The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-12
EARLY ESTris;s::: les =. TOO Low


agent of the Santa Fe. has returned
from a trip over the line of his road
from Hitchcock to Virginia Point He
made the trip from Hitchcock to vir-
ginia Point on foot and he gives a
graphic account Of his journey. which
was made under many difficulties.
Twelve miles of track and bridges
are gone south of Hitchcock" said he
I walked. waded and swan from
Hitchcock to Virginia Point, and moth
ing could be seen in all Of that country
but death and desolation- The prairies
are covered with water, and I do not
think exaggerate when say that not
less than 5000 horses and cattle are to
be seen along the line Of the tracks
south Of Hitchcock The little towns
along the railway are all swept away,
and the sight is the most terrible that
have ever Witnessed When reached
a point about two miles north of Vir-
ginia Point saw some bodies floating
on the prairie, and from that point un-
til Virginia Point was reached dead
bodies could be seen from the railroad
track floating about the prairie At
Virginia Point nothing is left About
100 cars Of loaded merchandise that
reached Virginia Point on the Interna-
tionaI & Great Northern and the Mis-
souri,, Kansas & Texas on the night of
the storm, are scattered over the prairie
and their contents will no doubt prove
a total loss
An appeal has been sent out by the
Masonic grand master to the Masonic
lodges and members in Texas, urging
them to remit or contribute to the as
sistance of the destitute. John and Fred
Allen, who were supposed to have been
Trn Gaf fe1
They were en- Galveston bay when the
storm struck them They found it i'm
possible to hold their course towards
Morgan's Point, and were blown about
at the mercy of the winds. They found
themselves yesterday morning with
their boat two miles from the bay on
the prairie in the vicinity OF Texas
City.
MESSAGES FORWARDED TO GAL
WESTON
Houston, Tex, Sept 1.-THE Western
Union Telegraph company today sent
to Galveston by tug several packages of
kilograms dated from nearly every city
in the country. There are over 1000 of
these messages and 1000 others have
been sent previously on trains and boats
It is expected communication will be
established with Galveston in two days
at the outside
There are no wires into Galveston
despite reports to the contrary and the
Mexican cable has been torn loose.
DEAD HANGING ON FENCES
Houston, Tex, Sept III. W. B.
Smith, who went to Galveston from
Denver, a month ago, and who was in
Saturday nights storm. reached the city
yesterday. He started from the city
Monday afternoon and in walking from
the foot OF Broadway to the Santa F'e
bridge counted 200 dead bodies hanging
on wire fences, to say nothing of those
floating in the water. He constructed
raft out Of planks and in company with
Clegg Stewart, made for the mainland.
which they reached after hours Of ex-
posure-
In every direction in crossing the bay
they saw the feet Of corpses sticking cut
OF the water. Upon reaching land they
walked to Hitchcock, Mr. Stewards home
and found that 25 persons had lost their
lives there and that in addition fifty
bodies that had foated ashore had been
buried near there Mr.. Smith is salts
fed that over 5000 persons lost their
lives Before leaving Galveston he learn
ed that the steamer Pensacola, which
was driven out to sea $50 miles by the
storm, and which was reported lost, had
returned and that its captain reported
having seen bodies floating in the water
ten miles out
SPECIAL SESSION ASKED FOR
Galveston, Tex, Sept 12.-District
Judge William H Stewart has tele-
graphed Governor Sayers asking him to
convene the legislature in special ses-
sion to make a large appropriation for
the relief of Galveston
BODIES FLOATING IN.
Houston, Tex, Sept 12--Refugees con-
tinue to reach Texas City Junction from
Virginia Point, all telling narrowing
stories which vary only in detail In
stead Of dissipating the gloom which has
settled over all since Monday, they have
nothing to say except what makes the
situation appear worse as time pro-
crosses What is most needed is means
OF transportation across the bay to
bring over the homeless and the desti-
tute-
With regard to the resumption of di-
rect rail communication with the island
no one can tell when it will take place
The Santa Fe, the Missouri. Kansas &
Texas. the International & Great North
ern and the Galveston, Houston & Hen
derson have decided to construct tenn
porary bridge for joint use and the
Southern Pacific may eventually join in
the enterprise
Regarding movement Of export freight
no definite plans have been agreed On
The all-rail routes to the ports OF Sabine
Pass and New Orleans viii all have to
be used
Detaehments of militia have been sta
toned at Texas City and Virginia Point
to prevent the passage Of persons who
have no business in Galveston Eighty
three bodies had been buried at Texas
City up to last night All Of these float
ed in from the island Probably 200
bodies have been recovered and buried
at Virginia Point
JOHNSTOWN REMEMBERS
Johnstown. Pa. Sept I2-Mayor