New-York tribune., 1919-09-17
Corpus Christi
Death List Is
Fixed at 800
Continued from page /

homes by the water and unable to OBJ
tain sufficient supplies.
Relief measures are being taken as
rapidly as possible. Three trains with
supplies arrived to-day from Kings
Vile, Robstown and Brownsville, but
the situation is still serious. Thou
sands lost all personal belongings and
the supplies of bedding and rations are
being distributed among them. Many
persons escaped only with the clothing
they wore aud not few are clad only
in bathing suits.
Several city bakers resumed opera
tons to-day and their entire output is
being turned over to the Red Cross.
Emergency Supplies Rushed
Two American Red Cross special
army trains are reported to be bring
ing emergency supplies and large
detachment of relief workers. one of
the trains from Laredo and the other
from San Antonio. Announcement was
received that relief funds given by the
Texas chapter of tho Red Cross would
be supplemented by national funds
ger Of the Southwestern division of
the Red Cross, will direct the relief
work
approximately 175 refugees have
been rescued at Odem, about thirty
miles west of here. according to tele-
phone message. They had been car
ried across Nueces Bay on wreckage.
All Of them were suffering greatly
from exposure. They are being cared
for by citizens.
The damage wrought by the storm in
the lower Part of the business district
| and along North Beach is almost in
descrbable. With the coming of day
light the work Of clearing the piles of
debris that in many cases utterly
blocked the streets was resumed. Hun
dreds Of men from the cotton fields Of
the surrounding country have been
brought here to assist in this work.
The water has entirely receded from
the streets, greatly facilitating the
work.
A steady rain began falling at noon
turning the rapidly drying streets into
slush OF mud and interfering with
the clearing away of the debris. This
will also add greatly to the suffering
and privations of the thousands of
destitute and homeless.
Churches and public and private build
ings that escaped damage from the
storm have been placed at the disposal
Of the various relief committees Or
ganized to care for the homeless sand
hungry.
The seven bodies recovered here
early to-day were Mr.. and Mrs. w. P.
Helcher, prominent in real estate
circles; +. W. O'Connor, q newspaper
man; d. Prater. city policeman, and
three unidentified girls ranging from
five to fifteen years.
Patrolman Prater lost his life while
attempting to save Henry Spiker and
twenty-siX other persons who were in
his home when it was carried away by
the tide. All of these twenty-six are
still among the missing.
Loss of Cattle Heavy
In addition to 1he loss Of human
life hundreds Of cattle and thousands
of birds and other game were drowned
or killed by storm.
The first man rescued here following
the storm was J. G.. Griffith, sixty-siN
years Old a fisherman, of the reef
Corpus Christ aud VINO fought for his
life for nearly twenty-four hours be-
fore being rescued. During the heavy
rain, and as the waters were rising. he
had gone into home on North Beach
to assist in moving an invalid woman
to the second fooor. While occupied. at
that task the waters rose four feet
in as many minutes and the party,
consisting Of three men and the woman,
took refuge on the roof. The house
soon broke to pieces and he saw the
others drown while he was unable to
help them.
John s. Tannen, ward of his uncle,
Z. c. Taylor, of North Beach, saw his
uncle and aunt carried off by the food
in one direction while he went another.
He was badly cut by timbcrs which
struck him during the time he was in
the water.
Three women, who sought refuge
from the storm in the Federal build
ing Sunday night became mothers
while the hurricane was at its height.
They were attended by physicians who
were among the hundred or so people
who sought safety there. Reports to-