Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-19
Terrible Toll of Hurricane
Revealed as Wires Are
Restored.
GALVESTON TOTAL
REMAINS IN DOUBT
City Saved From Complete Destruction
by Sea WaII-Thousands Saved by
Seeking Refuge in Tall Buildings in
Interior Of city-0aIveston Marooned
and Only Means Of Communication
I. by Boat.

San Antonio, Tex, Aug. 19.-The to-
tai number Of dead in Texas by the
storm of the last few days will ap-
proximate 400. according to Charles S.
Hayden, correspondent of The Light,
who is back from Houston and GAL
weston.
The dead in Galveston may reach 25O
to 300, Mr.. Hayden said. However
the exact number may never be
known. The heaviest loss Of life was
sustained on the shipping in the bay.
Up to noon yesterday only fourteen
bodies had been recovered in the city
Of Galveston.
Thousands OF people who stayed in
Galveston left their homes Monday
and sought refuge in the big buildings
in the heart of the city. The Ire
mont, Royal, Panama and Galvez ho-
tells were crowded ito capacity, while
the upper floors Oft Santa Fe sta
tion, American Bank building, and the
Rosenberg library all held their thou
sands.
Sea Wall Intact.
It Is estimated that the property loss
at Galveston may reach $10,00O,0O0 but,
in the face of this, citizens are jubliant,
for the sea wall, built at big cost
following the storm of 1900. did it's
duty and stands intact. Great holes
were torn in the pavement of the
boulevard just inside the wall for the
entire distance s from Seventh to
Nineteenth streets and in places the
3 = 5<,,, =
Almost as great damage to property
in Galveston was created by the water
which came in from the bay Monday.
Damage on Bay Front.
From one half to two thirds of the
buildings which lined this front have
been wrecked and most of the build
ings about the dock are little better
than ruined. This, however, is at
tributed to the wind, as the pilings on
which tile buildings were erected still
stand. Back of these a wall in the
vicinity of fremont street and the
smaller frame buildings have been
wrecked from the foundations. All bath
houses and the piers extending out into
the gulf have been washed away and q
big four masted schooner, hurled in
from the gulf, lies half way across the
were rescued by soldiers at Fort
Crockett.
Three Disastrous Fires.
There were three disastrous fires in
Galveston since the storm. The first
broke out in laundry near the Santa
F'e depot, and occurred early Tuesday
morning. This building with the one
adjoining, was burned to the ground
cto ~ In,
Galveston Dry Goods Company and at
the warehouse of the Direct Navigation
Company. 1t was estimated that these
three fires alone caused damage Of
the storm. Later reports at Texas
control by use Of engines pumping wa
ter from the streets.
Need Food and Water.
The greatest need Of Galveston now
and the 10000 more people who re-
mained there during the storm is food
and fresh water. At noon Wednes-
day It was reported there was scarce
ly enough water to last another day
and much Of that would be needed for
baking bread. Nearly all the stores Of
groceries were water soaked, pack
ages of crackers bringing a price of
so cents each. Efforts to supply pro-
visions and water are being made as
rapidly as possible,
Both ends Of the causeway were
washed out and it will be several
weeks before direct rail connection can
be established.
Gangs of men are busily engaged In
clearing the tracks OF the debris which
IL piled on them between Texas City
Junction and Texas City.
People Driven TO High Spots.
The storm broke over the city at 5
o'clock Monday afternoon. The wind
blew water In from the bay, flooding
the streets and cellars. Business men
worked until nearly 9 o'clock moving
goods to places of safety. At that hour.
however, the water was from four to
six feet deep In Market street and all
who could sought refuge in the higher
floors.
Tho wind, blowing from the north,
continued to increase its velocity until
2 o'cloc. At that hour 1t had reached
a velocity Of from 30 to 124 miles an
hour.
Storm Monuments Wrecked.
Meanwhile 1t had veered from the
north around to the east and then
came directly out Of the south. It was
this south wind sending in the waves
from the gulf to break against the sea
wall which did the damage to the ives.
part Of the city and to the boulevard.
At no time, however, say those who
ssent the night in the hotel Galvez, did
the sea run clear across the wall. The
breakers thundered against 1t, sending