The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-10
Only One Eyewitness Has Come Through from
the Scenes of Catastrophe.
He Says 1000 Houses Were Destroyed Ere He Left the
City--A Few Names Filter Through
Other Points Afflicted.

of eighty miles an hour, straight from
the gulf. and forcing the sea before it
In big waves. The gale was a steady
one. the heart of it striking the city
about o'clock yesterday evening and con-
tinuing without intermission until mid
night last night. when it abated some
what, although it continued to blow all
night.
OF his own knowledge Mr.. Timmins knew
of only one house succumbing with fatal
results, though he heard of many resi-
dences being carried away with inmates.
ters saloon and restaurant, at No. 21o9
Strand street. principal business street
of the city. This three-story building was
blown down and nine men. prominent citi-
zens. were killed. Among the dead are:
CHARLES KELLNER, SR., a cotton
buyer for an English firm.
STANLEY c. SPENCER, general man.
ager of the Elder-Demster steamship line.
RICHARD LORD. manager for McFad-
denis Cotton Company, whose body is still
in the ruins.
Secretary Bailey, of the wharf company,
and several walters and customers saved
themselves by jumping from the upper
story just before the crash came.
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 the institutions were generally
fhav
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 on Market street.
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 up
in the bay.
MANY VESSELS WRECKED.
There Is a small steamship ashore three
miles north of Pelican island, but Mr.. Tim
Minis could not distinguish her name. She
was flying British flag. Another big YES
sci 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 in helpless condi-
ton. The lightship that marks Calves
ton bar is hard and fast aground at Bolivar
Point.
Mr.. Timmins and the men with him or
the schooner rescued two sailors from the
middle bay, who had been many hours IN
the water. These men were foreigners, AMI
he could gain no information from them
a wreck of vessel which looked like a
large steam tug, was observed just before
the party landed. In the bay the carcasse:
of nearly two hundred horses and mule:
were seen, but no human bodies was Wis
ible.
The scenes during the storm, Mr.. Tim.
Minis said, could not be described Won.
en- and children were crowded into the Ire.
mont Hotel. where he was seeking shelter
and all night these unfortunates were be-
moaning their losses of kindred and for.
tune They were grouped about the stair.
ways and in the galleries and rooms OF
the hotel. What was occurring in othe,
parts of the city he could only conjecture
The city of Galveston. he says, is now en-.
tirely submerged and cut off from com.
munication. Provisions will be badly need
ed. and great majority of the peopl.
lost all they had. The water works powe,
house was wrecked and a water famine
IL threatened, as the cisterns were al
ruined by the overflow of salt water. This
Mr.. Timmins regards as the most seriou:
problem TO be faced now. The city is IN
darkness. the electric plant having beer
ruined.
There is no way OF estimating the prom
crty damage at present. So far as he couIl
see or hear, s1r. Timmins says the Eas
End portion Of the city. which is the resi-
dence district, has been practically wipee
out OF existence. On the west end. which
faces the gulf on another portion of IN.
island. much havoc was done The beach
has been swept clean. the lighthouses ar,
DESTROYED, and many OF the residences ar,
total wrecks.
Definite Accounts of 81 Deaths.