The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-09-12
Galveston Overwhelm ed.

Galveston Overwhelmed.
Houston, Tex, Sept. 1O.-The storm
| that ragged along the coast of Texas last
night was the most disastrous that has
ever visited this section The wires are
! down and there is no way of finding out
| just what has happened, but enough is
known to make it certain that there has
| been great loss of life and destruction of
property all along the coast, and for a
hundred miles inland. Galveston is re-
rorted almost wholly destroyed. Sabine
Pass is said to have been swept out Of
existence. Every town that is reached
reports one or more dead and the prop
erty damage is so great that there is
no way of computing it accurately.
Mr.. Vaughan, manager of the West
'rn Union telegraph office here, has sent
out the following message:
Relief train just returned. Could not
get nearer than within seven miles of
Virginia Point. There the ground is COW
cred with wreckage of houses, pianos
furniture and bodies.
1.-Two hundred corpSes were counted
from the train. A steamer was thrown
upon shore, apparently by Il tidal wave
Nothing could be seen of Galveston.
1.-Two men were picked up who f1oated
across to the mainland who say they
estimate the loss of life up 70 the time
they left at 2OO0."
Terrible Scenes at Houston.
The scene here is something awful
The hurricane has destroyed most all Of
the town, and many lives have been lost
Messages are so piled up on the one
wire in operation that details will be
slow in getting out. The town looks
like a wreck, and the people are para
iyzed with fear. The hurricane ragged
from 9:30 last night till noon today
There can be little hope that anything
is left of Galveston.
Four Thousand Houses Destroyed.
James c. Timmns, general superin-
tendent Of the National Express COM
Dany, has just arrived from Galveston
.fter a perilous trip. He reports that
ezore than 1000 people have been
drowned. killed or missing, and that
1000 houses have been destroyed.
After remaining through the hurricane
on Saturday, Mr.. Timmins departed from
Galveston on a schooner and came
across the bay to Morgan's point, where
he caught a train for Houston. The
city, Mr.. Timmins AYERS. is a complete
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 forcing the sea water before
it in big waves. The gale was a steady
one, the heart of it striking the city
about ) O'Clock yesterday evening and
continuing without intermission until
midnight last night. when it abated
somewhat, although it continued to blow
all night.
Saw One House Destroyed.
Of his own knowledge Mr.. Timmins
knew of only one house succumbing with
ratal results. though he heard of many
residences being carried away with in
mates. The house that he saw destroyed
was Ritters saloon and restaurant at
21O9 Strand street, principal business
street of the city. The threestory build
ing was blown down and nine men
prominent citizens--were killed. Among
the dead are:
CHARLES KELNER, SIR, a cotton buyer
for an English firm.
STANLEY c. SPENCER, general mana
ger of the ElderDemster steamship line.
RICHARD FORD, manager for McFad-
den's Cotton company, whose body is still in
the ruins.
Secretary Bailey of the Wharf COM
pany and several walters and customers
saved themselves by jumping from the
upper story just before the crash came.
Hospitals Are Destroyed.
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 institutions We're
generally crowded, and as they were sub
stantial buildings. the chances are that
many had taken refuge in them.
The water extended across the island.
Mr.. Timmins said it was three feet deep
in the rOtunda of the fremont hotel and
was six feet deep in Market street.
Several Ships Are Wrecked.
Along the water front the damage was
very great The roofs had been blown
from all the elevators, and the sheds
along the wharves were either wrecked
or had lost their sides, and were of no
protection to the contents. Most of the
small sailing craft were wrecked, and
were either piled up on the wharves or
floating bottom side up in the bay.
There was small steamship ashore
about three miles north of Pelican is
land, but Mr.. Timmins could not dstin-
guish her name. She was flying Brit
ish flag. Another big vessel has been
driven ashore at Virginia Point, and
still another is aground at Texas City.
At the south point of Houston island an
unknown ship lies i'll a helpless condi-
ton.
The lightship that marks Galveston
bar is hard and fast aground at Bolivar
point.
Mr.. Timmins and the men with him
Oh the schooner rescued TWO sailors from
the middle bay who had been many
hours in the water. These men were
foreigners and he could gain no informa-
ton from them.
A wreck of a vessel which looked like
large steam tug was observed just be-
fore the party landed. In the bay the
carcasses of nearly 200 horses and mules
were seen.
Sad Scenes During the Storm.
The scenes during the storm, Mr. Tim
Minis said could not be described. Wom-
en- and children were crowded into the
fremont hotel, where he was seeking