The age-herald., 1900-09-21
CASTE LINES ARE NOT DRAWN IN
 HEROIC EFFORT ID SAVE LIVING
There is Not an Idle Man in Calves tOn-Men in All Walks of Life
 Clearing Away Wreckage.

Galveston, Tex, September 20.-This even ing Mayor Jones proclaimed that martial law would cease at noon tomorrow and the civil authorities could assume direction of municipal affairs. This was done at the suggestion of General Scurry, who ex- pressed the belief that conditions had reached such an orderly stage that the civil authorities were able to cope with the situation. This, however, does not mean the immediate withdrawal of the military.
 They are to cooperate with county and city officials in the enforcement of order. It would be an unwise move to withdraw them now. They will still continue on duty as part of the civil government Since martial law has prevailed in Galveston good order has resulted It was feared that when it became generally known that tue military had given way to civil au- thority, 1t might result in a renewal of footing and robbery of corpses, which ex- isted immediately after the storm and con- tinued until the declaration of martial law The military forces will be used as a check on the character of criminals and will, In all probability remain here for the next twenty days.
 The shooting by military men of negroes who are footing has had a most seIutary effect and has in measure terrorized these offenders; still there are cases of robbery daily reported, which are being dealt with severely.
 The retirement of General Scurry from supreme command of the city was wholly voluntary. At a meeting of the general ccmimttee this evening he appeared before them and stated that he desired civil gov ernment restored, believing 1t for the best interests of the city. He said he thought the time opportune for the change. At General Scurry's suggestion the committee consented to relieve him from authority, but insisted that he remain here with his military force. This he will do
 Labor at Premium
 Labor at Galveston Is at premium, There Is not an idle man in the city. re- gardless of station or position a man must work. The merchant and his clerk are working side by side along with the man who has known nothing but hard work since the time of his childhood. Lines are not drawn. It is cosmopolitan gathering now at work on the city avenues; white men and black working in square gangs un- der one supreme head is daily scene. It is done for the good of Galveston.
 The health of the living must be pre- served at any cost. The city must be cleaned and the dead buried that the sur viyors may continue to live. It Is impera- tive that the wreckage about the city be cleared immediately. The stench arising from the bodies beneath the ruins is be- coming unbearable. Today orders were is- sued to impress every able-bodied man for street cleaning service. Over 500 men were secured under this order, and today there are fully 2OO0 men engaged in the work. Still this force Is not sufficient and more men must be secured for the work Men under contract for this service are to be imported from interior of the State. The work of re- moving the dead from the debris still con- tinues. The prevailing method of disposition Is cremation, and as each corpse Is taken out 1t is thoroughly saturated with coal oil and thrown into blazing fire. This has been entirely successful, and the bodies are quickly disposed of Funeral fires are blaz- ing throughout the city and in this way Galveston is riding herself of her dead.
 Capt. w. M. Hutchins, superintendent of the Ninth United States District, embrace ing all stations on the gulf coast, has re- ceived the list of the damaged stations in the district. Galveston station was wiped out and the keeper, Mrs Haynes, and one of tht surfmen drowned. Other persons at the station were saved. Two of the life boats drifted to Hitchcock, fourteen miles north of Galveston. The Galveston station was valued at $15,OOO and will be rebuilt.
 The San Luis life-saving station was damaged to the extent of about $1500 There was a loss of 5000 to the life~saving station at Velasco
 At Sabine Pass. the other station on the
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