The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-22
THE ESTIMATED LOSS TO PROPERTY
OVER Fifteen MILLION DOLLARS
Most Of the Soldiers in the Forts Kled-Appaine Death
List--Relef Asked From the Counry---Govern-
ment Giving Its Aid.

HOUSTON. Tex. Sept. 1O.-one Of the
greatest disasters that has occurred in
this country since the Johnstown. Pa.
flood In 1859. when Gill people lost
their lives, Is that resulting from the
West India hurricane which swept Tex
as on Saturday.
The entire city OF Galveston is
wrecked, perhaps 5000 people lost their
lives. and many millions worth OF prop
erty was destroyed.
other cities on the Texas coast shar-
ed n similar fate. but the loss Of life in
them vas not so appalling.
Estimates OF the number OF dead are
placed between 5000 and 5000. The
property loss is incalculable. Galveston
is practically in ruins. The State of
Texas will act through the person Of
Governor Sayers. but the tragedy is so
appalling. It's money loss so great. that
the aid OF the people Of all the Union
may be needed. IL is estimated that
between iOOO ana 5000 buildings In CAL
weston have been destroyed. or those
that stand many will have to be torn
down as a matter OF safety. To bury
the dead will be a task OF several days.
The whole south side of the city from
end 10 end was stripped OF every ves-
tige OF habitation from the shore line
to a point 1000 feet north. Few. IL any.
buildings escaped injury.
The dead from the graves were wash
ed up and cast out upon the waters,
and the shore of the bay is Uttered
with corpses. while eight ocean steam
ers and many small craft were torn
from their moorings and left stranded
miles away from the city. some tC
bleach and rot.
IL win be a month perhaps before &
train can reach Galveston. and all com
munlcation viii have to be by boat.
Lieutenant Colonel c.. S. Roberts
Adjutant General of the Department o
Texas. who was in Galveston on tou
OF inspection. may have been amonl
the victims at the fort. OF the 40 sol
: diers there. only fifteen are known Z
q have escaped.
The loss 20 the owners of buildings
merchandise and personal propert
probably will prove total. as little OF n
tornado insurance was carried. Ever
Industrial establishment either was de
! stroyed or so badly damaged IL will
weeks before operations can be re
: sumcd.
: The cutting OF Of the water suppl
= from the city adds 10 the distress.
will be necessary TO haul water 10
drinking and cooking purposes for IN
a.. OO0 residents twenty miles. until al
. ranEements can be made to repair IN
system. The city IL in darkness an
without FIRE protection.
= The Orphans Home. Twenty
street and Avenue M. collapsed like
house of cards. How many dead child
rem and refugees are In the ruins coul
: not be ascertalned.
OF tho sick In 81. Mary's Infirmar.
a, together with attendants. only eigf
r are understood to have been saved.
n The Old woman's Home in Roser
v berg avenue. collapsed. The Rosenber
:. schoolhouse is mass OF wreckag
. The high school Is an empty shell. EV
cry church In the city. with possibl
one or two exceptions. IL In ruins.
At the forts nearly all the soldier
, are reported dead.
The bay front from end TO end Is
ruins. Nothing but piling and u
|. wrecks OF great warehouses renal
The elevators lost all their superwork
and their stocks are badly damag'
by water.
Narrowing tales Of the loss of who
families. and many miraculous escap
are told by the few survivors who ha'
- thus far reached Houston. The rell
trains which arrived there early IN
morning have the only means OF cor
~ munlcatlng with Galveston. and de
mite Information as TO the situation
scarce. The cotton and rice cr'
~ throughout the district devastated
W the storm II badly damaged In mai
places. and In others totally destroye
Reports from Richmond. Texas. l.
tia. bring additional lists OF dead al
90 property losses. and many places c
/, or from all communication are yet
o. be heard from.
a. AN APPEAL FOR HELP.
~ kCfrrrxrrtrrr~~ IA II