The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-01
GALVESTON STORM DESCRIBED.
Forecast Official Submits Report to
Weather Bureau.

Washington. September 27-The wealth
er bureau has received from its local
forecast official at Galveston. /. M. cine,
n report on the great hurricane OF sep
TENDER Sth. The report is remarkable In
several respects 1t gives a complete
scientific record of the great storm, with
n succinct account of the damage done.
a map of the ruined area of the city and
records of the meteorological instruments
at the station up to the time they were
DESTROYED by the hurricane. Mr.. Cline
was one OF the sufferers by the disaster.
His house which was one of the sub
stantial structures on the beach section
of the residence district, became the
refuge of fifty people about the height OF
the storm. 1t went down in the general
wreck and thirty-two of its inmates. in
Guiding Mrs. Cline, were killed. Mr.. CINE
and his assistant, j. c. Cline, rescued
three children, and one woman escaped
to the center of the city. after drifting
about in the gulf for more than three
hours on the floating wreckaSe
Air Cline speaks in the highest terms
of the work of John ID. Blagden, one OF
the observers at the station, VINO STOOD
by the office until all the instruments
had been blown away. Mr. Biagden'
knowing the Importance of the barometer
record, and fearing to trust the paro-
grapn or AUTOMATIC TttoihiiS iiHei
took readings of the mercurial barometer
through the height of the storm at five
minute intervals. The instrument show
ed a minimum reading of 2S.53, the lowest
eyer recorded in this country.
The report says that the usual premo-
milton hurricane signals were entirely
wanting IN the storm of the Sth instant.
The wind through the 7th and early
morning hours of the Sth, was iitful from
the northeast and storm signals were
displayed. At a. M. on the Sth the low
er section of Galveston was flooded by
phenomenal tide advancing in long sWellS
directly in the teeth of the wind This
fact was wired to the main office at
Washington The wind, however. did
not reach storm velocity until y. M
after which il steadily Increased, accom-
named by rain. Warnings were sent out
by wire and verbally that the wind was
due To shift by the east to the west ana
that the worst was yet TO come; fe3pIe
we're advised to seek substantial shelter
in the center of the city for the night and
thousands from the low beach section
needed this warning and were saved
when the general crash came.
The wind before y. m reached hurri-
cane velocity and Il record or over eighty
four miles an hour was maintained by the
thermometer for five minutes. When the
wind reached 100 miles an hour, about s
o'clock, the thermometer was carried
away. There was a brief lull as the
storm center passed and then, the wind
swung to the southeast and blew with
Increased velocity. 1t is estimated that
this gust reached velocity of 100 miles
Mr.. CIne's map of the area of total de-
struction, checked by the estimates of
the insurance underwriters indicates
that 1886 houses were totally destroyed.
The loss of life, he says, VIII never be
exactly known, but IL is estimated at
over 60oo. The property damage will ex-
coed S.al