Читать книгу The Great Galveston Disaster - Paul Lester - Страница 43

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“In the business district not a building escaped injury. The Grand Opera House is caved in, and the fourth story of the Hotel Grand, a part of the same building, was blown off. The third story of the City Hall was blown away. The three story building of the Ritter Cafe was demolished, and crashed into the rear of the News Building. The fourth story was torn from the Moody Building, at Twenty-second street and the strand. The Masonic Temple was partially unroofed and the tower torn away. The upper stories of the Harmony Club Building were caved in, and the frame building across the street was demolished.

“Among other buildings damaged or destroyed was the Galveston Orphans’ Home, all the children being reported unhurt. The Sacred Heart Church, one of the largest churches in the city, is a total wreck. St. Mary’s University, adjoining it is considerably damaged, and the athletic building was destroyed. The First Baptist Church is a wreck. The parsonage adjoining St. John’s Methodist Church was wrecked. The Ball High School building is badly damaged.”

“Over thirty persons were rescued from St. Mary’s Infirmary but quite a number perished. A mother and child, a Mexican woman and child and an elderly lady, while going to the cotton mills, were drowned. While the mill was crowded with people the tower fell in, killing and injuring several persons. Over one thousand persons sought shelter in the County Court House. A lady and child from St. Louis, names not ascertained, who were visiting the family of police officer John Bowe, were lost. Mrs. Burns, mother of motorman Burns, and daughter, also perished, motorman Parker, wife and children, were killed. Mrs. Benhill and child were drowned.

“Three undertaking establishments are all being utilized as morgues, and a fourth morgue was opened in a large building on the Strand. Some of the draymen at first refused to haul more than one body at a time, demanding the price for a full load for each trip. On Sunday evening, however, the few who made this demand agreed to bring as many bodies as their carts would hold. Owing to the streets being full of debris it is only possible to use the two-wheeled carts.