The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-09-13
The TEXAS HORROR.
Reports Of Death and DesolatiOn
Not Exaggerated.

Reports OF DCdlu ano OCSOAoeAoA
Not Exaggerated.
Dallas, Tex, Sept. 11.-From the
latest report. which are considered re-
liable the disaster at Galveston and
along the coast has not been exag-
yerated. The waters of the gulf and
bay met, covering the island to a depth
Of six to twelve feet. During this sud-
den food a most terrible storm was
raging, the wind blowing about 80
miles per hour. Many of the dead have
been uncovered; others are still under
the debris; others carried out to sea-.
1t is not possible to give. at this time,
a reliable report as to the number of
deaths. From estimates made by re-
liable persons who have just come from
Galveston, it is believed that no less
than 1900, and possibly as many as
5000, people were destroyed. of
course. the wounded and broken are
numerous. The damage to property is
most shocking.
Some of the best pubic buildings
and private establishments We're
wrecked. Thousands of homes were
swept entirely away. 1t is quite safe
to set this down as one of the greatest
disasters that has ever visited the
United States. The loss of property is
i~rreparable; the loss of life is appall-
ing.
soldiers Perish.
A special to the News from San An
tonic, Tex, says: At military head
quarters, department of Texas, the in
formation is that of 100 men stationed
at Fort San Jacinto, Galveston, only
IS escaped. Further information is
that the captain in command is among
the victims. Lieut.. Col. C. S. Roberts,
adjutant general department of Texas,
IS in Galveston on a tour of inspection.
1t is not known if he is among the
small number at the fort who es-
capped.
Governor Issues Proclamation.
San Antonio. Tex, Sept. 11.-Gov.
Sayers has issued a proclamation to
the mayors of all Texas cities, stating
he viii receive and forward all contri-
buttons, clothing, etc. that may be
sent for relief of storm-swept Calves
ton and other southeastern Texas
cities.
Scenes BeEgar Description.
Galveston, Tex, Sept. 11.-Starting
as Dol as the water began to recede
the Houston Post correspondent with
others began the work of r~escuing the
wounded and dying from the ruins of
their homes. The scenes that were
presented cannot be told of in a
prosaic amer. 1t is not possible TO
do 1t. Screaming women, bruised and
bleeding, some of them bearing the
lifeless forms of children in their
arms, men broken-hearted and sob
bling, bewailing the loss of their wives
and children; streets Hlled with float
ing rubbish, among which there were
many bodies of the victims of the
storm, constituted part of the scene.
In every direction as far as the eve
could reach the scene of desolatfon
and destruction continued.
The first loss of life reported was
that at Rietter's saloon on the Strand.
where three of the most prominent
citizens of the town lost their lives
aud where many others were manned
and imprisoned. The dead were Stan
ley G. Spencer, Charles Keller and
Richard Lord. These three were sit
ting at a table on the first floor max
ing light of the danger, jocularly tell
ing each other that they would stay
in the city. Suddenly the roof cayed
in above them and came down with a
crash into the saloon, killing all of
them. Those in the lower part of the
building escaped with their lives in a
miraculous The falling roof
and flooring were caught on the bar,
the people standing near it lodging
and resting under the debris. 1t re-
guired several hours of hard work to
get them out. The negro waiter who
was sent for the doctor was drowned
at the corner of Strand anu Twenty
first street and his body was found a
short time after.
Reports Fifty Lives Lost.
The next place visited was the city
hall. Here were congregated fully 700
people, who we're more or less injured
in various ways. One man fromLucas
Terrace reported the loss of 80 lives
in the building from which he es-
capped. He himself was severely in
jured about the head.
Dead seen Everywhere.
Coming back to fremont street and
going out to Avenue p by climbing
over the plies of lumber which had
Once been residences, four bodies were
observed in one yard and seven in one
room in another place. while as many
as 70 bodies were TO be seen lying
singly and in groups in the space of
n block. A majority of the bodies,
however, that have not been recov-
cred, are under the ruined houses and
1t will take several days hard work
10 get all of them out. The body of
Miss Sarah Summers was found by
the correspondent near her home on
the corner of fremont and Avenue +,
her lips smiling but her features set
in death, her hands grasping her dia-
monds tightly. The remains of her
sister. Mrs. Claude Fordtran, have not
been recovered.
The report from st. Mary's infrm-
airy shows that only eight persons es-
capped from that hospital. The num-
Der Of patients and nurses could not
be as~eertained, but ordinarily the
number of inmates was seldom under
100. Rosenberg schoolhouse. which
was chosen as a place OF refuge by The |
OpODle af that locaJifv aoUonaad |