Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-11
DESCRIBES RUIN IN 3GALvEsTON.
Engineer Who Passed Thru the Flood
Estimated Dead at 4 900.


Estimated Dead nc 900.
Houston, Tex. Sept. IA. ". KEEL
logg, civil engineer in the employ of
the Houston & Texas Central railroad
In Texas City. went to Galveston satur-
day morning, leaving on the Galveston.
Houston & Henderson train.
When we crossed the bridge over
Galveston bay, said Mr.. Kellogg, s.the
water had reached an elevation equal
to the bottom caps OF the pile bents, or
two feet below the level of the track.
After crossing the bridge and reaching
a point some two miles beyond We were
stopped by reason Of "a washout and
were compelled to wait an hour for q
relieftrain. During this period the water
rose foot and q half. running over the
rails OF the track. The relief train sig
nailed US to return half a mile to-
higher ground. where the passengers
were transferred, the train crew lcav-
ing with the passengers and going on
the relief train. The water had reached
an elevation OF eight or ten inches
above the Galveston, Houston & Hen
derson track and was flowing in a west
ward direction at a terrific rate. The
train crew was compelled to wade
ahead OF the engine and dislodge drift
wood from the track.
AT ISIS we arrived at the Santa Fe
union depot. AT that period OF the day
the wind was increasing and had
reached velocity Of about thirty-f
miles an hour.
After arriving at Galveston !mme-
}diately went to the fremont hotel.
where remained the rest Of the day
and during the night, AT $50 the water
began to creep into the rotunda of the
/ hotel and by O'Clock it was twenty
six inches above the floor. or about six
land sone-haif feet above the street level.
i The front windows OF the hotel were
A lblown out, the roof was torn OF and
4 the skyIights over the rotunda fell
crashing to the floor. The refugees be-
gan to come into the hotel between $50
and o'clock until at last 500 or ], 900
persons had sought safety there. The
Il floors We're strewn with people all DUR
ing the night.
Manager George Horst did every
1 thing in his power to help the sufferers
A from the effects OF the storm and to
lgive them shelter. When the wind was
blowing from the northeast 1t was at q
Iyelocity Of about forty-tive miles ar
hour, but at O'Clock 1t had reached
1.-THE climax, the speed then being fully
100 miles. The vibration OF the hote
was not unlike that of a box car II
{ motion. tried to sleep that night, bu
!; There was SO much noise and confusion
from the crashing of buildings that
could not get any rest.
SUNDAY morning the sights in th'
streets were appalling. The water II
fremont street had lowered some eigh
feet from the high water mark. leaving
| the pavement clear for two block
/. lnorth and seven blocks south of tn
fremont hotel. The streets were full
q | debris, the wires were all down and n
buildings were in very much damage
q condition Every building in the busi
1 ness district was damaged to some ex
q tent. with but one or two exceptions
: notably the Levy building ana IN
e union depot, both of which wen. thr
!, the storm without a scratch.
4 The refugees came pouring into IN
: lheart OF the city, many of them havin
hut little clothing and scores We're al
4 most naked. They were homeless an
3 lwithout food or drink and many ma
!, Host their all and were really In dest1
tute circumstances.
Mayor Jones issued call4for 2 mas
] meeting. which was held Sunday morn
y ing at 8 o'clock and 1t was attended g
large number Of prominent citizen
steps were. taken to furnish provision
land relieve the suffering Of the refugee
o and bury the dead.
"a conservative estimate OF the nun
y ber Of dead people killed or oroWneu
N -