Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-10
STORM SWEPT INLAND
Reports of Disaster From Southern
and Central Texas.
PROBABLE HEAVY Loss OF LIFE
Cotton and Other Crops Reported
Seriously Injured.
WHOLE TOWNS WRECKED

AUSTIN, Tex, September 10-From Red
river on the north to the gulf on the south
and throughout the central part Of the
state Texas has been storm-swept during
the last thirty hours by hurricane. which
has laid waste property, caused large loss
Of life and effectually blocked all tele-
graphic and telephone communication
south Of here. The operation of trains mas
also been seriously handicapped
Starting with the hurricane which visited
Galveston and the gulf coast Saturday
noon and which is still prevailing there to
such an extent that no communication can
be had with the island to ascertain what
the loss of life and property is, the storm
made rapid inroads into the center of the
state, stopping long enough last night at
Houston to damage over half of the build
ings Of that city.
Advancing inland the storm swept into
Hampstead, fifty miles above Houston,
thence to Chappell Hill, twenty miles
further. thence to Brennan, thirty miles
further. wrecking all three towns.
Several persons were killed.
The Brazos bottom which was the scene
of such disaster last year as the result Of
the flood, suffered a large share of dam
age by the hurricane and was swept for
fully 100 miles of its length, everything be-
ing turned topsy-turyy by the high winds
and much destruction resulting 10 crops
as we'll as farm house property.
Heavy Rain and Wind.
The winds were accompanied by heavy
rainfall, which served to add to the horror
of midnight
The telegraph and telephone companies
have large forces of men trying to rig up
wires to Galveston but nothing yet has
been heard from them, and 1t is not known
what progress they have made in their
work.
The storm seems to have swept all the
tableland clear OF everything on 1t, razing
houses to the grounds and tearing trees up
by the roots. 1t also swept into the noun
tain gorges, and there inflicted the worst
damage, and it is expected that consider
able loss of life will be reported from that
section soon as communication can be
secured.
From southwest Texas and points along
the gulf coast to the city Of Galveston the
reports continue alarming. and particularly
concerning Galveston and Rockport. A
number of parties summering at various
points along the coast have not been heard
from. The cotton has been nearly ruined,
reports from all available sections are to
the effect that the crop has been swept
as clean of its fruit though by the hand
Of man, and will be almost total loss.
THREE LIVES LOST IN RICHMOND.
Two Churches and Many Other Build
ings Almost Wholly Destroyed.
RICHMOND, Texas, September 10.-The
most terrific storm that has ever visited
this section of the state struck this town
Saturday night at 1890 o'clock, destroy
ing everything in its path. Many buildings
were totally destroyed The court house
was greatly damaged. The Baptist Church
is a total wreck, while the Methodist
Church is almost destroyed. Three lives
were lost In the colored Baptist Church,
Henry Ransom and two children, colored;
one person was killed at Booth and four
lives were lost at Beasly.
COTTON CROP BADLY INJURED.
Reports From Central and Southern
Texas Are Encouraging.
HOUSTON, Tex, September 1O.-There is
no doubt that the cotton crop has been Sc
riously injured throughout southern and
central Texas. Owing to the excessive rains
this year the cotton has grown to weed
more than ever known, and in some fields
it ranges from six to ten feet high, and is
very rank with leaf. The wind has whip
ped and twisted the stalks, beating the open
cotton out of the burr. and the rain has
beaten 1t into the ground so that 1t is
ruined. That which Is not vet open is all
that will be left, and the boil weevil has
been doing damage to the young cotton so
that the outlook is gloomy, SO far as this
section is concerned.
Correspondents at all points report that
damage has been done to all crops.
RicA Crop Slightly Damaged.
JENNINGS, La, September 1O.-The
southwest Louisiana rice crop has suffered
considerably less from the storm that swept
this locality Saturday and Sunday night
than was first suspected. Rice men esti-
mate the damage at 10 to 15 per cent of the
croO.
Town of Letitia Wrecked.
BROOKSHIRE, Tex, September 1O.-Le-
titia is wreck. The houses which stood in
the place, including a depot, have been
blown to the ground, and the timbers from
some of them carried for miles. Mrs So
phia Schultz, formerly of Houston, was
killed.