The Great Galveston Disaster / Containing a Full and Thrilling Account of the Most Appalling Calamity of Modern Times Including Vivid Descriptions of the Hurricane and Terrible Rush of Waters; Immense Destruction of Dwellings, Business Houses, Churches, and Loss of Thousands of Human Lives; Thrilling Tales of Heroic Deeds; Panic-Stricken Multitudes and Heart-Rending Scenes of Agony; Frantic Efforts to Escape a Horrible Fate; Separation of Loved Ones, etc., etc.; Narrow Escapes from the Jaws of Death; Terrible Sufferings of the Survivors; Vandals Plundering Bodies of the Dead; Wonderful Exhibitions of Popular Sympathy; Millions of Dollars Sent for the Relief of the Stricken Sufferers

by Paul Lester

A MORE HOPEFUL FEELING.

“A more hopeful feeling is observable everywhere here, and the situation is brightening rapidly. The State Health Officer, Dr. Blunt, believes that there is now no danger of an epidemic. The city Board of Health held a meeting yesterday and adopted a resolution voicing the same views. Emergency hospitals have been established in every ward for the treatment of the sick and wounded.

“The Ursuline Convent has been converted into a great general hospital for the reception and care of patients who are seriously ill, with a full corps of physicians and trained nurses. All public and private hospitals are filled to their capacity with sufferers. Medical supplies are still much needed.

“Banks and some other branches of business have resumed. Others are actively preparing to resume. Preparations for rebuilding are already going on in the business part of the city. The railways and the wharf front are being rapidly cleaned of debris. The telegraph and telephone companies are rushing their work. The Western Union has five wires strung to their downtown office. The Postal will have some up soon, and the full telegraphic service is expected to be re-established by the close of the week. The cable connection has not yet been restored. Business on the floor of the Cotton Exchange will not be re-established for three weeks. The Exchange Building was partly unroofed by the storm.

“Many dead are reported as being yet unburied, especially in the extreme west part of the city. The interment and cremation of human bodies and the carcasses of animals is being vigorously prosecuted. Only about six houses remain between South Galveston and the city limits. Of probably 1000 persons living down the island, at least one-third were lost. There are 200 bodies on the beach between the Mott place and the city limits. Eighteen persons in this neighborhood got together and began burying the dead yesterday. They are out of provisions.

“Daily papers and illustrated papers have been most energetic in taking photographs of the Galveston disaster. The town is under military law, and the people are not inclined to brook photographers. Three photographers who ventured out yesterday had their instruments smashed and themselves pressed into service burying dead bodies.

“So much progress has been made here towards the rehabilitation of Galveston, and so harmoniously are the various forces working, that General McKibben, who was ordered here with his staff to assist the authorities, has decided that his presence is no longer necessary, and he has made arrangements to leave for Houston. After having largely assisted in the restoration of local confidence, the withdrawal of General McKibben is taken to mean that little is to be done here but to take care of the distressed until normal business conditions have been resumed. In this connection the information was made public through the local representatives of the Federal authorities yesterday that the War Department will undertake as soon as possible the restoration of its property at this point.