Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-11
War Department Goes to the Relief
of Sufferers.
SOLDIERS BELIEVED TO Be SAFE
Revenue Cutters Will Garry Con-
tributed Supplies.
STATEN ENT OF POSTMASTER

The government has taken prompt action
for the relief of the flood sufferers in
Texas. Yesterday afternoon Acting Secre-
tary Meiklejohn of the War Department
received a telegram from Governor Sayers
of Texas, asking that at least 1000 tents
and $4,000 rations be sent to the mayor OF
Galveston as quickly possible for the
benefit of the sufferers A conference OF
the officials was held with the result that
orders were dispatched for the immediate
shipment to Galveston of S55 tents and
so 600 rations These stores and supplies
are divided between st. Louis and San An
tonic, and will probably be delivered to-
night or tomorrow. This represents about
all such supplies that the government has
on hand at the places named, but 1t is
stated at the War Department that the
order could be duplicated in twenty-four
hours.
Acting Commissary General Weston sent
the following telegram last evening to the
ccmmissary officer at San Antonio:
Under authority of Secretary of War.
ship to mayor of Galveston. Texas. 10000
rations for use of storm sufferers. Ship as
many you can from your depot at San
Antonio and call on st. Louis and other
depots for balance and to replenish stores
shipped from San Antonio depot. Inform
this office of your action by wire. Ship at
once.
The Fort San JacintO Garrison.
The officials of the War Department were
considerably relieved this morning at the
receipt of a belated dispatch from Capt.
Rafferty,, commanding Battery 0 OF the 1st
Artillery, forming the garrison at Fort San
Jacinto. at Galveston. Press reports indi-
Gated that the post had suffered severely
from the hurricane. and that most of the
garrison had perished. Anxiety on this
score was intensified by the receipt last
night of the following dispatch from Gen.
McKtbben. commanding the Department of
Texas, who was ordered to Galveston to
investigate and report upon the situation:
Start first train tonight. Press reports
received here state that all battery lost but
fifteen men. Both officers lost"
This dispatch was undoubtedly mangled
In transmission. and was not clearly under
stood, Consequently there great sat
isfacton over the receipt of Capt. Raf-
ferty's dispatch. 1t was dated Galveston,
September .. the day following the date
when the storm was at its height. IT was
not received here. however. until about 2
o'clock this morning. 1t stated briefly that
all the records and books of the post had
been destroyed In the storm, and requested
that duplicates be sent from the depart
ment. The Importance of this dispatch lies
In the fact that 1t mentions no loss of life.
which ii certainly would have done had
such been the case. 1t is incomprehensible
to the officials of the War Department that
Capt. Rafferty, would have mentioned the
loss of post records alone if there had been
any loss of life. 1t is therefore accepted
at the War Department that the reported
loss of life at Fort San Jacinto was with
out foundation.
Cutters VIII Garry Supplies Free.
Gen. Spauding. acting secretary of the
treasury. today sent a telegram to the col
lector Of customs at Mobile directing him
to notify the people that all provisions and
other articles collected at that point for
the relief of the Galveston sufferers will be
transported free in the two revenue cut
ters that have been ordered from Norfolk
and Wilmington to proceed to Mobile before
leaving for Galveston. The cutters are
splendid. new vessels and can carry many
tons of provisions. They will arrive at Mo-
bile in a few days and will not remain
long. Provisions must be collected between
now and then if they are to be taken by
the boats.
Statement of GaIveston's Postmnster.
The Secretary of the Treasury this morn
ing received the following dispatch from
the deputy collector of customs and the
postmaster at Galveston:
GALVESTON, Texas, September 10, 1909.
THE city and island of Galveston swept
by terrific cyclone and tidal wave of unpre-
cedented fury. The entire city inunda ed
and gulf encroached several blocks. The
resident part IN ruins ana many people
homeless. The dead, it is feared, will reach
about fifteen hundred and perhaps twice as
many. Streets obstructed by debris. Dead
animals and wires in every part of the city.
More than eight feet of water in stores and
warehouses. damaging stock of goods and
provisions Thousands homeless and wound
ed. Some five hundred sheltered in custom
house. which is practically roofiess. All
railroad communication shut off and wagon
and railroad bridges leading TO mainland
gone. Ocean steamers to the number of
seven or eight ashore, and small craft de-
moshed. Life saving station swept away.
No trace of crew. Lightship up in West
bay. Occupants supposed to be safe. Old
custom house roofiess and windows blown
out.
"All stored merchandise. principally
sugar, badly damaged. Boarding boats
swept away and barge Office badly wrecked
Need tents and 10000 ration5. Citizens re-
lief committee doing all in their power but
stock of undamaged provisions exhausted.
Have hired boat to take dispatch to main
land for transmission. Relief urgently re-
quested.
(SignedD "ROSENTHAL,
Special Deputy Collector.