Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-13
M'KIBBIN REPORTS
Result of His Observation at
Galveston.
I'VE THOUSAND DESTITUTE CITIZENS
Battery O, First Artillery, Lost %
Men.
CAPTAIN RICHES ADVICES

Several kilograms were received at the
War Department today showing the ter
rible effects of the recent hurricane at Gal
weston.
Adjt Gen. Corbin received a telegram
from Gen. McKibbin, commanding the De-
partment Of Texas, who was ordered to Gal
weston to investigate the situation. 1t Is
dated Houston, September L, and is as fol-
lows:
Arrived at Galveston at pm, having
been ferried across bay in yawl boat. 1t
is impossible to adequa tely describe the con-
dillon existing. The storm began about
a. m. on Saturday, and continued. with con-
stantly increasing violence, until after mid
night. The island was inundated; the height
of the tide WIS from eleven to thirteen feet.
The wind was cyclone. With few eXcep-
tons, every building in the city is injured.
Hundreds are entirely destroyed.
"All the Qualifications except the rapid
fire battery at San Jacinto are practically
destroyed A. San Iaclnto every building
except the quarantine station has been
swept away. Battery O, 1St Artillery, lost
twentG-e:ght men. The officers and their
families We're all saved. Three members Of
the hospital corps lost. Names will be sent
soon possible. Loss of life on the
island Is possibly more than one thousand.
ALI bridges are gone waterworks destroyed
and all telegraph lines are down. Col. Rob
erts was in the city, and made every effort
to get kilograms through. The city is under
control of committee of safety, and is per-
fectly quiet. Every article OF equipment or
property pertaining To Battery O WAS lost.
Not a record Of any kind is left. The men
saved have nothing but the clothing on
their persons. Nearly all are without shoes
or clothing. other than their shirts and
trousers. Clothing necessary has been pur-
q OF "A 81 re- mad
for food and shelter
There are probably j.GD citizens home
less and absolutely destitute. who must be
clothed, sheltered and fed. Have ordered
2a.c2o Iatons and ten;s for l.un from Sam
Houston; have wired commisSary general
10 ship :ot*ss ratiOns by express Lieut..
Perry will make his way back 10 Houston
End send this telegram.
"McKIBBIN."
Capt. Riches TeIegrams.
Gen. wilson chief of engineers, received
Two kilograms from Capt. Charles S. Richie,
the engineer officer in charge of river and
harbor improvements at Galveston The
first, which was dated September 10, was
not received here until last night. 1t was
as follows:
Hurricane cause tide twelve to four
teen feet above mean low: jetties seem to
have settled cannot yet be seen with tide
three feet above. probably seriously dam
aged; batteries practically ruined. moth
ing but concrete portions left; casemate
torpedo buildings, warehouses, cCaI wharf
wiped out; dfedge Comstoc,S beached on
Pelican flats, Will nave to be dag out. crew
all saved; tug Anna at Nelasco, in BrazoS
river, has not yet been heard from: Assist
ant Engineer Tailor was on the Anna.
Superintendent Campbell probably also; Su-
perinyendent Hink1e at AranSaS-Pass. not
get heard from; other assistants and clerks
safe: Capt. Judson's wife reported here
crowned. cannot verify this; self and fam
lily safe; Rafferty,. Baxter, Nichols and
LonSivc safe; they have probably wired
department already; further details Of i'm
pCrtancc rs aScertained.
The other telegram from Capt. Richie
to Gen. Wilson bore date of September II.
and was as follows:
Tug Anna ashore in Brazos river. ids:
below lighthouse; all hands safe. Depth
Of water in usual entrance channel here
reported shoaled 70 twenty feet; probably
Is deeper elsewhere. Have arranged with
Contractor Clarke to float Anna also to
bring his dredge from Plaquemine bayou
here to dredge out government dredge
Comstock. SO she may be available for ur-
gent work"
The acting quartermaster general receiv-
ed telegram this morning from Capt.
Baxter. quartermaster, dated at Galveston
yesterday. saying:
1T Is not believed that any mare funds
for filling in at Fort.San Jacnto will ever
be needed. Everything at this post has
been destroyed and swept away"
The acting secretary OF the navy has
cetved dispatch saying that the naval tug
Sebago left Pensacola yesterday afternoon
for Galveston for the purpose of aiding in
the relief of the sufferers.
Cutter Galveston Reported Safe.
Capt. Shoemaker. chief Of the revenue
cutter service, this morning received an
anonymous telegram from Galveston. Tex.
saying that the revenue cutter Galveston
and all her crew are safe The telegram is
Il rather mysterious one. as it Is not signed
by any of the officers of the vessel Acting
Secretary Spaulding assumes that the tele
gram is bona fide and has wired Gov. Say
ers that the vessel is at his command.
Escaped the Storm.
General Superintendent Kimball of the
life-saving service has received kilograms
from the superintendent of the gulf dis
trict. dated last night. in which it is stated
that the keeper and five of the crew of the
Galveston Hfe-saving station had landed at
Texas City. One surfinan and the keepers
wife were missing and are supposed to have
been lost
The keeper of the San Luis station, on
the west end of Galveston Island, wife and
two children. with two Surfmen. have ar
rived at Galveston in a lfeboat and report
the station wrecked. -Four surfmen were
left in Il portion OF the wrecked building.
The Mcpherson 10 Take Supplies.
Acting Secretary Me:klejOhn of the War
Department issued orders today placing the
transport Mcpherson at the service of the
citizens committee of the Merchants As
sDc:ation of New York for the purpose OF
the immediate transportation of provisions,
ETC. donated for the relief of the sufferers
in Texas.
Mr.. William r. King. president of the
citizens committee, recently addressed i
letter to President Mex nley, representing
the advantage of a vessel that could make
a tip to Galveston without delay. He said
thai his committee had laiseh S2i.H11 with
in tWenty-four hours, and that they were
prepared TO ship cargo Vi provisions at
once.
Tine matter was referred to Acting Secre-
tary Meiklejohn, with the result that nc
Issued the necessary ms tructions 20 the Off
GERS of the quarterm1ster department TO
place the Mcpherson at the service of the
citizens committee for the charitable pur-
pose indicated. Major DevoI OF the quar-
termasters department will have charge
of the relief expedition.
The WinOna Leaves for Galveston,
The Secretary of the Treasury received
the following telegram today from the COL
lector of customs at Mobile
THE revenue cutter Winona cleared at
O'Clock this morning for Galveston with
twenty-five tons genera! supplies medj-