The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-07-30
GALVESTON. TEXAS
HIT BY HURRICANE
Great Sea Wall Saves the City
From Destruction.
Barrier Built After Storm Of 1908
Withstands Pounding or Noun
famous Waves Spray Leaps
Across Sea Wall And Water In
Streets Seven Feet Deep - Barge
Adrift Wrecks Bridge Connecting
City And Mainland - Pier And
Fishermen Drop Into Sea.

Galveston, Tex. Especially .-Forti-
fed behind her 17-foot sea wall and
elevated to a point above the danger
line. Galveston passed safely through
a hurricane that resembled the dis
astrous storm of 1900. Part of the
island on which the city is situated
was again inundated, the overlooking
sea water reaching height of seven
feet or more. That portion of the
island which has been protected suf-
fered comparatively little harm.
No lives were lost in Galveston,
but late report says that 16 perish
ed on the Tarpon fishing pier on the
north jetty, six miles from the city.
across the bay.
This was a new resort, two stories
high and with Is rooms furnished.
|It was erected early this season at
cost Of $4,000. 1t is not exactly
known how many were on the pier,
but 1t is estimated that there were
between IL and IA guests besides
Captain Bettison, the manager, and
his wife and daughter.
The structure was built to with
stand heavy gale, but collapsed
and everyone was lost. The life
saving crew, government boats and
pilot boats made several attempts
to reach the pier, which is out in
the Gulf, but the sea was running
too high.
Sweeping westward the tropical
storm, which had been central over
the Gulf of Mexico for "a hours,
o'clock. The wind attained a velo-
nit Of ON GhiffQd
to the northeast, heaving the wa
tiers of Galveston Bay up against the
island and flooding that quarter
which had not been raised. The
water backed up into the main
streets of the city, but the principal
damage was confined to the beach
front, where lighthouses and pleas
ure piers were swept away. Ship
ping was undisturbed.
A hurricane from East Texas was
forecasted at the district weather
bureau in New Orleans and warn
ings were sent out. When wind and
rain arrived, several hours later,
they found Galveston prepared. The
inhabitants of the few scattered
houses in the low part of the island
had already sought safety, and the
vessels that had cleared and pre-
pared to sail were riding at anchor
in the bay.
The fury of the storm soon abated,
and the anxiety of those who enter
tanned fears of another tidal wave
was soon relieved Small boys pud-
ding around in the flooded streets.
even before the heavy winds had
died down, presented a scene which
dispelled the alarm felt by the tim
i'd.
So short was the duration Of the
storm that the Mallory Line steamer,
which was booked to sail for New
York shortly after noon. left on
schedule time
AZ heavy dredge, torn from its
moorings, was blown against the
ton Island with the mainland,
breaking the telegraph cables that
were carried by the bridge. AS a
result all manner of rumors were
soon rife throughout the country to
the effect that Galveston had again
suffered such storm as that which
partly destroyed the city nine years
ago. 1t was not until communication
was established that these reports
could be denied.
100000 Fire AT Long Branch.
Long Branch, N. J. Especially -
Fire swept across the southern part
of Long Branch's business section
and did 100000 damage. Starting
in livery stable near Second Ave-
nue., the flames spread rapidly to
frame structures on both sides, de-
stroying a dozen buildings. None
hnWaVar
value with the exception of the
Coulter House, a four-story hotel
of modern construction, which had