Читать книгу The Great Galveston Disaster - Paul Lester - Страница 91

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“One of the most serious results of the storm has been the ripping of the electric light and street car plants. The city has been in absolute darkness for several nights, and only a few concerns who operate their own illuminating service are enabled to do business. Nearly every residence has gone back to the primitive candle. The absence of street lights drives all those who have no imperative business on the streets to their homes at nightfall, but the work of the patrol system is made more difficult thereby and the opportunity for looting greater.

“Among the worst sufferers by the disaster were the churches. Nearly every one of them felt the effect of the storm. Some of them are entire wrecks, absolutely beyond repair.

“The work of relief continues energetically. Mayor Jones and his associates are bending every nerve to open a direct line of transportation with Houston by which he may be enabled promptly to receive the great quantity of provisions which are now on the way to the city.”

The War Department received the following telegram from General McKibben, who was sent to Galveston to report on conditions there:

“Arrived at Galveston at 6 P. M., having been ferried across bay in a yawl boat. It is impossible to adequately describe the condition existing. The storm began about 9 A. M. on Saturday, and continued with constantly increasing violence until after midnight. The island was inundated; the height of the tide was from eleven to thirteen feet. The wind was a cyclone. With few exceptions every building in the city is injured. Hundreds are entirely destroyed. All the fortifications except the rapid fire battery at San Jacinto are practically destroyed. At San Jacinto every building except the quarantine station has been swept away.

“Battery O, First Artillery, lost twenty-eight men. The officers and their families were all saved. Three members of the hospital corps lost. All bridges are gone, water works destroyed and all telegraph lines are down. The city is under control of Committee of Safety, and is perfectly quiet. Every article of equipment or property pertaining to Battery O was lost. Not a record of any kind is left. The men saved have nothing but the clothing on their persons. Nearly all are without shoes or clothing other than their shirts and trousers. Clothing necessary has been purchased, and temporary arrangements made for food and shelter. There are many thousand citizens homeless and absolutely destitute who must be clothed, sheltered and fed. Have ordered 20,000 rations and tents for 1000 from Sam Houston. Have wired Commissary-General to ship 30,000 rations by express. Lieutenant Perry will make his way back to Houston and send this telegram.

“McKibben.”