The state herald., 1900-09-14
TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE BY
FLOODS AT GALVESTON

hurricane made rapid lnroad into the
center of the state. In Houston many
buildings were demolished, and a
heavy loss of property was sustained.
Continuing inland, the storm swept
the town of Hampstead, fifty miles
above Houston, and continued thence
to Chappcll Hill, twenty miles further,
then to Brennan, thirty miles distant.
All of these towns We're wrecked, their
Inhabitants terrorized and several of
them killed.
The towns of Sabine Pass, Port Ar
thur and Alvin also We're almost com
pletely destroyed. The storm swept
Beaumont, Austin. Pearlland, Smith
vile, Toylnr, Temple, Waco, Corpus
Christi, Rockport and Hitchcock, do
ing much damage in each town.
The BraZos Bottom, which was the
scene of great disaster during last
years flood, was swept for fully 1GO
miles. Crops and farm property suf-
fcred heavy damages.
| From the territory west of Austin to
the mountains the storm seems to have
swept everything before it, razing
houses and uprooting trees. Although
vast area has been swept by the
storm. interest tonight is centered in
the fate of Galveston. Some light on
the terrible conditions was obtained
from James C. Timmins. general SUI.
perintendent of the National Compress
Company, who made his way to Hous-
ton, after pcrilous trip.
He reported that more than 1000
persons were drowned or are missing,
and that 1900 houses in Galveston
have been destroyed.
Managers of the telegraph lines are
making every effort to re-cstablish
communication with Galveston at the
earliest possible moment. They have
n large number of telegraph operators
and linesmeE waiting in Houston to
go to Galveston. These men Will be
sent on to Galveston at the earliest OPP
portunity. No wires are working to-
night south of Houston. A severe
storm now prevails in this city, but 1t
has not interfered with telegraphic
communication.
The last definite news about the sit
uation in Galveston came early this
morning. At that time the lower por-
ton of the island was entirely under
water and the waves Were making rap
id inroads upon the banks which bor-
der the island proper.
Houston. Tex. Sept. 0.-Among the
passengers who arrived here on a re-
lief train from Galveston Is Ben w.
Dew, an attache of the Southern Pa
ciiic. Dew had been at Virginia Point
for some hours, and said that he saw
from 100 TO $50 bodies floating out on
the beach at that place.
n a..
twenty-five corpses had been recovered
by the life saving crew. many of them
women, and that the crew had reported
that many bodies We're floating and
they We're using every endeavor to get
them all out of the water. The water
swept across the island, and II is pre-
sumed that most Of these We're Calves
ton people. though none of them have
been Identified.
one of tile refugees who came In on
the relief train, and who had a sad ex-
perience. was S. w. Clinton. an en-
gineer at the fertilizlng plant AT the
Galveston stock yards. Mr.. Clintons
family consisted OF his wife and six
children. When his house was washed
away he managed to get two Of his
little boys safely to a raft. and with
them he drlfted hopclessly. about. His
raft collided with wreckage of every
description, and was split in two. and
he was forced TO witness the drowning
of his sons. being unable to help them
In any way. Mr.. Clinton says parts OF
the city are sccthlng masses OF water.
Mr.. Jennings. n slater by trade. who
resides at Thirty-elghta street and Ave
nue. NJ, Galveston. got TO the mainland
In about the same manner MS Clinton.
After losing his wife he set out. and
by swimming and drifting around
reached the mainland.
A. England and wife Of Texas City.
who Were ON the relief train, report
that the whole Of Texas City has been
blown away, and n number OF lives
lost Six women are known by Mr..
England to have been drowned. and he
said that many others had lost their
lives.
beaumont, Tex, Sept. g.-Thc grnv-
est fears are entertained here for the
safety OF the residents of Sabine and
Sabine Pass. Al the dispatchcr's office
Of the Sabine and East Texas railroad
II Is learned that the last dispatch
from the operator ut Sabine. the new
town, reported that AT that time the
water was surrounding the station and
washing over the railroad track. He
said people Were leaving In crowds for
the back ridge.