Cañon City record., 1900-09-20

tOWns consisting OF nye DOCKS along
the bay, extending six blocks back
toward the gulf. This section of the
city was built upon the highest
ground of the island, ranging from
three to six feet above high tide.
At the east end of the island was
situated the famous Seeley hospital.
the, State Medical College, the Orph-
ans home and the Rosenberg school.
Surrounding these, extending from
beach to bay and down the center of
the island for three miles were stu
ated the fine homes of Galveston,
most of which are now in ruins, the
former owners and occupants be-
meath the waves of the Mexican gulf
or buried in nameless graves beneath
the sands of their former island
home.
The pride of Galveston and one of
the most attractive features of the
city, was the broad avenue named
Broadway, extending from the east
ern end of the island down its center
to three miles west. The occupants
of this street were the wealthy of
the city, and each wed with the other
in building large and costly homes,
embellishing the surroundings with
tropical trees and plants. The avenue
was 200 feet wide, paved with bodock
blocks, its center and sides lined with
tall oleanders and other tropical
shrubs and trees. From this point
extending to the gulf, a distance of
three-fourths mile, was thickly built
up of large and small houses. This
territory is now but q waste, more
desolate because of its grewsome
rubbish than in the days when the
famous buccaneer Lafitte sailed up
the bay to escape the fury of the
Spanish gunboats.
The gulf beach of Galveston was
famed far and near for its cool winds
in the heat of summer, its commodi-
GUS bath houses and resorts, its invig-
Grating waters and its velvety sands.
1t was here where the tired and
burned out citizen Of the interior was
wont to come with his family during
the heat of the summer season for
their annual outing to enjoy the
baths and the cool breezes that ever
blow in gentle puffs across the spice
lsdened isles of the. gulf to the sandy
wastes of the Texas shore.
A concert was given at the beach
front every evening during the sum-
mer season, and every citizen of the
isl and who could do so was at the
beach during the evening hour, which
was social gathering Of old and new
friends. Here you could see the
Galveston citizen at his best. He
beamed with good nature and hospi-
tality. All the world was his friend,
and they were as q whole the most
social and hospitable people Gods sun
ever shone upon.
The visitor to Galveston from the
temperate north could not but note
with pleasure and admiration the
universal courtesy extended by the
resident 70 the stranger within his
gate. Everyone the stranger met in
an early morning walk along the
oleander-lined streets would have q
CHEEKY Good Morning" from him.
The words are very small and easily
pronounced, yet how seldom and
grudgingly given to the stranger in
our northern cities. When spoken
as morning greeting to a stranger
in this southern cline they carry
with them welcome and q feeling
of comradeship never to be forgotten,
and the stranger takes away with him
a pleasant recollection of the citizens
of far away city now suffering from
the greatest calamity that can befall
the human race-the loss of home,
parents, wife. children and friends.
This city, so beautiful! few weeks
ago, now lies in waste more desolate
than pen can word. 1t carries with
its destruction many human lives, the
wasted hopes and disappointments of
those who live, and the heart aches
that will last during life in the
breasts of many men, women and
children who survived the calamity.
Up to twelve years ago the city
depended entirely upon the rainfall
for its fresh water supply. Every
house, bupiness and dwelling, contain
n