Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-09-15

Property oss-Yesterday's Gale
in New England.
Galveston, Sept. 13.-All attempts at
burying the dead here have been utterly
abandoned, and bodies are now being
disposed Of in the swiftest manner pos
sible. Scores of them were buried We'd
nesday, and hundreds were taken out to
sea and thrown overheard. The safety
of the living is now the paramount ques-
tion, and nothing that will tend to pre-.
vent the outbreak of an awful pestilence
is being neglected.
1t was found yesterday that large num-
bers of the bodies which had been pre-
viously thrown in the bay were washed
back upon the shore, and the situation
was then rendered worse than before
they were first taken in the barges and
thrown into the water.
Mayor Jones of Galveston claims that
the dead will amount to 5000. and others.
whose opportunities for judging are less
than that of the mayor, place 1t as high
as 10000.
r. G. Lowe, manager Of the Galveston
News, makes the following statement:
"a summary of the conditions pre-
vailing at Galveston is more than hui
man intellect can master Briefly stated,
the damage to property is anywhere be-
tween $4,000, 900 and 1000, 900. The
loss of life cannot be computed. No list
could be kept and all is simply guess
work. Those thrown out to sea and
buried on the ground wherever found
will reach the horrible total of at least
5000 souls. My estimate of the loss or
the island Of the city OF Galveston and
the immediate surrounding district Is
between 1000 and 5000 deaths. do not
make this estimate in the fright or ex-
element The whole story will never
be told, because it cannot be told.
''The necessities of those living are
total. Not a single Individual escaped
property loss. The property on the
island is wrecked: fully one-half totally
swept out of existence altogether. What
our needs are can be computed by the
world at large by the statement herewith
submitted much better than I could pos
sibly summarize them. The help must
be immediate"
Relief committees from the interior OF
the state have commenced to arrive, and,
as usual, they are too large in numbers,
and, to certain extent, are in the way OF
the people of Galveston and an impedi-
ment to the prompt relief which they
themselves are so desirous OF Offering
Some of the relief expeditions have had
committees large enough to consume 10
percent of the provisions which they
brought. The relief sent here from
Beaumont. Tex, arrived yesterday
and was distributed as fast as possible
1t consisted Of two carloads Of ice and
provisions, and came by way of Port
Arthur. The great trouble now seems to
be that these people who are In great
est need, through no fault Of those in
charge of the distribution, are the last
to receive aid. Many Of them are so
badly malmed and wounded that they
are unable to apply to the relief COM
mittee.
Vandalism in Galveston has been hor-
rible. The most rigid enforcement Of
martial law has not been able to sup
press it entirely. Adjutant General
Scurry's men have arrested hundred
or more negroes. 43 of whom were found
with effects taken from dead bodies.
These were ordered tried by conrt-mar-
tial. They were convicted and ordered
shot. On negro had % fingers with
rings on them In his pocket.
Governor Sayers has begun receiving
reports from various points along the
gulf coast which would indicate that
there has been great property damage
done for several hundred miles, and that
the list of Galveston fatalities and suf-
fcring will be largely augmented.
Contributions have fairly deluged the
governor. upwards of 100000 having
been received during Wednesday.
Among the largest contributors are the
Standard Oil company with $4,000. st.
Louis Commercial club for like amount
and the Huntington interests for 5000.
The relief committee last night gave
the following to the Associated Press:
1--WE are receiving numerous te.esrams
Of coincidence and OF offers Of assistance.
AS the telegraph wires are burdened we
beg the Associated Press to communicate
this response to all. Near by cities ara
supplying and will supply sufficient food,
clothing, etc, for immediate needs
Cities farther away can serve us by
sending money. Checks should be made
payable to John Sealy chairman of the
finance committee. All supplies should
come to w. A. McVitie. chairman relief
committee. We have $4,000 people to
clothe and feed for many weeks and to
furnish with hous hold goods. Most Of
these are homeless and the others will
require mon>y to make their wrecked
residences habitable. From this the
world may understand how much money
we will need. This committee will from
time to time report our needs with more
particularly. All communicates will
please accept this answer in lieu of direct
response and be assured Of the heartfelt
gratitude Of the entire population"
Boston. Sept. 13.-New England was
entered wednesday morning by the West
India hurricane, which started far to the
eastward of Porto Rico, rushed across
Cuba and Jamaica, thrashed about the
gulf of Mexico, oblterated Galveston,
swept up the Mississippi valley and
across the Great Lakes, and the lnhabi-
tants In this corner of the country have
nearly $1,000. 900 to add to the lengthen-
ing list of losses which this remarkable
storm destroyed in its 10,0OO-mile career.
Strangely enough, the gale in this sec
tion was more destructive on land than
at sea. 1t found a greater part of New
England dried and parched from three
months drought, so that within an hour
after the storm began n score of forest
fires which by great effort had been al
most subdued. were burning fiercely. and
again sweeping over vast eSparses OF
Nearly all these fires are still
burning. and this is especially true OF
Diphtheria Hospitals Are All FILLED.
IN.a,i h.. ii.