Читать книгу The Great Galveston Disaster - Paul Lester - Страница 90

Table of Contents

“Here and there business men have already put men to work to repair the damage done, but in the main the commercial interests seem to be uncertain about following the lead of those, who, apparently, show faith in the rapid rehabilitation of the island city. The appearance of the newspapers to-day, after a suspension of several days, is having a good effect, and both the News and Tribune are urging prompt succoring of the suffering, and then equal promptness in reconstruction. It is difficult to say yet what the ultimate effect of the disaster is to be on the city. Many people have left, and some may never return. The experience of others still here was so frightful that not all will remain if they can conveniently find occupation in other cities.

“The bulk of the population, however, is only temporarily panic stricken, and there are hosts of those who helped to make Galveston great who look upon the catastrophe as involving only a temporary halt in the advancement of the city.

“What is most bothering business men at present is what attitude the railroads, and especially the Southern Pacific, are to assume with respect to reconstruction. The decision of the transportation lines will do more than anything else to restore confidence. Big ships, new arrivals, rode at anchor to-day in front of the city. They had just reached the port, and found the docks and pier damage so widespread that no accommodation could be given to them. They found sheds torn away, freight cars overturned and planking ripped off.

“The steamships reported ashore in early reports are, save two, the Norwegian steamer Gyller and the British steamer Norma, still high and dry.

“No examination is yet possible as to the condition of those still on the sand, but the big tug H. C. Wilmott has arrived from New Orleans, and her assistance is to be given to saving those vessels which can be gotten into deep water again. Apparently, however, Galveston has no immediate need for ships. The destruction of the bridges of all the railroads entering the city makes it well nigh impossible to furnish outgoing cargoes. These bridges were each about three miles in length, and the work of reconstruction will be a stupendous undertaking.