Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-14
CONDITIONS IMPROVE MAKES DIRE THREAT BIG STRIKE BEGNS
SuantnD
WILL NOT SUFFER- FROM HUNGER DECLARES OVER WORK 0NWUm OTHERS
the Destitute Stop aueraas Expected
CONDITIONS IMPROVE
Gen. McKibbin Sends Encouraging
Report From Galveston.
WILL NOT SUFFER FROM HUNGER
Enough Food on the Way to Feed
the Destitute.
INSPECTION OF THE FORTS

The War Department today received sew
eral kilograms relating to the conditions
at Galveston. The following Is from Gov.
Sayers, Austin, Tex, September Ii, to the
acting secretary Of war:
"Will wire you If any further aid be nee
essary. Please express to the department
my most grateful acknowledgment for it's
prompt and generous assistance.
JOSEPH D. SAVERS. Governor
McKibbin Reports Improvement.
Adjt Gen. Corbin has received a telegram
from Gen. McKibbin. commanding the De-
partment Of Texas, dated Galveston, Sep
tember u, describing conditions in that ILL
fated city. as follows:
General conditions are improving every
hour. Repairs to water works will tomor-
row insure water supply for fire protection.
Provisions of all kinds are being received
in large quantities. enough are now en-
route and at Houston to feed all destitute
for thirty days. Large numbers OF women
and children have left for Houston and In
terror points. Dead bodies are being burned,
and general sanitary regulations are being
enforced more rigidly. There Is now no
danger Of suffering from lack Of food or
shelter.
"City under perfect control. under charge
Of committee Of safety. The adjutant gen
eral Of the state is here, and in charge of
State troops. Loss Of life is probably greater
than my conservative estimate or yester-
day. Property loss enormous Not an in
dividual In the city has escaped; some In
thousands Of instances loss total.
To-day, In company with Col. Roberts,
Capt. Richie made an inspection at Fort
Crockett. and by tug Of the Notifications
at Forts San Jacinto and Travis. With the
exception Of two Of the Al inch rapid
fire guns the batteries may be CON
sidered nonresident. Capt. Richie has
forwarded by wire this evening full report
Of conditions to chief engineers. 1 coin
eide by recommending that all fortif1ca-
uons and ordnance property be transferred
to engineer officer for salvage. Earnestly
recommend that Battery o, 1st Artillery.
be ordered to Fort Sam Houston for recu-
peration and equipment Officers and men
are entirely destitute At present a large
number are injured and unfit for duty. I'M
possible at present to furnish them with or
binary equipage clothing. as all transpor-
tation facilities being utilized to bring
In food supplies. Col. Roberts returns to
San Antonio tomorrow.
(signed) "McK1BBIN, Commanding"
The adjutant general also received an
other telegram from Gen. Mckibbn, as fol-
lows:
Referring to my telegram Of yesterday
11th), renew recommendation that Capt.
Raffertys battery, 1st Artillery, be ordered
to Fort Sam Houston for recuperatiOn and
equipment. Officers and men are absolutely
destitute. All government property lost.
About twenty men unfit for duty on ac-
count injuries received in storm All citi-
zens unite in comme ndat ton conduct Of men:
cannot be satisfactorily supplied here"
Condition of Government Property.
General John M. Wilson, chief Of engi-
reers has received the following compre-
hensive report from Captain Richie at Gal
weston as to the condition Of government
property at that port:
"Jetties sunk nearly to mean low tide
level. but not seriously preached. Channel
at least as good as before, perhaps better.
Twenty-Five feet certainly. Forts as fol-
lows:
Fort Crockett, two f1fteen-pounders en-
placement; concrete all right, standing on
piling water underneath. Battery for
eight mortars about like preceding, NOR
tars and carriages on hand unmounted.
Battery for two ten-inch guns about like
preceding, both buns mounted and in good
shape. Shore line at Fort Crockett has
moved back about 600 feet.
Fort San Jactnto: Battery for eight
twelve-inch mortars badly wrecked, maga-
zines reported fallen in; mortars reported
safe; no piling was under this battery;
some Of the sand parapet left. Battery
for two ten-inch guns badly wrecked; CEN
trail portion level. both gun platforms down:
guns leaning; no piling was under this
battery. Battery for two four seven-tenths
rapid-fre guns; concrete standing up ON pill
ing; both guns apparently all right. Bat
terry for two ffteen-pounder guns; con-
crete apparently all right standing on pill
ing. Fort San Jacinto batteries could not
be reached by land; inspection from
distancej sand around these batteries
seemed pretty well leveled off to about two
to three feet above mean low water Tor
pedo casemate; nothing but concrete left
and badly wrecked Concrete portion of
cable tank left. cable in it probably safe.
Part of coal wharf still standing; every
thing else in vicinity gone Some Of the
mine cases are down the beach as far
Fort Crockett.
Fort Travis-Battery for three fifteen
FOUNDER guns; concrete intact standing on
piling. Water underneath Battery for two
eight-inch guns; concrete intact except
eastern emplacement, which has cracked
off; eastern gun down and twenty feet
from battery; western one all right; con-
crete standing on piling; water underneath
middle Of bait battery; These battsries sn We're ,e
has made back about one thousand feet
about on the line of the rear of these bat
teries. All buildings and other structures
gone, Inspection was made with Gen
Recommendation is made that all forti-
fications and property be transferred to the
engineer department: that for the present
batteries be considered non-exfstent, SO
that future work may be chargeable as
original construction. Much ordnance can
be saved If given prompt attention. I'm
less otherwise instructed will take charge
Of these works at once and save all posi-
BILE. New projects for jetties and forts
cannot be submitted for several weeks UNI
I'll definite detailed information Is had
Further recommendations will then be sub
mitted as soon as possible. Galveston Is
still deep-water port, and such a storm
is not likely to reoccur for years"
Artillerymen Transferred.
Acting the recommendation Of Gen.
McKibbin. the acting secretary Of war to-
day authorized the transfer of Battery o,
1st Artillery, from Fort Jacinto, Calves
ton to Fort Sam Houston, near San An
tonic.
MAIL FOR THE SOLDIERS.