Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-17
DAMAGE DONE BY TROPICAL
STORM AT CORPUS CHRISTI
IS ALMOST INDESCRIBABLE

opportunity to send word of their
safety to outside relatives and
friends. Wire conditions, however,
continued virtually paralyzed.
Corpus Christi. Tex, Sept. 16.-
With troops patrolling the main
streets, Corpus Christi today began
emerging from the wreckage caused
by the gulf hurricane which struck
the city early Sunday, bringing death
to an unknown number of persons and
doing property damage of millions.
1t is impossible this morning to get
anything like correct estimate of the
fatalities. In the city proper, the
death list was placed by some off,
cials at between fifteen and twenty
five, but that was regarded by many
as far too conservative. In some quar-
ters 1t was said the number of in
jured would exceed 200.
One unconfirmed report was that
120 bodies, most of them recognized
as residents of Corpus Christi, had
been taken from a reef near Portland
on Nueces bay. upon which Corpus
Christi is situated.
More than 5000 persons were made
homeless by the storm. With the
coming of relief trains, 1t was expect
ed that by night most of them would
be taken care of.
Fears are entertained that heavy
casualty list win be reported from
surrounding towns, several of which
were directly in the path of the storm.
Some relief was afforded the home
less shortly after midnight when the
first train to reach the city in many
hours arrived with foodstuffs and oth-
er supplies from Kingsville and Robs-
town. Although both of the latter
We're damaged by the storm to some
extent word of the more serious
plight of Corpus Christi caused the
residents of these places to forget
their own troubles and lend assistance.
The storm struck early Sunday
morning and was accompanied by a
tidal wave that sent a wall of water
ten feet high sweeping into the busi-
ness district of the city, When the
tidal wave was at its height, virtually
ever second floor downtown was UNI
der water.
BY the time the worst of the wind
had passed, United States soldiers sta
toned here had taken charge of the
situation and continued ceaselessly at
work until all danger was over.
All day Sunday soldiers wearing
trench helmets could be seen Drawing
the heavy gale doing. rescue work.
Military rule was invoked late yes
terday and no one was allowed' to en-
.4sr the assecteH spitieAea ~ tbs sss
All foodstuffs that had escaped
damage by water were sold under
direction of city officials, one days
rations being allowed to the customer.
Absence of authentic reports from
Aransas Pass, Port Aransas and Rock
port today caused some uneasiness
Boats will be run to Portland late to-
day, it was announced, in an effort to
determine the extent of the damage to
the causeway, railroad line and tele-
phone equipment which pass over the
reef.
Corpus Christi Texas, Sept. 16.--
Forty-seven victims of the tropical
hurricane which swept Corpus Christi
and this section early Sunday MORN
ing had been brought to the tenn
porary morgue in the county court
house tonight. In addition to the
deaths in this city, fifty-six were re-
ported dead in the vicinity of Port
land, across Nueces bav from Cor
puS CHflSll.
With the death list mounting by
leaps and bounds and the property
loss now placed i'm the neighbor-
pie of Corpus Christi tonight, SO
hours after the passing of the
storm, seemingly were Just coming
to full realization of the catastro-
phe through which they passed.
Every industry in the city is pros
trated, business at a complete stand
still, communication of all kinds de-
moralized and the food and housing
problem acute.
The forty-seven known dead in
Corpus Christi and the reported
fifty-six victims' near Portland are
not expected to be anywhere near
the total death toll. but the list was
not expected to be increased further
tonight, as, with the coming of
darkness, searching parties suspend
ed for the day.
Allowing for Implications and many
storm victims have been reported at
least twice from different sources,
the general belief here tonight was
the total number of dead in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Corpus Christi
will reach about rs. Many victims
have been buried without having
been identified by burial squads sent
out by the authorities.
Following is the list of known
dead in Corpus Christi:
MRS. ROSA ROBINETT, tourist,
home unknown.
MRS. BAKER, wife of proprietor
of Pavilion hotel.
JACOB BORN, son of A. B. Born.
w. L. MITCHELL, tourist, address
unknown.
II. PRATER, policeman, drowned
while engaged in rescue work.
+. w. O'CONNOR, local newspa-
per man.
T. w. DAVIS, grocery dealer.
MRS. T. w. DAVIS. his wife.
Unidentified young woman, guest
Davis family.
Ten year old daughte- of John
Martinez.
Twelve year old son of Edward
Richmond, shoe dealer.
Fourteen year, old daughter of Ed
ward Richmond. vi
ELOFI Ella, 14-year- old Mexican.
Unidentified five months old baby.
Six unidentified girls ranging from
FIVE to fifteen years.
Three unidentified women.
Three unidentified Mexicans,
MANY PITTFUI. SCENES ARE
BEING ENACTED IN SlNTON
INel IT,. ufn