Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-09-20
CALVESTON'S BLOW.
The Stricken City Making an At.
tempt to Resume Business.
DISPOSITION OF The DEAD A TASK.
Didicult to Say What Eject the Disaster
VIII Have on the City's Future-Stste.
msnt by Gov. saysrs = Dlsinfectanta
WAnted--SystsmNtic Relief Work.

Galveston, Tex, Sept. 14.-Galves-
ton is beginning slowly to recover
from the stunning blow of last week
and, though the city appeared last
night to be pitilessly desolated, the
authorities and the commercial and
Industrial interests are setting their
forces to work and start has, at
least, been made toward the resump-
ton of business on moderate scale.
The presence of the troops has had
O beneficial effect upon the criminal
classes and the apprehension of a
brief but desperate reign of anarchy
now no longer exists. The liquor sa-
looms have at least temporarily gone
out of business and every strong
lmbed man who has not his own
humble abode to look after is being
pressed into service, so that, first
of all, the water service may be re-
sumed, the cutters flushed and the
streets lighted.
The further the ruins are dug into
the greater becomes the increase in
the list of those who persisted as
their houses tumbled about their
heads. On the lower beach Wednes-
day searching party found score
OF corpses within small area, going
to show that the bulwark of debris
that lies straight across The island
conceals many more bodies than have
been accounted for. Volunteer gangs
continue their work of hurried burial
of the corpses they find on the shores
of Galveston island and at the many
neighboring points where fatalities
attended the storm. 1t will probably
be many days yet, however, before all
the floating bodies have found name
less graves. Along the beach they
are constantly being washed up.
Whether these are those who were
swept out into the gulf and drowned
or are simply the return ashore of
some of those cast into the sea to
guard against terrible pestilence,
there is no means of knowing. In any
event, the Associated press CORE
spondent, in trip across the bay
Wednesday, counted seven bodies
tossing in the waves with score of
horses and cattle, the stencil from
which was unbearable. In various
parts of the city the smell of decom-
posed flesh is still apparent. Wher-
ever such instances are found the au-
thorities are freely disinfecting. Only
yesterday a babe dashed to mattress
was picked up under residence in
the very heart Of the city and burned
The city still presents the appear
ance of widespread wreck and ruin.
Little has bt,A done to clear the
streets of the t.srible tangle of wires
and the masses of wreck, mortar,
slate, stone and glass that bestrew
them. Many of the sidewalks are i'm
passable. Some of them are Uttered
with debris, Others are so thickly
covered with slime that walking on
them is out of the question.
As general rule substantial frame
buildings withstood better the blasts
of the gale than those Of brick. In
ether instances, however, small
wooden structures, cisterns and whole
sides of houses have been pumped
down in streets or backwards squares
away from where they originally
stood.
Here and there business men have
already put men to work to repair
the damage done, but, in the main,
the commercial interests seem to be
uncertain about following the lead of
those who apparently show faith in
the rapid rehabilitation of the island
city. 1t is difficult to say yet what
the ultimate effect of the disaster is
to be on the city. Many people have
left and some may never return. The
experience of others still here were
so frightful that not all will remain
if they can conveniently find occupa-
ton in other cities.
Statement by Gov. Savers
Austin, Tex, Sept. 14.-Advices to
Gov, Sayers yesterday indicate that
several trains loaded with supplies
for the destitute are en- route to Gal.
weston. The arrival of these sup
plies will relieve the situation at Cal
weston very materially, as the gov
ernor is informed that quite lot of
clothing is included in the list.
Gov. Sayers made the following
statement to the Associated press last
night: 1.-THE city authorities at Gal
weston are in full control and every
effort is being made to find and bury
the dead, to remove the debris to
sanitate the city. Contributions of
the most liberal character are repeat
eddy reaching me and | shall see that
the money is used to the very best
advantage for the sufferers and that
there shall be no waste of the mag
nifcent contributions coming from
the free hands and generous hearts of
a sympathetic people. In behalf of
the people of Texas I desire to ex-
press my acknowledgment to the peo-
pile of the United States for the ready
and generous response they have
made in coming to the aid of our
afflicted people. The number of