Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-12
STORM SWEPT GALVESTON.
The City Lay Right In the Mouth Of the Hun.
ery Sea.


D. B. Clarkson, citizen Of Calves
ton, was at Indianapolis last Sunday,
when he first heard Of the storm that
wrought such havoc in the city and
probably destroyed his family. Speak
ing to the Associated Press about the
city, its location, population, business
interests and former floods that have
swept over it, he said:
Galveston Is situated on an island
extending east and west for q miles,
and Is seven miles in its greatest width
north and south. No city could be in
greater danger with such horrible
visitation as has now come to Calves
ton. In no part Of the city with its 49,
600 population is it more than six feet
above the sea level. The fat condition
not only points to the desperate situa-
ton Of the people at such time as
this; but their danger may be consid-
exactly where the city is built the is
land is only one and quarter miles
wide.
On the bay or north side Of the city,
Is the commercial section, with wharv-
les stretching along for nearly two
miles, lined with sheds and large stor-
age houses. Then, in that portion Of
Galveston there are three elevators,
one Of 1,5oO, 900 bushels capacity, one Of
!, ,000,0 900 and the third of 100000. The
island from the north side is connected
with the mainland ny railroad bridges
and the longest wagon bridge in the
world, the latter nearly two miles In
length. In 1872 the entire east end Of
the city was swept away by the tidal
wave that followed terrific storm that
swept the Gulf coast for three days.
Then the eastern land on which the
buildings stood was literally torn away.
The work Of replacing 1t has since been
going on, and Fort Point, that guards
the entrance to the harbor, has since
been built, and on it's parapets are
mounted some Of the heaviest coast de-
fense ordnance used by LIE govern
ment. BY the force Of the storm Of 1872
six entire blocks of tie city were swept
away.
1T is on the south side of the city,
beginning within so yards Of the me-
dunn gulf tide, that the wealthy resi-
dent portion Of the city Is located and
which was the first part Of Galveston
to be stricken by the full force Of the
recent storm and flood. All Of the east
ern end of the city must certainly be
washed away, and in this quarter, be-
tween Broadway and I street, some Of
residence establishments are located.
There was located there one home
which cost the owner over $1,0O0,0OO.
Most Of the residences are Of frame;
but there are many Of brick and stone.
In the extreme eastern end Of the city
there are many Of what we called
raised cottages They are built on
piles and stand from eight to ten fest
from the ground as a precantt9ns
against floods, 1t being possible for the:
water to sweep under them.
THE only protection that has ever
been provided for the gulf side Of the
city has been two stone breakwaters;
but many times, with ordinary storms
coming in from the gulf, the high tide
water has been hurled over the low
stone walls right to the very doors Of
the residences. From Virginia Point
six miles from Galveston, in ordinary
conditions of the atmosphere, the city
can be plainly seen. If it is true that
Galveston cannot now be seen from
the point, then the condition Of the
people in the city must be indescriba-
bly, horrible