The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-16
In Place OF
Society News.


The storm that swept over ths Texas
coast last Saturday left behind X such
\ terrible trail OF sorrow and desolation
that any thought Of amusement or merry
making or social function seens sscrilese
and The Pcst. always sympathetic with
the people 80 taeir Joy or sorrow. has
closed. for tn tme being the page that
chronicles the pleasant happenings of the
social world. In Houston on Saturday
night the roofs OF the thousands Of COM
Portable homes covered scenes OF anxi-
city and even terror as the neee wind
shook the walls. washed Ia tho Windows
and tore down the trees that grew near
But in the morning when the sun rose
peacefully and the morning Post brought
the tidings that In all this big city only
one life vac lost. hearts grew light and q
reaction OF relief set In. In = little while
the town was alive with people hocking
over the streets to look at the damage
done. But as this damage was only what
time and money would easily remedy 1t
seemed so little in comparison with what
might have been that the groups OF sight
seers made merry over 1t and laughed
with each other over ths experiences OF
the previous night.
| But as the morning passed the relief
train from the bay shore villages came In
bearing crowds of people who had pitinil
stories 10 tell OF narrow escapes from
death; of little children bravely trudging
Through the water with bleeding feet OF
mothers cnnging 10 their babies In fear
| that the wind would tear them away, and
also OF those who were missing. OF whom
no tidings could be heard; then the merry
laugh was husned and people turned to
each other with horror, mutual sympathy
the word Galveston uttered. In fear aud
dread! But between Galveston and the
main land heavy wall OF silence was
bull, by brokva bridges, torn wires and
furious waters. Toward the silence every
ear was strained to catch the first break
and when It came! The first terrible
whisper, though came from nearer home
than Galveston--it WAS from Seabrook'
the pret,s little village ON the bay shore
and It was of families swept away, people
of cur own, go closely allied to Houston.
90 thoroughly part OF Houston that the
loss was the city's loss as well as that OF
the husbands, fathers and brothers who
were hunting almoat hopelessly for some
trace OF them With those there was a
dear little chiid whose people have suf-
fered 20 much OF late that a cry OF heart
felt sympathy went out to them from
every heart. Hope was forbidden ana sor-
row entered to take her place.
Then came the terrible cry from Gal
weston and those who had dear ones there
liked into each others faces With piteous
! dread and pleadings for hope Oh, the
terrible suspense of the first two days
Just a word now and then from mar
tossed up by ths waves. husband, des'
perate to reach HIS family aud daring
the waters in reckless disregard Of dan
ger. OF the faithful reporter Of The Post
Mr.. South, anxious TO give the people
news through hts paper--all these brought
enough to show THAT the worst was to bt
feared. They told of mothers and sisters
gone. OF the young husband whoso mar
riage vows were taken not much NOR,
we'll. and the helping hands were KEEP
those who cried from, ruined houses 10
help that could not reach lthsml MOI
cama with bleeding and swollen feet
walking over miles OF debris To ask FOL
succor, for food, for water! Instant.
: came the response and men and womer
alike in the more fortunate cities wer'
quick to give and quick TO dispatch thu
! needed help.
Along with the pitiful cries from Gal
weston came others from the smalle
T coast towns. many OF then gone almos
: completely. Help must 10 to them a
wei. and the heplng hands were KEEP
busy all day long packing clothing an,
food for the sufferers, Empty halls ans
rooms were filled with cots made ready
I for the sick and wounded. and womeI
were waiting to give their ever-read.
/. help In time of trouble.
5 With these dark times came CLEANS o
l happiness when good news came thu
= all was well with those almost despaireC
. OF. Families were reunited and chung 1,
each OTTER, as II they feared that II wa
too good to be true that they were witt
r eacS other again.
The Houstonians looked at their bruised
9 houses and broken trees--the stately
graceful trees that made our city sc
beautiful-and thought how small our loss
was-how easily. except In few sat
I homes, repaired, and went their way IN
thankfulness. anxious only to reliyvt
those who had suffered SO much IN the
e neighborlng towns and our sister city.
4 One question was heard very often or
the lips OF men and women: Why were
. we not earned OF this hurricane and tida
wave by the weather bureau OF thu
? United States? OF what use their study
andscience and skill II such storm
as that was not reportedf Was thu