Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-09-20
The Galveston Disaster.

befel the family of our old townsman
George W. Young. From the follow
ing letter written by Mr. Johnston to
Mr.. Morse our readers can obtain a
graphic and vivid account of the de-
structive force of the storm:
PARSONS, KANs, Sept Is, 1900.
DEAR FRED:-I am just returning
from the scene of disaster IN and
about Galveston. Will not attempt
to describe the desolgtlon and ruin
for words do not convey much inn
PRECISION of the real condition, but the
facts connected with Mr. Young's loss
and Tom O'Connor's is what sinks
deep into our hearts. I wrote you of
the telegram I received last Monday
morning saying mother, Hugh, Doris
and Ruth and Norma O'Oonnor had
persisted in the flood. The fears con-
corning all the rest are confirmed.
Tom, Gussie, Lottie, Nina and Leuie,
with two visiting friends, had gone
They stayed over Friday night and
Saturday morning the wind was blow
ing gale that must have taken them
many miles from home. Nothing
has been heard Of them and even the
skill that Tom and Louie had &C.
quired in handling sail boat would
avail them nothing in such storm.
The happy fishing party Of seven in
all found graves in the sea. L can
only write so little of the particulars,
my mind wsnders as if in dream
after witnessing the sadness of 80
many thousands of people this week.
Now the loss of Mrs. Young and the
small children occurred about as fol-
lows: Gussie's two little glrls were
with their grandparents, making
four children in all. The wind had
been blowing all day at the rate sew
enty-five to hundred miles an hour.
About nine o'clock Saturday night
the wind changed to the south and
this brought the water out on the
main land to depth of six to eight
feet for distance of about six miles
inland and several hundred miles
along the coast. Georges house WAS
along small stream and the water
raised more rapidly and to a greater
depth than most other points. Be-
fore any real danger was anticipated
the water had surrounded the house
Their first warning came in the way
of several inches of water on the
floor. In less than an hour there was
eight feet of water in the house. The
wind was dashing the water with a
force that even this new and strong
house could not stand and they could
hear the porches being torn off, next
the chimneys go off, then the west
side Of the house was carried away.
The storm without and eight feet of
water inside, the dear little children
were dressed ready for any fate. 1t
was then ten O'Clock and quite dark.
Mattresses were prepared for all and
none too soon-the house collapsed
and the fight for life began. It was
soon over for the children. Doris
was struck with floating debris and
probably killed by the blow. Hugh,
brave boy, called to papa that Doris
was drowning and that he would
save her. He sank out of sight ID
the attempt. The children were
found very close together several
hundred yards from where home had
been. George and Mrs. Young had
by this time secured part of their
house floating by and used it for g
raft. Death seemed certain for both
and better raft was found. Mrs
Young managed to get on this and
George was about to follow when the
waves dashed them apart and they
drlfted away. Mrs Young must have
lost her life from the cold wind and
rain while she was on the raft. Hel
body was found mile away from
where she spoke the last word tc
George. George stood the exposure
till 3 o'clock in the morning and the
water receded and left his bark or
dry ground. The five bodies were
found and are buried in nice collins
brought from Houston. I think you
will understand pretty well from this
letter but cannot write what is il
my mind and heart almost breaking
for dear George. who after all hi.