Evening star., 1900-10-01
HORRORS OF TEXAS FLOOD
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE
STORM IN GALVESTON.
Estimated That From 5000 to 5000
Persons Perished - Thrilling
and Pathetic Incidents.

Following is a copy of a letter received
by resident of Washington from Mrs.
James P. Bowen, one of the survivors Of
the recent Galveston disaster. The letter
was written the 10Th instant.
/ The persons mentioned by Mrs. Bowen
are her personal friends:
When Mr.. Bowen came home Friday
evening he told me the storm signals were
out and he was afraid the party would be
spoiled. 1t was Taylor Laws birthday, and
his sister was visiting here, and l invited
a few young people to make it pleasant for
them. We were much pleased when the
clouds cleared away and we had calm
and beautiful moonlight night. The next
morning it was raining and high wind
blowing, but nothing in the least alarm
ing different from what We often have
had. Fannie Evans came after breakfast
and was very bright and chatty, and said
she had had such a happy time here the
evening before she had come in the rain
to talk it over. l insisted on her staying
all day with us; but she said no, as she is
attending summer school, Saturday was
her only day at home and she had some
thing to do. AS she was leaving she said
in a CHEEKY way, Auntie, l forgot to tell
you that the water is coming in from the
gulf and is in front of our house. / said,
Then you must wear my storm rubbers or
you will get your feet wet She put them
on and let sister Fannie pin a shawl around
her and this was the last We saw of the
dear little girl.
AT o'clock Mrs. Gordon and the chill
dren came, and Loolah said, Don't think
that l am frightened, but Alice became
alarmed when she saw DR.. Gordon taking
Eulah and the children to Wills house, and
carrying over their clothes and valuables
in sheets, and she begged me to come. /
said l am sure / am glad: Alice did us a
good turn, for we will have you with us
this rainy afternoon.
"At 3 o'clock Mallory, Lee and DR.. Nor
ris went for Katie and the children, but he
said they did not think there would be
much of storm, and Katie and Fannie
had said their house was very strong and
they thought it to be safe. Then there was
no water to be seen anywhere around us,
though the wind was increasing in velocity
all the time. Between and o'clock we
saw the water from both bay and gulf,
and it rose rapidly after that. Mr.. Bowen
came in at 9 and nearly lost his life
in his efforts to reach home. After resting
awhile he and DR.. Gordon went to work to
secure the east windows, from which the
glass was broken by flying states from the
roof next door. Mallory then pulled up the
back parlor carpet and we went to work
in the front paror, but as we drew 1t up l
found the water surging in from beneath,
and in few moments 1t was rushing In the
back windows, which reach to the moor,
from the bay and in front from the gulf:
We then all went to the second story, ana
Mr. Bowen and DR.. Gordon put their united
strength against the inside blinds on the
east; the glass was then all gone. We feel
they were the instruments in God hands OF
saving our lives, for if the wind had had
full sweep through the house the roof would
doubtless have been blow on
THE water in the lower story was three
feet deep and all night we could hear the
plaster falling in great sheets, and the grass
and slate were crashing all around. The
,f = n
il was hurled around through the rooms
was something terrible and l knew that
the accumulations of twenty-seven years
were being swept away from US; but our
prayers were only for our lives and our
felow-SuffererS. -,
1.-The water in the yard completely nid
the trunks of the large oak trees. ana en-
tirely covered high board fence between
our house and the neighbors west OF US.
This fence was our water mark, ana "hen
at o clock we saw the top or II we nad
hope that we should soon see the water
recede "
"'There was then lull in the wind, which
had yeered to the west, and the water soon
fell rapidly, but we had no conception OF
the horrors, even then, which daylight re-
vealed Timbers of all kinds, Whoie roois'
galleries, fencing. all kinds of furniture
were piled nearly to the top of the ROOF OF
the gallery in front of US, and the dead
were simply everywhere one beaulilul
little dead baby was In the yard, and near
several men and children.
II never thought to witness such heart-
rending scenes The sun shone hot and the
day was calm as II to make mockery OF
the hideous night through which we had
passed. 1t is estimated by many OF our
people that the dead number from 5000 TO
5000 There are many saved who are
badly wounded and sick from exposure
and nervous shock.
"Katie's house was gone There were
very few houses left south of 0. Katie and
the children were drowned. We recovered
her body, and kitty's, but have not yet
found dear little Fannie. Mrs. Masterson
Mrs Fisher and her three children. Mrs.
Dayenports three children were all crushed
when their house fell in. Mr.. Walter
Fisher was drowned in his attempt to get
to his family Mrs. Noble was away, but
has since returned and taken with her
Eloise who was here with Mary and sam
that night The Thompsons are all right.
Their new house was little injured ana
the water did not get in, as it is very high.
The rest of our family are spared.
Mrs Gordon lost her house, her clothes,
and everything else They are still with US.
and we have had many refugees. Many
were saved from the roofs that were float
ing and the clothes entirely whipped from
them by the wind and water. Provisions
were all ruined. as well as the water in the
cisterns, so that we were both thirsty and
hungry before the dear, good people of the
outside world sent food and water
have given away pretty much everything
in the way of substantial clothing. One
had to do It, and was glad to do II. for the
naked and suffering. l feel some more will
come, some way, somehow. The good
Lord will take of His children in their
corrnu,