Читать книгу The Great Galveston Disaster - Paul Lester - Страница 35

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Orders were issued by the War Department at Washington, for the immediate shipment to Galveston of 855 tents and 50,000 rations. These stores and supplies were divided between St. Louis and San Antonio. This represented about all such supplies as the Government had on hand at the places named, but it was stated at the Department that the order could be duplicated in a day.

Mayor Van Wyck, of New York, issued an appeal to the citizens of New York, on the 11th, for help for the sufferers of Galveston, heading the appeal with a $500 subscription.

The Mayor also sent the following telegram to Mayor Brashear, of Houston, Texas:

“Hon. S. E. Brashear, Mayor, Houston, Texas.—In response to your telegram I have issued a call to the people of the city of New York to contribute to the relief of those afflicted by the disaster at Galveston. Please express to the Mayor of Galveston the profound sympathy of the people of New York for the people of Galveston in this hour of their distress.

“ROBERT A. VAN WYCK, Mayor.”

Ten doctors and twenty nurses from Bellevue Hospital, New York, volunteered to go to Galveston and help care for the injured and sick. They left New York by special train in the evening.

The following cablegram was received by the American representative of Sir Thomas Lipton:

“Very grieved to see press reports here regarding fearful calamity befallen Galveston. Sufferers have my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy. If getting up public subscription will be glad to give $1000.

“LIPTON.”

POST OFFICE STREET, SHOWING HARMONY CLUB BUILDING AND MASONIC TEMPLE

DESTRUCTION AT AVENUE I BETWEEN EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH STREETS

TAKING BODIES ON THE RAILROAD BARGE FOR BURIAL AT SEA

BURNING WRECKAGE TO CREMATE DEAD BODIES

SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD ON SOUTH TREMONT STREET

WRECK OF THE CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, THE LARGEST IN GALVESTON

WRECKAGE ON THE WHARF, PIER 20 SPANISH STEAMER IN THE BACKGROUND

SCENE AT AVENUE K AND SIXTEENTH STREET—HOUSE OVERTURNED BY THE WIND

This was a graceful act of sympathy from the gallant yachtsman who made the spirited attempt to capture the cup from the New York Yacht Club, and although failing, became a universal favorite in this country.

Official reports from Galveston to Governor Sayres at Austin, on the 11th, were that 400 bodies had been identified. 200 more were in an improvised morgue awaiting identification, and many more were thought to have drifted out to sea, and their identity will never be known.