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

CAPTAIN RICHE’S REPORT.

General John M. Wilson, Chief of Engineers, received the following comprehensive report from Captain Riche as to the condition of Government property at Galveston:

“Jetties sunk nearly to mean low tide level, but not seriously breached. Channel at least as good as before, perhaps better. Twenty-five feet certainly. Forts as follows: Fort Crocket—Two fifteen-pounder emplacement, concrete all right, standing on piling, water underneath. Battery for eight mortars about like preceding, mortars and carriages on hand unmounted. Battery for two ten-inch guns about like preceding, both guns mounted and in good shape. Shore line at Fort Crocket has moved back about 600 feet. Fort San Jacinto—Battery for eight twelve-inch mortars badly wrecked, magazines reported fallen in; mortars reported safe. No piling was under this battery; some of the sand parapet left. Battery for two ten-inch guns badly wrecked. Central portion level, both gun platforms down, guns leaning; no piling was under this battery.

“Battery for two four seven-tenths rapid-fire guns, concrete standing upon piling; both guns apparently all right. Battery for two fifteen-pounder guns, concrete apparently all right, standing on piling. Fort San Jacinto battery could not be reached by land; inspection was from a distance. Sand around these batteries seemed pretty well leveled off to about two to three feet above mean low. Torpedo casements, nothing but concrete left and badly wrecked. Concrete portion of cable tank left; cable in it probably safe. Part of coal wharf still standing. Everything else in vicinity gone. Some of the mine cases are down the beach as far as Fort Crockett.