Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-19
SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS AND
GULF REGION DEVASTATED
Enormous Loss Inflicted by the Tropi-
cal Hurricane
By PERRY YOUNG

GALVESTON. Tex (via Beaumont.
TsX), Aug. 10,-Galveston has survived
the most severe storm in her history with
a known loss of 80 lives and a property
loss of about s15,OOO0O0 This loss. how
ever, is negligible when compared with
the destruction wrought by the terrible
hurricane that blew out of the West In
dies AMI touched with death many towns
and cities along the Gulf coast from Sa-
bine Pass to NIatagorda Bay
In Galveston the storm roared in fright
full menace through the city for more
than "a hours, and to the strength of the
great seawall alone Galveston owes its
salvation. Had II not been for this inn
msnsc bulwark thousands of lives would
have been lost
Not business house or residence in
tho city escaped damage In some de-
gree and the property loss is enormous.
The principal destruction of property oc-
CURED near the wharves.
The cotton piers all suffered one or
two being washed away. Two elevators
were seriously damaged by the wind
Five ocean-going steamers are aground
on Pelican Island, and the United States
army transport Mcclellan is stuck there
also. Small craft were destroyed by the
score
The principal damage to residence prop
srty was on the water front and beach
The dead include four soldiers, one civ
iliaE and a young boy all unidentified ex-
cept Ernest Rohel.
GALVESTON UNDER MARTIAL LAW
SO far, there are no reported cases OF
destitution, and a mass-meetng of citizens
called together by Mayor Lewis Fisher
took steps to take care of such cases as
develop At the mass-meeting a commit
tee of IS citizens was appointed to super
wise the city's safety, and II was decided
to place the city under martial law, as
looting had been reported in scattered To-
calities.
Requests have been sent for companies
OF regular infantry to patrol the city,
and they are expected to arrive by boat
today. The local naval militia company
and number OF private citizens have
been created special policemen to pro-
tect property.
All saloons have been closed by order
OF Mayor Fisher.
The looting was done In most cases by
negroes, who were discovered at work
when daylight broke on Wednesday.
Prompt steps were taken to prevent
further depreciation.
Although the ssawall stood the test OF
the terrific storm the great Galveston
boulevard, better known as the cause
way" through a greater part OF its eX-
tent washed up and was today only |
series of brick piles, 1t Is Uttered in all |
directions with debris and II will take |
months 10 restore eunuiklOns TO normal.
Although all public buildings and most /
of tile downtown stores were crowded /
with terrihed citizens, as soon as the /
storm moderated they began returning to |
their homes.
There were fully 1000 people quartered |
10 the courthouse, and an equal number |
was found In many other buildings.
The most pathetic sight perhaps, was /
presented at the City Hall and police /
station. Here were gathered hundreds OF .
refugees. who had been picked up by |
police and fire department patrols which /
worked without rest bringing in men,
women and children who were In danger
on the streets or IN the shanties Ia which
they had lived. In the number were per
haps 20 women with babes IN arms, and
the walls or these little creatures and
the Efforts OF frightened mothers 10
soothe them were heartrending.
There were some cots. but the few who
slept made their beds On the bare foor
Early Tuesday police officers found two
wandering cows which they drove
through the binding rain and the waist
deep watef into the city hall. The COWS
we're taken into the hall ana there a
mother with four tiny tote nlled tin pain
from their bags thus obtaining 3 milk
supply Tor her own brood and for the
other babies. Il vas the first real meal
many of them had had Ia Y or more
hours.
FLIGHT TO THE MAINLAND.
me SIND began blowing Monday. and
sean citizens began ieaFina the city for
tae malniaaa The htful gusts Of wind
nHeh preceded the steady bloU q the