The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-31

I II IL an immense wall at the mouth OF the
Mississippi. protecting the channel.
STEWART STARTED SOUTH.
ACCOMPANIED BY LOHMANN.
When the news Of the Galveston disaster.
Of the havoc wrought and OF the thousands
who persisted startled the world, m
Stewart Immediately made preparation to
depart for the scene.
He had previously done over $1.000.0O
worth Of work In constructing elevators
at the Southern port and thought that he
could be of assistance to his stricken GUS
toners and friends.
Upon the night following the disaster
Stewart started South. accompanied by Lob
mann.
They arrived before many Of the newspa-
per correspondents who were dispatched
thither. Then they beheld the tangled
| wreck OF a once beautiful city.
The wharf was torn and twisted. The
| warehouses were down. and the upper
stories of the elevators blown away.
1t was a place of desolation and Of horror.
SO great a misfortune that II would seem
that men would have no courage to perse-
we're. .
The question put to Stewart and his lieu
| tenant by the Galveston Wharf Company.
which owns nearly all the criminal and
shipping facilities, was simply:
Can it be remedied?"
| The reply was instantaneous: YES"
The reports daily emanating from the
fallen city. picturing but too truthfully the
terrible visitation Of wind and tide. created
the worldwide impression that Galveston
was supine and could rise no more. The
| public opinion was that. as in the case OF
| Nineveh of old. 1.-The waters had turned
| against the city" and that the fates had
decreed that Galveston be obliterated and
become a bare sand Island tenanted only
| by wild fowl.
But with Nineveh. when the water turned
against the city. came acknowledgements at
| the head Of a mighty army Of Modes and
Babylonians, and they RACED the city, slew
its inhabitants. and left no one stone up
on another" With Galveston. when the
water turned against the city. came James
Stewart and many such men. who walked
the Inhabitants to new life and new en-
deavor.
Shippers were infected with unbelief as to
Galveston's power to recover. Railroads
were directing their goods to New Orleans.
The crisis was imminent.
The impression had either to te counter
| acted or Galveston surrender elaim to i'm
| portance.
| ELEVATOR REFITTED
IN TEN DAYS.
The situation was net.
Stewart and Lohmann. putting their
| heads together. decided that one elevator
| could be refitted for business within ten
days.
This startling statement was beyond the
| belief Of the officials of tho Galveston
| Wharf Company. They were told that they
! might get ready to receive shipments with
| in ten days. They telegraphed this news to
their customers.
| The contract was fd,hlled TO the letter.
| The elevator was ready.
| Meantime plans for rebuilding the entire
| water front ware Drawn UP. and the work
begun. No contract was made. The Stew
art firm was empowered to 20 ahead, and IT
went. The entire job WAS completed With
in four months.
| The task involved the building CT ware
| houses and wharves covering fe-ty acres.
One Thousand ears Of lumber we're re-
| ouired exclusive Of that needed for the
elevators. Twenty-Five hundred kegs Of
| nails were used. 5000 to the keg. which
means 1. 100000 nails.
Stewart remained only a ehort time on
the scene. His London venture was heing
| contemplated at the time and soon &C.
| cupied all Of his attention. The execution
| devolved entirely upon young Mr.. Lob
mann. y.
Mr.. Lohmann is short-spoken. though Of
! noticeable good nature. and seems eager to
make friends and hold them. Outwardly.
| he is a smooth-shaven young man. with a
/ round face, which. nevertheless, is not
| fiabby, and has tamped upon 1t distinct
| character.