Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1900-09-12
TERRIFIC STORM IN TEXAS
Galveston Almost Ruined and
5000 Lives Lost.

Now York, Sept. 9.-The World
tomorrow will print the follow.
ing: Austin, Tex, Sept. 9.-In,
formation has just reached me
that about 5000 lives have been
lost at Galveston, with enormous
destruction of property.
No information from other
points. Joseph d. Sayres,
Governor.
Chicago, Sept. "a dispatch
to The Chronicle from San An.
tonic, Tex, says: The startling
news has ust flashed over the
wires Informing j. d. Sayres that
messenger at great risk of his
llte has just reached Virgins
Point from Galveston with tt g
report that $500 are probably
dead as a result of the fearful
storm. An urgent appeal to all
Texas is made for help. The m es
senger said that the grain eleva-
tors at the water front are
wrecked and hundreds of build.
ings have collapsed or were car
rled out to sea. The greatest dis
tress ia said to prevail.
Houston, Tex, Sept. 9.-The
West Indian storm which reached
the Gulf coast yesterday morn
Ing wrought %ful havoc in Tex
as. Reports are conflicting, but
1T is known that an appalling
disaster has befallen the city of
Galveston, where, it ls reported,
thousand or more lives have
been blotted out and a tremend.
Gus property damage incurred.
Meagre reports from Sabine Pass
and Port Arthur also indicate q
heavy loss of life, but these re.
port cannot be confirmed at this
hour.
The first news to reach this city
from the stricken city Of Calves.
ton was received tonight. James
&. Tlmmons, who resides in Hous
ten, and Who Is the general sup
erintendent of the National Com.
press company, arrived in the
city at s o'clock tonight from
Galveston. He was one of the
first to reach here with tidings of
the great disaster which has be-
fallen that city and the magni-
tude Of that disaster remains to
be told because Of his endeavors
to reach home. After remaining
through the hurricane of Satur-
day, he departed from Galveston
on a schooner and came across
the bay to Morgan's Point, where
he caught train for Houston.
The hurricane, Mr.. Timmons said ,
was the worst eyer known.
The estimates made by citizens
of Galveston was that 1000
houses, most of them residences,
have been destroyed and that a
least 1000 people have been
drowned, killed or are missing.
Some business houses were also
destroyed, but most of them
stood, though badly damaged.
The city, Mr.. Timmons AYERS,
is a complete wreck, so far as he
could see from the water front
and from the fremont hotel.
Water was blown over the island
by the hurricane, the wind blow
ing at the rate of so miles an
hour, straight from the gulf, and
forcing the sea water before it in
big waves. The gale was a steady
ono, the heart of it striking the
city about 5 o'clock yesterday
evening and continuing without
intermission until midnight last
night, when it abated somewhat,
although it continued all night.
or his knowledge, Mr.. Tim
mons know Of only one house
succumbing with fatal results,
though he heard of many resi-
dencas being carried away with
inmates. The honse that he saw
destroyed was Ritter's saloon
and restaurant, at 2109 Strand
street, a principal business street
of the city. This three story
building was blown down and
nine men, prominent citizens,
were killed. Among the dead
are Charles Kelner, Sr., a cot
ton buyer Of an English firm 4;
Sta nley S. Spencer, general man
agor Of the Elder Dem pa ter
Steamship line; Richard Lord,
manager of McFadden's Cotton
company, whose body is still in
the ruins.