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

HOMES MUST BE REPAIRED.

“At the first meeting of Galveston’s citizens, Sunday afternoon, after the great hurricane, for the purpose of bringing order out of chaos, the only sentiment expressed was that Galveston had received an awful blow. The loss of life and property is appalling—so great that it required several days to form anything like a correct estimate. With sad and aching hearts, but with resolute faces, the sentiment of the meeting was that out of the awful chaos of wrecked homes and wretched business Galveston must rise again.

“The sentiment was not that of burying the dead and giving up the ship, but rather bury the dead, succor the needy, appeal for aid from a charitable world, and then start resolutely to work to mend the broken chains. In many cases the work of upbuilding must begin over. In other cases the destruction is only partial. Still, the sentiment was, Galveston will, Galveston must, survive and fulfill her glorious destiny. Galveston shall rise again.

“Galveston having been isolated since the storm of last Saturday night, the stricken citizens of the town have not been informed as to the thrill of horror which went over the world when the news of the catastrophe was spread. The Associated Press brings the cheering news that in every town and city in the United States, commercial, religious and charitable bodies have organized into relief committees. At present thousands of dollars and hundreds of cars of supplies are en route and will reach the sufferers of Galveston just as soon as it is possible to boat them across the bay. If the desolation here has been awful, the sympathy and humanity of a great nation has been ample, and very soon the local committees will be enabled to assist the destitute thousands.

“What the ‘News’ desires most to say to the surviving victims of last Saturday’s catastrophe, is that in the knowledge of a world-wide sympathy which is encompassing us, we must not give way to despair. If we have lost all else, we still have life and the future, and it is toward the future that we must devote the energies of our lives. We can never forget what we have suffered; we can not forget the thousands of our friends and loved ones who found in the angry billows that destroyed them, a final resting place. But tears and grief must not make us forget our present duties.