The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-12
PEOPLE WERE WARNED
OF IMPENDING PERIL.
storm That Devastated Galveston
Cnme q Few Hours Later
Than Predicted.


GALVESTON. Tex, by Western Union
dispatch boat to Houston. Tex, Sept. II.
The terrible cyclone that produced such
distressing disaster in Galveston and
United States weather bureau TO strike
Galveston Friday night, and created
much apprehension. but the night passed
The conditions, however, were ominous
the danger signal was displayed on the
flagstaff Of the weather bureau. shipping
was warned. etc. The southeastern sky
beach with that dismal thunderous roar
that preaaged trouble, while the air had
that stiffness that betokens storm.
watches Of the night. the wind began
TO come In sptefui puffs. Increasing as
the day dawned
almost q gale; at noon II had increased
IN velocity. and was driving the rain,
whipping the pools and tearing things
up IN 2 lively manner, yet no serious
mote from the encroachments of the
gulf. Residents near the beach were
aroused by the danger that threatened
their homes Stupendous waves began
to send their waters far inland. and the
people began a hasty exit to secure places
Two gigantic forces were at work The
Bile violence high on the beach, and the
galo from the northeast pitched the wa
ters against and over the wharves chok-
ING the sewers and flooding the city from
The streets rapidly began to All with
water; communication became difficult,
ana the helpless people were caught be-
tween two powerful elements, while the
wind. howled and rapidly Increased in
velocity.
Commu nieatien Cut on.
Railroad communication was cut on
shortly after noon. the track being
washed out: wire. facilities completely
isolated from the world. The wind mo-
mentarily Increased IN velocity, while the
waters rapidly rose and the night drew
On On. With "a. dreaded apprehension Depicted IN
were bravery struggling with their FAM
lilies against the waves and fierce wind
Tor. places OF refuge. The public school
any place that AFFORDED apparently
safe refuge from the elements. became
crowded to their utmost.
Two minutes Of $50 p m. just before
the thermometer blew away, N had reached
the fri9htful velocity OF 100 miles an
hour. Buildings that had hitherto stood
tumhled and crashed. carrying death and
sailed through the air. windows weg,n
driven in with crash or shattered by
Tying slate, telegraph telephone, electric
light poles. With their mass OF wires
water pipes we're broken.
What velocity the wind attained after
the thermometer blew of Is purely a mat
ter of speculation. The lowest point
touched by the barometer in the press
correspondents Office, which was illed by
frightened men and women, was IS Oiis
this was about 1880 .. m. II then began
TO rise very slowly. and by 10 p. m had
reached 8oa. the wind gradually subsid-
ing, and by midnight the storm had
passed.
The water, which had reached a depth
81 eight feet on the Strand at 10 o'clock
p m. began TO ebb and ran out very rap
Idly. and by q. m. tho crown OF the
street was free OF water Thus passed
cut one OF the most frightfui and de-
structive storms which ever devastated
tho coast Of Texas.
Cify Filled with Destitute.
The city is tiied with destitute hereft
and homeless, while in the improvlsed
morgues are the rigid forms OF hundreds
u victims. Whole families arc side by
side.
The city beach. in the southwest part
Of the city. was under ten feet OF water,
and tho barracks. located there, are de-
stroyed, the soldiers having miraculous
residences In the western and southwest
ern part OF the city were destroyed and
the death list from there win be large
heavy mortality list Is expected
among tha residents OF the islands
adjacent to the coast on the mainland.
as bath were deeply flooded and the
houses were 10 a great extent insecure.
The heaviest losers by the storm will be
the Galveston Wharf Company. the
southern Pacific railway and Gulf Colo
raio & Santa Re Railway Company. and
~ To- 81, 4 NVNs4