
wrecks.
A TALE OF DEATH AND DE-
STRUCTION.
Houston, Texas, September "a
train came in on te Columbia Tap rail-
road this afternoon and its crew tells
a story Of death and desolation in the
country through which they passed
Conductor Ferguson states that houses,
barns. crops and orchards have been
destroyed and great damage has been
done. A. l. Forbes. postal clerk, re-
ported hat at Oyster creek the train
crew and passengers heard cries COM
ing out Of a pile of debris. Several
persons answered the cries and found
a negro woman fastened under a roof
They pulled her put and h informed
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der the roof. A further search resulted
in the finding of nine dead bodies. all
colored persons.
When the train arrived at Angleton,
all the churches. the Jail and a number
of houses had been blown down. Three
fatalities are known to have occurred
at Angleton, but the train stopped
there only a few minutes and the num-
Der killed or their names couldn not be
learned.
At Angleton the conductor decided TO
return to Houston. so that the extent OF
damage beyond Angleton is not known.
On the return trip the crew saw the
debris Of dozens of demolished houses.
At Sandy Point several persons were
badly injured. but no fatalities were
reported.
At Arcola a family named Wofford
had gathered in the second story of
their house. The portion OF the
house was blown away and Mr.. Wof-
ford'S mother was instantly killed.
The hurricane was particularly severe
at Brookshire. p miles west Of Hous-
ton on the Missouri. Kansas and Texas
railroad. Four dead bodies have been
taken from debris of wrecked houses
and it is believed others have been
killed. 1t is reported that only -four
which had a population of six hundred
persons The names of the dead at
Rrnnkshire cannot be learned tonight.
Later reports received from Alvin
state that many persons were killed
thre. Eleven bodies nave been recov-
cred.
At Seabrook Mrs. Jane Woodstock
was killed by a falling house; Mrs.
Nicholson and Louis BroQuet were
drowned. S. K. McInhenny, wife and
daughter. and Mrs. Leroy and two
children are missing. They are known
to have been in their cottags, which
were destroyed.
The dead body of a sailor was found
under a cottage.
At Brazoria six people were killed by
falling houses or were drowned last
night. including George Duff. son of
Hon. T. F. Duff. Judge Duff was him.
self severely injured. Reports state
that only the court house and two other
buildings are standing there.
A report from Chenango says that
eight people were killed.
GALVESTON ENTIRELY ISOLATED
st. Louis. September 9.-The office of
the Western Union Telegraph company
in this city is besieged with thousands
of inquiries as to the extent and re-
suit of the terrible storm hat cut off
Galveston. Texas. of communication
from the rest of the world yesterday.
Rumors of the most dire nature come
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even intimating that Galveston has
been entirely wrecked and thai the
bay is covered with the dead bodies of
it's residents. Nothing definite, how
ever, can be learned, as the gulf city is
entirely isolated, not even railroad
trains being able to reach it. All the
telegraph wires to Galveston are gone
south of Houston. and to accentuate
the serious condition of affairs. it is
| stated the cable lines between Calves
| ton and Tampico and CoatZacoalcos,
| Mex. are severed. at least no commu-
| nication over them is possible at the
present time. The Western Union has
| a large number of telegraph operators
| and linemen waiting at Houston to go
to Galveston. but it is impossible to
| get them there. At present a severe
storm of wind and rain prevails around
Dallas. but the wires are still working
to a point.
San Antonio is being reached by E
Paso. in the extreme southwestern
portion of the state, a procedure made
necessary by the prevailing storm
which centers around Dallas.
Houston Texas, September 9.-The
storm that ragged along the coast OF
Texas las night was h most disas.
trous that la ever visited this section
The wires are down n there is nc