The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-11
MADE a TRIP TO GALVESTON.
Kellogg Tells of Its Incidents and
Terrible sights There.

nv H"uHA"u ana IeNas Central Railroad
m Texas city. went 70 Galveston satur-
day morning Sir. Kellogg relates an in
seresting story OF MS experiences getting
into Galveston. OF the storms and It's ef-
feois and how &c manased TO get out OF
the cily and into Houston again. arriving
here yesterday afternoon.
When We crossed the bridge over Cal
weston bay going into Galveston" said
Mr. Kellogg. the water had reached an
elevation equal to the bottom caps OF the
pile benis, or two feet below she level OF
the track. After crossing the bridge and
reaching point some two miles beyond
we were stopped by reason OF a washout
and compelled 10 wab one hour for a re-
lief train 70 come out on the Galveston.
Houston and Henderson road During this
period OF one hour the water rose a foot
and half running over the rails OF the
track. The relief train signalled US 90
return halt a mile TO higher ground where
the passengers were transferred, the train
crew leaving with the passengers and GO
Ing on the relief train. The water had
reached an elevation OF eight or ten in
ches above the Galveston Houston ana
Henderson track and was flowing in a
westward direction. at terrific speed.
The train crew was compelled 20 wade
ahead OF the engine and dislodge drift
wood. Az lis we arrived at the Santa
Fe union station depot At that time the
wind was increasing ana had reached a
velocity OF thirty-ave miles an hour.
After arriving at Galveston I went 60
the fremont Hotel. where / remained the
balance Of the day aud during tho night.
AT $50 p. m. the water had begun 20 creep
into the rOtunda of the hotel, and by
O'Clock It was tweuty-six inches above the
floor OF the hotel. or about 6is feet above
the street level The front windows OF
the hotel we're blown In. a door was torn
of and the styiights over the rotunda
fell crashing on the floor below
The refugees began 10 come into the
hotel between $50 and O'Clock until at
least 500 or 1000 persons had sought safe
~ there. The floors were strewn with
people all during the night When the
wind was blowing from the northeast It
was az a velocity OF about forty-hve miles
an hour. but at s o'clock It reached the
climax. the speed then being fully 100
miles. The vibration OF the hotel was not
unlike that Of box car in motion. tried
to sleep that night. but there was so
much noise and confusion from the crash
Ing OF buildings that could not get any
rest.
II arose early Sunday morning. The
sights were simply appalling. The water
on fremont street had lowered eight feet
from the high water mark. leaving the
pavement clear for two blocks north. and
six or seven blocks south OF the fremont
Hotel. The streets were full OF debris. the
wires were all down and the buildings
In very much damaged condition. Every
building IN the business districs was dam
aged with but one or two exceptions
1.-THE refugees came pouring into the
heart OF the city. many Of them having
bus little clothing and scores were almost
naked They were homeless and without
food or drink and many were really In
destitute circumstances. Mayor Jones Is
sued a call for a mass meeting which was
held Sunday morning. Steps were taken
70 furnish provisions and relieve the suf-
fering OF the refugees and bury the dead.
"a conservative estimate Of the people
killed or drowned could be put az from
900 TO 1000 people. Early IN the morning
Il was learned that the water supply had
been cut of. I presume Il was caused by
the English ship which was blown up
against che bridges. cutting the pipes. At
an events the city rs without water. Peo-
pic who had depended on cisterns Of
course had their resources swept away
and there are but a few large reservoirs
to be found in the business district.
THE scene on The docks was a terrible
one. The small working fleet and the
larger schooners were washed up over
the docks and railroad tracks IN fright
full confusion. The Mallory docks were
demolished. The warehouses were torn
into shreds. Three ocean liners were an
chored on the docks and seemed 20 be in
good condition. The damage to the ship
ping interests is something immense. the
Huntington Improvements being entirely
ewept away
II tried to get out OF the town as quick
BY as / could and succeeded In securing
passage on the FIRST sloop which sailed.
when we got outside OF the harbor We
found a terrific gale blowing and the sea
running very high. Under three reefs and
with the peak down we set our course
for North Galveston. As we passed Pcli-
can fats we could see the English steamer
anchored OF over toward where the rail-
road bridges should be, and came TO the
conclusion that she had evidently broken
the water mains and cut the supply of.
Another ocean liner could be seen on
the shore OF Texas City in what would
seeEn 10 have been about two feet OF wa
ter IN normal tide. We passed within
a few hundred yards OF where the light
house once stood but could see no evil
dence OF ". The waters OF the bay
were strewn with hundreds OF carcasses
OF dead animals. We had hazardous
passage. but managed 10 reach North
Galveston az 1856 o'clock. Here we found
a tidal wave had crossed the peninsula.
carrying destructicn In les path. The fac
tory building and the opera house were
blown down and other buildings destroy.
Cd While there were no deaths reported
at North Galveston there were many
hardships endured during the battle with
the elements