Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-10-11

my 1rlendS an expression OF my posi-
ton as to what confronts me. 1t is
a terrible calamity which reached me
in this hour Of grief, sorrow and be.
reavement. | am not adequate to
the circumstances and the terrific
scene which have gone through.
One half the city washed away and
the remaining portion is a total
wreck. Many buildings will be re-
paired and others cannot be repaired
for want OF means. 1t will take a
number OF years to put the city in
the same condition it was prior to the
storm. Every building and enter
prise has suffered from the fury Of
the elements. cannot say as to
what the future Of this place will be
but the West and the national gov.
eminent must come to its assistance
to maintain it as port Of entry. A
breakwater should be built around to
connect with the jetties on the south
side Of the island and raising it to the
height Of ten feet above the high tide.
Permanent settlement will be ques-
tionable and investments doubtful
until something Of this character is
devised. 1t would be criminal to
abandon this city and port, the best
on the Gulf coast, after so much
money has been expended upon it.
1t is an enterprising center of COM
MERGE and the people are a gallant
and heroic body and they met the
calamity which reached us by the
will Of God with fortitude and devo-
ton to build up their beautiful city
which commands the respect Of the
world.
Our loss in population will exceed
10000 drowned and killed and about
700 wounded and injured. Several
thousand have left for different parts
since the flood, terror stricken by
reason Of their loss Of family and TO-
tai loss of property. The debris will
take four or five months TO cleal up
and will cost 100000, provided
they make no better progress than
they have already done. They are
short Of money; they pay laborers 50
per day and eight hours constitute a
day. The loss to all property will
probably reach $5O,O0O,00O and may
exceed that 1t is difficult to reach
even an approximation Of the loss.
In relation to the sum OF money
sent the sufferers from Abilene, 5000,
| presume that the central committee
received it and have no knowledge OF
what disposition was made OF it but
Harmony lodge A. F. Il A. M. re.
ceived from Abilene lodge 800 in
cash. The brotherhood is doing no.
BILE work day and night in relieving
the suffering Masons. Every one has
been visited and two teams are TAX
ing out provisions continually. No
Mason's family has suffered. A table
was set which would hold 100 persons
and was started Monday to feed all
brothers and their friends, even out
side the fraternity, who made appli-
cation fer the necessaries Of life which
were bountifully provided. Yosr old
townsman, Tom Croft, past master OF
the lodge, with the other officers, is
doing excellently. God bless our
order, I do not know what ! would
have done only for their timely as
sistance.
have not recovered the bodies Of
my family as yet. They are amongst
the debris which is twenty feet high
and three blocks in length and 200
feet wide. cannot describe the
scene, houses telescoped into each
other and two-story houses hoated on
top Of the debris and it is so all along
the east and south side Of the city.
The west end has been clearly swept
away, % miles on the main land.