The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1900-09-29
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Stirring Appeal In Behalf OF tho Suffer-
ers and Survivors Of the CAL
weston Disaster.

Galveston, Tex, Sept. 26.-The fol,
lowing signed appeal was issued last
night:
To the American People:
Seventeen days after the storm at Gal
weston 1t is still impossible to accurately
estimate the loss Of life and property. 1t
is known that the dead in the city will
number at least six thousand, or approx
mately one-sixth of the census population
The island and adjacent mainland will add
perhaps 1900 to this numper.
The actual property damage is incalcull-
bic in precise terms, tut we believe the
individual losses and losses in public prop
erty, such as paving, waterworks, schools,
hospitals, churches. etc, will easily
amount to $3O,O00OO. This estimate takes
no account of the direct and indirect in.
jury to business.
Along the beach front upwards of 2,6W
houses by actual map count, were to-
tally destroyed. OF these not a timber
remains upon the original site, and the
wreckage constitutes an embankment OF
debris extending along the entire beach
from three to four blocks inward TO
about three miles, the removal of which
will cost from s750OOO to $1,000 900.
From this debris there are still daily un.
cally employed, from thirty to fifty bodies
which are burned or buried upon tn,
spot.
Moreover, we estimate that 97R per cent.
of the remaining houses throughout the
city are damaged In greater or less de-
gree. On the removal of this debris in the
clearing of the streets, to make temper.
airy repairs on houses. partly destroyed,
in distributing supplies and in the general
work of restoration, our entire citizenship
are engaged. Men whose services could
not be secured at this season ordinarily
are giving their time without compensa'
ton. Firms whose affairs ordinarily re
quire the attention of three partners, re-
tain one for the transaction Of their bust.
ness, and lend the other two to the pub
lie service. The stevedores, cotton jam,
mers and other bodies of organized skilled
workmen who command handsome wages
ct this time of the year, have been giving
their time free of cost, and one associa,
ton has, besides, contributed from the
charity fund $1,000 in cash to the general
caring for their own to the utmost OF
their resources.
This devotion to the general welfare al
the expense of private interests is shown
by ali classes. Visiting newspapermen
now here will bear witness to this uni
versal condition of sef-sacriice.
The burdens of our committees have
been lightened in a great degree by GOV
j. D. Savers, who has personally under.
taken the supervision of relief to the
mainland sections and by the splendid
success of Adjt-Gen, Scurry and staff IL
maintaining discipline and directing la
Dor from the beginning Of this work
until his department was merged into
the regular relief work and city govern
inent.
We can not command language TO ex.
press our gratitude for the generous sup
plies OF food clothing, disinfectants, etc,
from all quarters and all agencies MOI
can we overrate the service performed
by the American press. And we desire
to make special recognition of the metro
pOlitan newspapers and the Red Cross
society that have raised funds and sent
relief trains and cargoes and whose repre-
sentatiVes are here not only Distributing
their supplies but joining hands with us
IN the sorrowful and strenuous labors OF
the occa sion.
BY the worlds generosity there has been
no hunger and no nakedness In Galveston
And especially do we return grateful
thanks for the SURPRISING and unlimited
generosity of the railroads, express, tele.
graph and telephone companies, without
whose prompt assistance we would longer
have remained in isolation and chaos, and
who are not only rendering services for
relief work free of charge, but are giving
n precedence over any other business.
The munihcent contributions In money
sent to the governor and directly TO the
relief committee are perhaps sufficient tc
deiray the necessary expenses OF removal
of the wreckage and disposing Of the dead
bodies and meeting the most urgent SAM
tary requirements --,-,
But when this Is done the special WORK
OF restoration, VIII nave begun. Inc nome
less Will still be without shelter or house
hold goods the mechanic without tools,
tne WasherWoIhan WITHOUT Wasn tups anu
the seamstress without a machine
our people are meeting ms disaslet
with characteristic American pluck, Not
forgetting their dead, they, nevertheless,
hide their sorrow and turn their races
toward the future.
Were our task but to anord temporary
relief and to care, Tor the wounded ana
orphans. an appeal to Texas alone would
be sufficient. The wounded and orphans
are comparatively few, since 2nly the
dened elements, But greater and 2
graver work confronts us, some kind OF
homes, be they eyer so humble, must DC
In ruined houses, public places and i'm.
provsed camps, to the end that they may
pns hnpnpp puupprg Int NAV ADpp1lly sci