The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-12
STORY OF TuE GREAT srORm.
Galveston ForrwHrned hut II Was
Fnr Worse Than Expected.

kshANeNtnm E0rFMuFnGM buN ~ WINS
Far Worse Than Expected.
Galveston. Tex. by W. U. dispatch to
Houston. Tex. sept io-The terrific cy-
clone that produced such distressing
q .saster In Galveston and all through
Texas was predicted by the United States
weather bureau to strike Galveston FRI
day night. and created much apprehen-
sion. but the might passed without the
prediction being verified
The conditions. however. were ominous.
the danger signal was displayed on the
iagstah Of the weather bureau. shipping
was warned. etc. The southeastern sky
was sombre. the Gulf beat high on the
beach with that dismal thunderous roar
that prssaged trouble. while the air had
the stiffness that betokens a storm.
From on, the north. In the. middle
watches OF the night. the wind began TO
come In spiteful puffs; ntful al first but
Increasing la volume as the DAY dawncd
BY 10 o'clock Saturday morning IL WIS
almost "a gale BY noon IL had increased
IN velocity and was driving the
rain, whipping the pools and rat
fling things up In general. yet
AktHHAflAr near NNf nE4hn MfNt hNNArFAA
% the danger that threatened their homes.
Stupondous waves began to send their wa
ters lar inland and the people began a
hasty exit 70 secure places In the city.
Two gigantic forces were az work. The
Gulf force drove the waves with irresist-
ible force high upon the beach and the
gale force from the northeast pitched the
waters against and over the sewers chok-
ing these and flooding the city from that
he A.. q
with water. Communication became DIN
cult. The hapiess were caught between
Two elements. while the wind shrieked and
howled and increased in rapldity. Bust
ness suddenly came 20 a etaudstili car
trafiic was impossible. aud all those who
had homes and could reach them either By
conveyance or otherwise hastily left their
places Of business and offered fabulous
prices for any kind OF vehicle that would
carry them 70 their loved ones.
Railroad communication was cut OF
shortly after noon. the track being wash
"a out; wire facilities completely failed
a. 3 o'clock, aud Galveston was Isolated
from the world. The wind momentarliv
increased Ia velocity. while the waters
rapidly rose. and che night drew on with
dreaded apprehension depleted in the face
OF every one. Already hundreds
ana thousands were bravely stsug-
sling with their families agalnsf
The mad waves aud fierce wind Zoe
places o. refuge The public school build
ings. court house hotels. In fact. any
place that offered apparently a safe ref
uHe from the terrible elements became
crowded to their utmost Darkness ser
tied on the city like pail. while the Wind
shrlekfd with frightful velocity and the
rain zen In tortcuis. Two minutes OF SEQ
p m. just before the anamometer blew
away. II bad reached the frightnii veloc-
sty OF 100 miels an hour. buildings that
had hitherto sto a tutnbiCd and cracked
carrying desth and destruction 10 hum
dreoe Roofs whistled through the air.
windows were driven la with crash
or shattered by flying slate: telegraph.
telephone. and electric light poles. with
their MASSES % wire were snapped or
Ike pipestcms. the streets being a mass
OF wires, water communications were
broken making water and food impossible
20 obtain. What velocity the wind attain
ed aifer the thermometer blow OF Is purely
matter % speculation. The heavy de-
tonation Of falling buildings and the pierc-
lng cries for help thar broke through the
rush ana roar Of the elements was terri
bio
The relief is cncountsring dead bodies
floating IN fhe streets and shis makes a
nigh, % those who safely passed through
one Of such erucsome horrors that Il will
never "N o"tlitfAled from their memories.
The lowest point touched by the barom-
etsr Ia the Associated Press correspond
ent's office. which was filed with frighten-
cd men and women, was 2s0iis This was
about 7.3 g. M. Il then began to rise
very slowly and by 10 y. m had reached
2sca, the wind gradually subsidlng, and
by midnight The storm had passed. The
water. wbich had reached n depsh Of eight
fcet on the strand al 30 O'Clock .. m.
began 20 ehb and ran out very rapidly.
and by a. m. the crown Of the street was
free from water. Thus passed out one OF
the most frlghtful and destructive storms