The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-29
GALVESTON DISASTER
As Told by the Military Governor Of
the Unfortunate City.

General Thomas Scurry, military gov
ernor of Galveston, has written the fol-
lowing concise and comprehensive story
of the Galveston disaster. The article APP
pears in Golfers Weekly for this date.
Galveston has passed through an or
deal of wind and water, of wreck, ruin,
desolation and woe seldom if ever known
in the history of the world. In the twink
ling of an eye its homes have been de-
molished. its industries crippled. at least
one-seventh of its population killed. and
more than 1900 of its surviving citizens
made absolutely destitute From con-
dition of splendid wealth it has been re-
duced to absolute poverty. Three-fourths
of it's estimated valuation has been totally
destroyed. Two weeks ago there was but
one city in Observation-Disclosures. r. l.
weather., in proportion to its population.
Today there is scarcely city in America
has practically been wrapped in the cere-
ments of death by the storm and laid
away - T s5T Oscillation.
The people have lost almost everything
worldly possessions. Five thousand bodies
at dawn after the storm lay dead along
helplessly on the surface -of the bay or
gulf. Society was disorganized, law in
Men and women of all classes and condi-
tons were suffering from form of panic
Food and water famines were threatened;
the people were crying for bread in the
water fit to drink on the island the day
after the storm. The waterworks Were
darkness, the electric light plants having
been shut down. Not street car was
pass through the streets, and even horses
made their way with difficulty. Telegraph
communication was cut on from the
mainland for five days. The nearest rail-
way station was ten miles away The
sanitary condition of the community was
cisterns filed with impure water, and the
streets. and cutters six inches deep in mud
corpses on the island and on the bay and
gulf were constant menaceS to the health
But method is emerging from chaos.
In one week order has been restored,
have been buried or moderated and the
city supplied with food and water, the
eIeetricity 1s and the Whole comm 1
night and day, made absolutely secure.
ly disinfected, drain clutches dug from the
town to the beaches, Geographic commu-
and Commerce opened. Is. 900 people fed
and clothed and sheltered, and many more
town to points of refuge. All this has
been done by the people of Galveston with
the generous aid supplied by the big heart
of the outside world.
/ do not think / exaggerate when say
that at no time in ali history, sacred or
secular. have there been examples of
nobler loyalty more heroic determina-
1a 4 than anH has t dsplayed to
the world during the last ten days. Her
people have shown the spirit of the
martyred saints. : ley have demon
strated that peace hath her victories no
less renowned than war. They have
shown that they are the men and women
that prosperous, progressive, enduring
communities made of. The credit for
what has been done belongs in an over
whelmingly large measure to the brave
people of this city When l say that, 1
do not depreciate that generous aid given
them by the outside world l recognize
that debt fully and appreciate it fully.
Once more the generous heart of the
American people has responded to the
victims of calamity.
MEASURES OF RELIEF.
OF the work done by the military au-
thorities this is not, perhaps, the occasion
to speak 1t is enough to say that from
the first life and property have been Wig
ilantly protected. In this effort the au-
thorities have been sustained and encour-
aged by all men in Galveston. Capital
and labor here worked tremendously to-
gether with but one common end in view,
the maintenance of law and order, the
security Of the community against disease,
and the swift restoration of the Industrial
life in Galveston. But to DO all these
things at once has been humanity impos-
sible: the rights of life and rights Of
property pressed at times simultaneously
for recognition. The military and health
authorities, while deprecating this eondt-
principle that life is of more value than
property. and that their first duty is to
protect the island from disease
1T is my firm conviction that Galveston
viii be rebuilt upon a hrmer and more
enduring foundation than BEFORE and that
of a prosperous and happy people This
community by its affliction, calamity and