The sun., 1919-09-17
GULF TIDALSEA
TOLL OF DEATH
AT LEAST 200
Brig. Gen. WOlters Wires
From Houston Loss of
Life May Be 1000.
DAMAGE is MILLIONS
Corpus Christi Scene of Dev-
astation-Relief Is Being
Sent by Trains.
STILL RESCUE REFUGEES
Texas Lowlands Inundated and
Hurricane Wreckage Sent
Twenty Miles Inland.
STILL RESCUE REFUGEES

CoRPUs CHRISTI, Tex, Sept. 16.-Re-
ports concerning the loss of life and
the damage to property caused by the
great storm and tidal wave which
swept the Gulf Coast Sunday night
are still very meagre, but from avail
able information it is estimated that
at least 200 persons have been killed
and that many million dollars worth
Of property has been destroyed.
Dispatches from various Texas
cities, however, place the number of
estimated dead in the entire district
as high as 1000, a message to that
effect having been received at Austin
from the commanding officer of the
Texas National Guard. Brig. Gen. ].
F. Wolters, who wired that reliable in
formation to that effect had been re-
ceived at Houston.
Twenty-Five bodies had been recovered
from the ruins that line the waterfront
of Corpus Christi by noon, with every
indication that this number would be
had been cleared away and all of the
district thoroughly searched. Forty are
reported to have been killed at West
Port, twenty-five at White Point, and
four or FIVE in the vicinity of Odem.
Reports have been received here that
fifty persons are dead between Portland
and Taft, twenty-six of the dead having
been taken to various ranch houses in
the district. This information was
brought to Corpus Christi by Ed Morgan,
who came across Neuces Bay from Port
land by boat. and who said also that
there are a number of persons marooned
at various points and cannot be rescued
until the waters have receded. A des-
patch from Sinton stated that seventy
tion.
Relief Sent From Brownsville.
A military relief train from Browns
Vile, bringing 5000 rations and 1000
beds, reached here early to-day under
command OF Lieut.. R. NJ. Eichelsdorfer,
aid to Brig. Gen. F. c. Marshall. COM
mander of the Brownsville district and
a second train was said to be on the
way. But In spite of the arrival of this
train, and that of other trains from
Kingsville and Robstown, the food and
housing situation in Corpus Christi is
still serious.
Thousands of persons lost everything
they possessed in the way Of property
and personal belongings, and escaped
from their homes with nothing but the
clothes they had on their backs. Many
are clad in bathing suits only.
Several city bakeries resumed oper-
atoms to-day, and their entire output is
being turned over to the Red Cross for
distribution. Churches and public and
private buildings that escaped damage
from the storm have been placed at the
disposal Of the various relief commit
tees organized to care for the homeless
and the hungry.
Communication of all kinds in and
out Of Corpus Christi is still practically
paralyzed. Trains are being run over
only one railroad, the st. Louis, Browns
VILE and Mexico, and hundreds of per-
sons are besieging the telegraph and
telephone offices awaiting an oppor-
tunity to send word of their safety to
their friends and relatives outside.
Heavy Damage to Crops,
Only the most meagre reports of the
damage to crops and property have been
received here. In Corpus Christi the
damage Is enormous, the whole water
front for a distance of more than twenty
blocks being a scene of desolation and
destruction. Information received from
the surrounding country tells a uniform
story of heavy damage to the cotton
crop While farmers for the last few
weeks have been making vigorous efforts
to gather the rapidly opening crop. II is
estimated unofficially that at least a
third of the cotton was still unpicked.
~. aV,I zNI i've IL
as we'll as thousands OF birds and other
game, were drowned or killed by the
storm.
The storm struck the Gulf coast with
such force that buildings and wreckage
were carried twenty miles inland. Near
this city, where the railroad tracks were
washed away. they were twisted into
the shape of a corkscrew from one-half
to two miles in length.