Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-09-13
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
The Conditions in c galveston.


Washington, ID. c., Sept. 13.-Gen-
eral McKibben in a dispatch from
Houston. sends the Adjutant General
the following report on conditions Ia
Galveston: ut is impossible 10 ade-
ouatelv de cribe the conditions existing.
The island was inundated. The
height of the tide was from III to 10
feet. With few exceptions every build
ing in the city is injured. All oftne iortl-
fications, except the rapid hre battery
at San Jscinto, are practically de-
stroyea. At San Jacinto every build
inc except the quarantine station has
been swept away. Battery o, 1st ar
tillery. lost 20 men and every article OF
eouipment. The officers and their
ia miles were all saved. The men
saved nothing but the clothing on their
person. Loss of life on the island Is
possibly more than one thousand. The
city is under control OF committee OF
safety and ia perfectly quiet. There
are probably five thousand citizens
homeless and absolutely destitute who
must be clothed, sheltered and led.
Have ordered 10000 rations and tents
for 1000 from Fort Sam Houston.
Have wired Commissary General to
ship 10000 rations BY express.
Houston, Tex. Sept. 13.-All alter
noon and evening refugees have been
hocking in and two more train loads OF
unfortunates are expected every mo
ment. Men, women aud children
come in half clad, and but few have
more than the clothes on their backs.
Excitement with them has been so in-
tense that they hardly realize just wha'
bias occurred. 10 Houston, school
houses. public halls, and vacant store
rooms are being fitted out aud fast I'LL
| ing up with homeless from Galveston
and other stricken points. Facilities
| for communicating between Texas City
and Galveston have been greatly aug
mented by the arrival of al ocean tug
and two large barges from New Orleans.
| Rail communication to Texas City is
now open.
Three thousand bodies have been
taken from the wrecked houses and de-
serted streets of Galveston and either
burned or buried.
Captain Evans, OF the steamship CO.
NAL, reports that 10 approaching Gel
weston Monday night his ship went
through school of between 400 and
500 bodies, supposed to be victims OF
the Storm outside of Galveston.
Chicago, Sept. ia special FROM
Galveston says: "Genersl McKibbeu
has forbidden the use OF cameras and
the troops are ordered TO enforce toe
order strictly. Two troopers found h
kodak fend about to photograph the
nude body OF d woman on the beach.
They ordered him to stop. He refused
aud they shot him dead"
Galveston, Tex, via Houston, Sept.
13.-Cremstion of the dead. deports
tiou OF the living, summary execution
OF dozens OF ghouls and the mental col.
lapse of many who lost their all 10 tnt
great catastrophe of Saturday are some
| of the features of the situation here
| that now stand out in bold reliel.
What is feared in relation TO the barge
loads of dead taken out into the guilt
mas happened. Purifying bodies hOa
in upon the waters and are thrown
upon the beach and they are iDcress-
ing so rapidly that parties have been
assigned to collect them Tor the second
. time. Driftwood on the beach is co.,
| lected, pyres constructed and the torch
applied. Cremation seems to be the
only sure remedy.
Improvement 10 the conditions. such
as the water supply is noted. Whils
| the water cannot be sent through the
mains there is enough for all TO be had
at the works.
Railway officials look 10 the re.estab-
Iishment of traffic within a few days
The order has gone forth that those
who have friends on the main land
should leave the city, and, obeying these
orders, boats loaded with refugees have
| begun to traverse the waters carrying
hundreds to Texas City, thence to
Houston by rail. Transportation nortn
| is free.
Reports from near by coast and maiD
land towDs ssy the dead bodies are
found everywhere. The report Of
Quartermsster Blxter TO the covert
menu at washington tnaC ne OeIleVes
Galveston will be unable to recover
from the shock OF The disaster and that
all the government works are damaged
beyond repair, has given rise to dis
cusson as to the abandonment of the
present site Of the city and the selection
of higher ground at the mouth of the
Brazos river. While the pessimisis
decline to see bright future for The
city, there are those who insist that all
is not lost.
New Orleans, Sept ia special
from Galveston to the Daily States says
the Western Union Telegraph Co., has
strung wires across Galveston Bay and
now this company has communication
direct with the stricken city. CoDser.
vative estimates place the number OF
dead at 5000, and will undoubtedly
reach as high as 1900. 1t is said that
81 900, 900 is needed instantly as relief
fund. There is scarcity of nurses Of
physicians and drugs.