Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-09-17
CORPUS CHRISTI is
JUST AWAKENING TO
HORROR OF TRAGEDY
CONTINUED from Page One)

ed late tody when the bodies of sew
eral hundred cattle, drowned when
the water swept over Mustang IS
land east of Corpus Christi Bay,
began floating into the city,. About
an hour before dusk the first dead
animal. which was at first thought
to be human form, was seen riding
on the waves and eventually throngs
of dead animals could be seen in the
distance as darkness settled down
on the Bay. AS there is known to
have been several hundred cattle on
Mustang Island, the task of remov-
ing and disposing Of these carcasses
will tax the resources Of the city,
already taxed almost to the breaking
point as result Of Sundays dis
asterous storm.
Reports reaching here today indi-
cate the tidal wave which accom-
panied the storm swept inland at
least eight miles from the head OF
Nueces Bay.
Many of those reported missing
have been rescued, although the list
of missing is still large.
The dead toll in the storm striken
area, it is believed, will exceed one
hundred and may reach double that
number.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. P. Helcher, who
were officially reported as dead,
have been found to be alive. Two
bodies earlier in the day had been
identified as those of Mr.. and Mrs.
Helcher. The Identification of body
as that of Miss Norine Card Of Nc
Allen, Texas, has also proved to be
erroneous. Miss Card is alive and
safe.
The army relief train from San
Antonio reached here at 6 O'Clock
this evening in charge of Lieuten-
ant-Colonel B. R. Webb, member of
Governor w. P. Hobby's staff. 1t
carried eighteen cars of supplies,
comprised of 10000 rations, 5000
cots, 5000 blankets, and large
number of tents besides other sup
plies. Forty enlisted men and three
army physicians with a full COM
plement of quartermaster experts
were brought along to take up re-
lief work and operate the food dis
tribution, depot which will be opened
Wednesday near the Texas-Mexlcan
depot.
Identification Slow.
Col. J. A. Porter, personal repre-
sentative of General .Dickman, was
on THE train. A special committee
from the Alzafar Shrine of Masons
at San Antonio headed by Henry
Rabe, was also on the train.
Col. Webb, who represents Cover
nor Hobby, brought the message
from the governor that "the state is
prepared to take every possible step
to relieve the situation" Governor
Hobby also sent word that Col. w
D. Cope, acting Acknowledgement OF
Texas, would arrive in Corpus Chris
ii tomorrow.
Hundreds of men and women sur
ged back and forth today through
the basement of the Nueces county
courthouse, which has been turnec
into temporary morgue to handle
the bodies of the drowned. Women
stood in the Railways and, as each
body was brought in, would rush
into the morgue, only to meet dis.
appointment or grief.
Less than half of the bodies
brought in could be identified be-
fore it became necessary to bury
them. B. P. Roberts, in charge OF
the work, had photographs made
took accurate descriptions and saved
bit Of the clothing of each uniden-
titled person.
Practically all of the collins ir
the city were swept away or dam.
aged by the flood and crude wooden
boxes took their place. A line OF
trucks piled between the courthouse
and the cemetery, where chaplains
of several creeds We're stationed tt
give short prayer service for those
who had lost their lives in the waves
The third floor of the building
has been turned into temporary
hospital where injured refugees are
given first aid treatment.