The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-19

EE1QAy NiSnt every one Wis Isitftisso "
the expected storm. but no one hao the
teas: idea that WIND could blow at such
q terrific rate Of spesd- During the even
ing, just before dark, MIR. bowman was
standing under the lee Of the hotel with
an old gentie:ran who lad lived an Sal
weston many years Naturally the COZ,
yersafion drifted TO storms, and the oid
gentleman Told OF the great blow OF 1919
and the storm of 1856, which he witnessed.
He did not think II would be possible los
another such storm as the one "hs ,
swepr the city in 1875. AT ti.at lime 1iie
wind was whisti.ng up the streets anu
seemed 10 be increa sing every Hllaht
That night Mr.. Bowman went TO ms
room about II O'Clock, and was awakened
ct o'clock in the morning by the Dow
ing away OF the window shutter: ALL
that he did not attempt to remain ia Tue
room. which faced the storm ana receiseo
the great blow fully unprotected.
He walked down 10 Inc office or the
hotel. where he found a number OF otnef
v1t.emen. About u o'clock Saturday
the wind was blowing so hard that pso,
gle walking IN the street were checheu
and driven backward From that nne
on scenes and incidents of the most
touching horror followed one another Tith
marvellous rapidly.
In the early afternoon, when 1t was only
believed that the Storm would amount 10
a heavy blow and there would be no great
damage. there were many amusing lac!
dents, but when night came, and wttn IL
utter darkness, the comcal side vanished
and men began 10 realize what Tn, sltIa-
ton would really prove to be. AL thas
evening the men were kept busy rushli's
out into the water, waist deep. In search
OF tired women who were s'ruGsi.hs
through the storm towards the hotet.
Time after time men and women could
be seen TO reach for a post and be caught
by q heavy gust OF wind and carried forty
or fifty feet down the street.
WRAPPED AROUND "A POLE
One lady was picked out OF the water
and literally wrapped around telegraph
post. The wind was SO strong that she
Law where she struck Until some Of the
men ran to her assistance and carried her
TO the hotel.
With darkness came the rising water
AT or o'clock the water was several s,s
feet deep in the hotel office and 10 the
armp,ts of the reScuing party on the SIDE
walk. The wind had increased TO such
m extent that 1t was dangerous to ven
ture out of the house The ar was h4led
with flying timhers. and occasionally the
entire roof CT house would pass by on
Its deadly voyage. The water h:ied the
engine-room Of the hotel ny $50 o CLOCK
and every light in the Big establishment
went out, but next day, when the W!hu
changed and the water receded, the PAM
was put in working order again. NO"
city which enjoys electric light
All that night the crowded hotel seemed
like a tomb. Women could be heard
praying for salvation, and children cried
IN the darkness for their missing parents:
It was one of the most horrible nights
the world has known. and the darkness
added a new dread to the bowling storm
All Saturday night the occupants OF the
hotel and the hundreds who had fought
their way to the big building expected
every moment to see the building 60
Shortly after o'clock there was
terrific crash. and the skylight over the
clerks office fell from the roof to the
floor fan below 1t was ike thunder,
and the building trembled from the blow
On Sunday a great many volunteered
their services. mir. Bowman Joined Dr.
Diilinger, and they went out to search
for the injured ana render what assist
ance they could. They had gone but
square when a call for assistance came.
An Italian was found. both arms broken
md badly cut. His wounds were dressed
by the physician and volunteer aid
All Sunday night and Monday during
the day. men were kept busy carrying
the bodies 10 undertaking establishments
for Identification. The city then secured
the use OF a warehouse, and this was
flied b;i,nful. Then the authorities
realized that It would be Impossible TO
to be mado TO identify them. All the
bodies in the warehouse and undsrtakerss
establishments We're then carried out to
barees and piled six tiers high. and towed
out to sea. Monday four vessels lett
the shore for sea, and there We're not less
than 100 bodies on each barge. MI
Bowman saw a fireman pick child from
the ruins on the street Every piece
of clothing had been blown from the body
of the little girl. and she was wrapped
in n sack and buried with the others in
the sea
He saw a gentleman who had travelled
down from Beaumont in search of his
wife and two children. and at once gave
up all hope OF seeing his dear ones alive.
This gentleman. saddcned by the blow
and his supposed loss. was walking down
The street just IN front OF the Doctor and
Mr.. Bowman. Two little girls ran out
OF a house with cry of happiness. They
were his children, and, turning. he saw
their sweet-faced mother in the door
way The reaction was 100 much for
the man. He tainted on the street, and
was carried into the house which held
his little family.
Ills ROOM "A WRECK
During Sunday Mr.. Bowman entered
h;n room Tor the first time since the
Storm and he found there state OF per
feet ruin. A large piece OF glass. diamond
in shane, was driven an inch into thu
door. while the mosquito bar was Gu,
to rags by flying glass. The room was q
wreck
During one evening guard halted .
negro Tor robbing a body and TIE nesrs
fired a shot He was promptly killed, and
four others who came to his rescue
dropped DEAD. all beirg shot by the sans
brave guard. Another negro was seen rob
bing a lady Of ring. He had no knife
to cut the fingers from the dead hand
and as a guard killed him he was chew
ing a finger off to secure large diamond
A negro was seen to cut a lady's throa'
IN the street TO secure money she held
,5he guard fred only a second Too late, fol
the lady died OF the wounds the sho
failed to prevent The negro murderer Wes
left where he fell.
Tuesday the hundreds OF bodies buried
at sea drifted back In store and full,
one-thi-d OF the number will have to be
crernated or buried. M. Bowman left Gal
weston. on Wednesday morning Forty
-four people boarded small sall-boat and
reached Texas City. where they took the
train for Houston. Half o; the nuE,he:
had no money and were taken across the