New-York tribune., 1900-09-12
SCENES IN GALVESTON.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE GREAT
CALAMITY.

Galveston Tex. Cby Western Union dispatch |
boat TO Houston, Texl Sept. 1.-THE terrible |
storm that produced such distressing disaster |
in Galveston and all through Texas was pre- |
dicted by the United States Weather Bureau TO |
strike Galveston Friday night. 1t created |
much apprehension, but the night passed with
out the prediction being verified. The condi- |
-fions however, were ominous. The danger
signal was displayed on the Flagstaff of the
Weather Bureau shipping warned, etc.
The southeastern sky was sombre. the Gulf beat
nigh on the beach. with that dismal, thunderous
roar that presaged trouble while the air had the
stiffness that betokens a storm From out Of
the north in the middle watches Of the night
the wind began TO come in spiteful puns, in
creasine in volume as the day dawned. By 10
O'Clock Saturday morning it was almost a gale;
at noon II had increased in velocity and was
driving the rain whipping the pools and tear
ing things up in q lively manner yet no serious
apprehension was felt by residents remote from
the encroa chments of the Gulf. People near the
beach were aroused 10 the danger that threat
ened their homes. Great waves began to send
their waters far inland. and the people began
hasty exit to safe places in the city. Two gi-
gantic forces were at work. The Gulf drove
the waves with irresistible force high on the
beach and the gale from the northeast pitched
the waters against and the wharves chok-
ing the sewers and flooding the city from that
quarter. The streets rapidly began TO fill with
water communication became difficult, and the
helpless people were caught between two power
fuI elements while the winds howled and rapidly
increased in velocity. Railroad communication
was cut off shortly after noon, the track being
washed out: wire facilities completely failed at
3 o'clock, and Galveston was isolated from the
world
STORM BURSTS ON THE CITY.
The wind momentarily increased in velocity
while the waters rapidly rose and the night drew
on with dread depicted on the face of every one
Already hundreds and thousands were bravely
struggling with their families against the mad
waves and fierce wind for places of refuge. The
public school buildings. courthouse. hotels in
fact any place that offered apparently safe
refuge from the elements became crowded tc
their utmost. At 6:2S p. m, just before the
thermometer blew away, the gale had reached
the velocity of hundred miles an hour
Buildings tumbled and crashed, carrying death
and destruction to hundreds Of people Roofs
whistled through the air. windows driver
in with crash shattered by flying slate, tele
graph telephone and electric light poles will
their masses OF wires, were snapped off lik
pipestems. and water communications wer
broken What velocity the wind attained afte
the thermometer blew off is purely a matter 0
speculation The lowest point touched by TN
barometer in the press correspondents office
which crowded by frightened an
women, was 2S0412 That was about 7:30 p n
II then began to rise slowly, and by 10 p. m
had reached 2S09 the wind gradually subsidine
and by midnight the storm had passed. TIL
water, which had reached depth Of eight fee
on the Strand at 10 o'clock p. M, began to eb
rapidly and by ; a. m. the crown Of the stree
was free Of water. Thus passed out one Of tn
most frightful and destructive storms whc
oyer devastated the coast Of Texas.
Tonight the city is filled with destitute bere
and homeless people, while in the improvise
morgues are the rigid forms OF hundreds. Who
families are side by side. The beach in II
southwestern part Of the city was under ten fe
Of water, and the barracks located there al
cape from drowning Many substantial hous
in the western and southwestern parts OF q
city were destroyed, and the death list fro
there is large.
The horrors Of Sunday were as nothing con
pared with Mondays. An attempt ma
TO bury the dead, but the ground was full
water, and IL was impossible TO dig trencht
Alderman McMaster and NJ. p. Morrissey s
cured authority 10 have the bodies taken to g.
for burial. and barge was brought up 10 L
Twelfth-st. wharf for that purpose. The frem
rendered heroic service in bringing the bodi
TO the wharf but IL almost impossible
get men 20 handle them.
THIEVES AND GHOULs AT WORK.
During the storm and afterward great d,
ef iootinz was done. Many stores had be