Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-23
IN WAKE OF STORM
Bruised Galveston Now Begins
to Rebuild.
TALES OF THE RAGING SEA
Thrilling Adventures of Bettison's
Pier Survivors.
BAY CITY IN BAD PLIGHT
Valesca, Tex, Practically Wiped
OF the Map by Fury Of
the Wind.
BAY CITY IN BAD PLIGHT

HOUSTON. Tex. July 23.-Galveston
today began rebuilding the structures
RACED in the storm of Wednesday. Wires
are down, but later reports from the in
terror show greater damage and boss OF
life than were sustained at Galveston.
Such points as have reported tell Of a
score killed, serious injury to half as
many more Of fourteen others missing.
and damage to property estimated at
$75OOOO
OF those missing, thirteen are the men,
bers of the families of three brothers.
Alternately. who left High Island Tues
day for Sabine Pass. They travelled by
wagon and were to camp out on the
beach during Tuesday night. Part of
their equipment has been found.
Graphic tales are told by those who
were swept from the tarpon fishing pier.
off Galveston. into the gulf and rescued
clinging to bits of wreckage along the
beach near Morgans point.
Ray {. TeetShorn of Houston says 1t
was shortly after midnight of Wednes-
day that the first real alarm for the
safety of Bettison's pier was felt. Ten
hours later the pier gave way and the
party of ten was cast into the water.
Collapse Of Bettison's Pier.
Shortly before the building sank We
went to the roof said Mr.. Teetshorn.
The building went down easy-in fact
simply crumbled into the water. Every
body scrambled for himself. I think all
OF US started off on some wreckage, and
the wind and tide carried us through the
water. while the high seas beat us and the
rollers broke over and beneath us. The
bled and broke. and I fished around and
finally got onto mattress. which soon
became water-soaked and sank Then ]
finally crawled onto a piece of lumber
about twelve feet long. and stuck to this
until l was picked up.
Capt. Bettison. poor fellow, who owned
the pier. was cool. and went about DELHI
erately giving instructions when the storm
came up"
At Bay City.
, BAY CITY. Tex. July 2s.-With mar
tial law proclaimed, the water supply
cut off and lack of help to clear away
the ruins, Bay City is slowly recover
ing from the storm which spent It's
fury upon this vicinity. One life was
lost, that of an infant of Mr. Gal
less painful injuries by flying glass and
falling debris.
Center Of Storm.
Inc property loss Will total $25O,O0O,
which includes the damage to public
works. which is half the total. Esti-
mate as to the crop damage is impos.
sible although it is asserted that dam.
age to the rice crop. which is flooded
in places. will not exceed 10 per cent.
Bay City was apparently the center
of the storm path. The wind. which
began rising about 8 o'clock in the
morning. blew from the northwest, I'M
til at 1880 o'clock velocity of sew
enty miles an hour was attained. Al
that hour the wind veered suddenly ia
due west and as suddenly increased in
velocity to eighty and ninety miles an
hour.
During the ensuing two hours the
greatest amount of damage was done,
the storm continuing with unabatine
fury, shifting to the southwest and
seeming to seek out the weak points
of buildings which had resisted it's at
tack from other quarters.
Velasco Demolished.
FELASCO, Tex, July 23.-The storm
practically demolished this town. Not
more than a dozen houses stand. The
big hotel on the beach is a mass OF
debris. The gulf waters were driven in
land for nearly three miles.
A negro man was killed by flying tim
Der and a negro child was drowned. Re-
ports received from Quintana state that
the town had passed through the hurri-
cane practically unscathed.