Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-09-10
STORM HAVOC IN TEXAS.

STORM HAVOC IN TEXAS.
The city OF Galveston has been de-
stroyed, dozen or more cities and
towns in Texas wrecked and hundreds
OF lives lost by the hurricane and tidal
wave which swept the gulf coast OF
Texas Saturday night: Owing to the
wires being down and communication
, being very difficult, because OF the vast
food, details OF the terrible disaster are
meagre. The destruction Of life and
property, however, seems to have been
greater than that Of any other flood or
storm disaster in this country since the
Johnstown food in June, 1889, when
TO- 900 people persisted. The latest adj
vices from Dallas, Houston and other
points ia Texas show that the follow
ing towns were damaged. Gaveston,
900 to 1000 lives lost; Alvin, 7 lives
lost; Ssbine Pass, Brooshire, Seabrooke.
II lives lost; Houston, life lost; Co.
lumbia, Belasco and Smithville.
The storm Ia described as the worst
that ever visited Texas, and the full
extent OF the calamity remains to be
told. Much suffering is certain to fol-
low, thousands of people having lost
homes and contents.
James G. Timmins, general superin'
tendent of the National Compress Com
pany, arrived at Houston at midnight
from Galveston, after perilous trip.
He reports that more than one thou
sand people have been drowned, killed
or missing, and that four thousand
houses have been destroyed. The city,
Mr.. Timmins says, ID a complete
wreck, SO far as he could see from the
water front end from theTremont Hotel.
Water was blown over the island by
the hurricane, the wind blowing at the
rate OF so miles an hour straight from
the Gulf and forcing the sea water be-
fore it in big waves. The water ex-
tended across the island. Mr. Timmins
said it was three feet deep in the ro-
tunda of the fremont Hotel aud Yves
six feet deep in Market street. Most
of the small sailing craft were wrecked
and were piled up on the wharves or
floating bottom side up 10 the bay.
The scenes during the storm, Mr.
Timmins said, were awful. Women
and children were crowded into the
fremont Hotel, where he was seeking
shelter, and all night these unfortunates
were bemoaning their losses of kindred
and fortune. The city OF Galveston, he
says, is now entirely submerged and
cnt of from communication.
The last word from Sabine was re-
ceived yesterday morning at an early
hour. At that hour this town, which is
built at the Pass, Was entirely sur
rounded by water and there was a
terrific wind blowing, At the town,
which is about mile and half from
the port proper, the railroad track has
been entirely washed away for some
distance to tho north, the depot was
surrounded by water, and the people
were leaving in crowds for the high
lands back of the town.
At La Porte great damage was done
by water and wind, but SO far as learned
there was no loss OF life. However, no
trains have yet been able to reach
there.
The damage at Houston is estimated
at s., 100000. Nearly every church 10
the city is damaged. The First Bsp-
fist, the Southern Methodist, and q
couple OF negro churches will have to |
be rebuilt. The Dickson Car Wheel
Works, occupying about two blocks OF |
ground, we're wrecked.
News from the country between |
Houston and Galveston along the San.
ia Fe, is appalling. Towns wiped out.
lives lost, crops destroyed. Alvin is
reported nearly wiped of the earth.
Hitchcock is 10 much the same cohdi-
ton. Alta Iona is without house
standing and Peanland is swept away.
These reports are from reliable
sources.
A passenger train on the Santa Fe
Railroad wac blown from the track TWO
miles north OF Alvio and one person
killed and number of others Injured.
Later reports show That Louisiana
suffered less by the West Indian hurri-
cane than first reported. The only
serious injury is on the east bank OF
parish, on which the rice
and vegetable crops are more than half
ruined. From southwest Louisiana it
s now reported that the injury to rice
g only half what it was first estimated.
A dispatch from Washington dated
asst plight says the tropical storm has
passed the coast line, turning more to
he northward, and was central last
night over north central Texas. Fort
Worth reports a maximum wind veloc-
ty of A miles an hour from the east
snd barometer reading of 1916
inches. Nothing has been heard from
he Texas coast since Saturday sfter-
noon. Unofficial sdvices from Hous-
.oD, Texas, reports gale Of from 40 to
80 miles an hour, doing great damage
% city property. The indictions aret
hat this storm will now move north
ward and very likely to the north.
aortheastward. VI