Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-09-15
THOUSANDS MAY
HAVE PER|SHEO
Galveston May Be Scene of a Dis
aster kivaIing That Of
Johnstown.
STRICKEN BY FEARFUL STORM
Four Thousand Houses Wrecked
and 1000 Persons Re-
ported Killed.
MANY OTHER TOWNS IN RUINS
Rumorcd That Several Cities Have
Been wiped ON the Map---
Few Details of the
Disaster.
MANY OTHER TOWNS IN RUIN:

Houston, Tex, Sept. 1.-THE Wes'
Indian storm which reached the gulI
country Saturday morning wrought
awful havoc in Texas. Reports ar,
conflicting, but it is known that N
appalling disaster has befallen thu
city of Galveston, where, il Is report
ed, a thousand or more lives have
been blotted out and tremendous
property damage was incurred. Mea.
ger reports from Sabine Pass and Port
Arthur also indicate "A heavy loss OF
life, but these reports cannot be con
frmed at this hour.
The first news to reach this city
from the stricken city OF Galveston
was received last night. James {,
Timmins, who resides in Houston, and
who is the general superintendent OF
the National Express company, ar
rived in the city at = o'clock last night
from Galveston. He was one of the
first TO reach here with tidings OF
the great disaster which has befallen
that city, and the magnitude of that
disaster remains TO be told because OF
his endeavors TO reach home. After
running through the hurricane on
tDdtuibdI HC bCljuI tNu N1dlNNHlOll
on a steamer and came across the bay
TO Morgan's point, where he caught o
train for Houston.
The hurricane, Mr.. Timmins said,
was the worst ever known.
The estimates made by citizens OF
Galveston were that 1000 houses,
most of them residences, have bee
destroyed, and that Mt least 1000 pee
pie have been drowned, killed or are
missing. Some business houses were
also destroyed, but most Of them
stood, though badly damaged.
The city, Mr.. Tmmins AYERS, Is a
complete wreck, so far as he could see
from the water front, and from the
fremont hotel. Water was blown over
the island by the hurricane, the wind
blowing at the rate OF eighty miles an
hour straight from the gulf and fore.
ing the sea water before IL in big
waves. The gale was a steady one, the
heart of il striking the city about 8
o'clock Saturday evening and continu.
ing without intermission until mid.
night, when il abated somewhat, al.
though it continued to blow all night.
Personally Mr.. Timmins knew of
Ohl1 oIt houSt IOlldD SlilB VIII ldlhl
results, though he heard of many res.
licences being carried away with in.
mates. The house that he saw de-
stroyed was Ritter's saloon and res.
taurant at 2109 Strand street, a prin.
cipal business street of the city. This
three-story building was blown down
and nine men-prominent citizens
were killed. Among the dead are:
CHAS. KELNER, SIR, u cotton buy.
er for an English firm.
STANLEY c. SPENCER, general
manager of the Elder-Demster steam.
ship line.
RICHARD LORD, manager for Me
Fadden's Cotton company, whose
body is still in the ruins.
Secretary Bailey, of the Wharf com,
pany, and several walters and custom.
ers saved themselves by Jumping
from the upper stories just before the
crash came.
1t was reported that the orphan
asylum and both the hospitals were
destroyed, and If this proves true the
loss of life will be great, as these in.
stitutions were generally crowded and
rs they were substantial buildings the
chances + that many had taken
in them.
The water extended across the isl.
and. Mr.. Timmins said ii was three
deep in the rotunda of the Ire.
hotel and was six feet deep in
Market street.
Along the water front the damage
was great. The roof had been blown
from all the elevators and the sheds
along the wharves were either who'll
wrecked or had lost their sides NJ
of 10 protection to the contents
most of the small sailing craft were
wrecked and were either piled upon
The wharves or floating bottom side
up in the bay.
There is n small steamship ashore
miles north Of Pelican island.
out Mr.. Timmins could not distin.
her name. She was flying q
flag. Another. big vessel has
,een driven ashore at Virginia Point
md still another is aground at Texas
lily. At the south point of Houston
sland an unknown ship lies in a help.
ess condition.