The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-12
|SCENES ON GALVESTON ISLAND.
Post Man Tells Graphic Story of the StormSwept City be-
tween the Bay and the Oulf-Incidents Which Are
Almost Miracles Are ChroniCled

During Monday allernoou NViVhoi w.
Moody sent his family out on his steam
yacht Pherabble. Mr. Bryan Heard ar
ranged Monday afternoon to leave Calves
ten Tuesday morning In his steam launch
having aboard the members of the ofhce
force OF McFadden Brothers, who mad
been berett OF homes and possessions by
the storm and had no place TO 1--we OF DC
protected from the weather.
The main thing at this time is to get to
Galveston supplies and to bring from Gal
weston all people who can be brought 10
Houston or other interior towns Tnere
are more people than it is possible for the
transportation companies to provide Tor
with the limited facilities at their COM
mand. A feature which is not at all bene-
fetal, is the many sightseers going to the
Island City. Monday as many as could pos
sibly go to the island went across, barge
load going from Virginia Point 1t WAS
expected by the people Of Galveston tina!
they were coming to assist in burying the
dead, but when they Joined in an e1cuF-
more of a drawback than an assistance.
There is no difference in any part Of
the city. as regards the death rate. have
been asked which part suffered most. and
where are the greatest number Of dead
being found. They are found everywhere
They have been buried beneath the ruins
of former homes, and they have been
washed miles from the places where they
once lived. Bodies are found in every
part of the city,
talked with great many regarding
the possibilities OF recovery from tho
disaster. They hesitate TO talk Of this;
they do not know when it will occur. They
say in some instances that Galveston is.
ruined, others think that in the course
of time there can be recovery. There "a
no doubt, however, that it VIII be a long
time. The business part Of town is COM
pletely paralyzed and among the indus
tries millions OF dollars have been washed
away, in valuable property and macbin
cry, which will never be replaced. These
Industries will not be revived altogether.
Some may spring up again. but many of
them will never be heard Of,
~
When ! was in Galveston communication
with the main land was very difficult.
heard men offer fabulous prices to be
taken across, and there were no boats to
be had. l saw hundreds refused transport
tation, and l saw those hundreds almost
weep because they could not get away.
They did not fear a repetition, but no
longer could they remain amid so much
desolation and the sensitive human pa
ture was revolving against the sight of so
much dead and so much human decom
position. 1t was horrifylng. People who
bad never before viewed death. and those
who had never seen anything but the re-
mains OF dear friends and relatives, were
brought face to face with the calamity,
and their nerves were not fitted for the
sight which met their gaze, They sub
mitted as long as they could, and they
sought means of leaving the place.
was besieged with people who wanted
to send message to some part of the
country advising that they were safe, and
had l brought all that were offered, 1t
would have required a ream of paper to
keep the memorandum. l accommodated
as many as could and brought a large
number OF letters.
i The loss of animal life on the island was
something terrible. Thousands of cattle and
horses were drowned. AMI lay about the
streets Of the city, The committee decided
that the best thing to do. would be to dump
all Of these bodies into the bay. and let
them float out with the tide and IL caught
IL the guilt flow they would he taken far
away This was being Done Monday.
/ came away from Galveston in a. row.
beat. Ne started from Twanty-rrst etreet
and rowed around the wharf to the railroad
bridge. l counted as many as 200 bodies
noaung near the wharfs, No effort was be-
iEg made to handle them at that time, as
IL was deemed advisable with the limited
the island.
| endeayOrea to ascertain what looalitie.
had been visited with complete destruction
OF the houses, but 1t was impossible. My
stay on the island was OF such short dura-
ton that could not visit all OF the places
Ava SNA4A / EO very lar lIOm NuS Duhlueeh
streets, as vehicles were not available every
one being used for tho transportation OF
corpses.
Tno saloons in Galveston we're all closed
NO llduor was allowed, except for those who
we're handling bodies, and the terrible
stsneh made necessary SONS stimulant.
IL has been asked why the bodies are being
hurried away, and no Identification being
made Were one to go TO that stricken
city and see the dead as they are brought "a
wharf, the question would be answered by
LOOK a. one body and one alone. The faces
are swollen and blue. Timbers have bruisg d
them, and to attempt to identify them would
cause delay which could not be allowed
ana the effort would be without result in
w cases out Of a 100. The only possible way
ny TO call roll when the present condition
has been reliYcCd. and then the list woult
DC lar from complete. Many visitors viii
20 eilong thote missing. whose names wi
never get In tho prints.
me editorial force OF the Galveston News
iost not man. or any OF tho relatives OF
lhehe men. In the proof room there were
Two lost. They were not In Galveston al
ne time. but were fishing seross the BAY
several from the typographical room ar,
missing. as are some from the Typographical
lSIee OF Clarke Courts. on account OF tbs
ahsenee OF water TO supply the boilers IN
5 vvsNeston News is maxine no efort 10 pub.
Iish n paper but has issued IN circula,
form, tia assignment OF committees and in.
s"ueuons OF tho martial law authorities.
An incident Of the storm and one which
} shows how narrow escapes we're made ma,
reference 10 80