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

MANY DESTRUCTIVE AGENCIES.

“In the excitement and for the moment men forget that there is any other element or power, except water, that destroy towns, when in fact the cities of the interior have suffered more destruction from cyclones and storms than all the towns on the Texas coast from Sabine Pass to Brazos Santiago. Fort Worth is as liable to destruction as Galveston. In fact insecure residences in every section of the country is a harvest for fires, floods or cyclones, as was demonstrated in Chicago, Boston, New York, ’Cisco, Sherman, Plano and scores of cities and towns in Texas as well as other states during the past decade.

“In the present deplorable disaster in Galveston the lamentable loss of life was brought about, not from its hazardous or insecure location, but largely on account of the unstable character of the buildings. True, some fine structures were demolished, but much was also the case in Brenham, Hempstead, Houston and Alvin. In Brenham 100 houses were blown to pieces; of these a half dozen were substantially built. Eye-witnesses state that about the same proportions hold good in Galveston and about the same conditions prevail.

“Nearly every island city on earth, in its early life, has suffered just as Galveston has suffered. People attracted by business opportunities would rush in, and rush up cheap, insecure and temporary residences, only to be devoured by the flame or swept from the earth by the first blast. New York, Liverpool, Edinburg and other coast cities suffered in this way, and learned lessons from such sad experiences that made them prosperous, stable and great. So will Galveston.

“Many who passed through the recent storm will leave, but commerce knows no such thing as an insurmountable obstacle. The commerce of the West demands the port; Galveston will be rebuilt, by new people largely, seeking and embracing the business opportunities offered. Lots will be staked out, houses more substantial in structure erected. The whole Atlantic Ocean might roll over New York and it would roll off again, leaving the city unscathed. Manhattan island originally was no more secure than Galveston island, and Galveston island in time will be rendered just as safe as Manhattan is to-day.”

CHAPTER XXI.
Unparalleled Bombardment of Waves—Wonderful Courage Shown by the Survivors—Letter From Clara Barton.

A visitor to Galveston thus gives his impressions on the 12th day after the great flood:

“For two days after the great catastrophe, the people of the city of Galveston were stunned. They seem to be dazed. It is a remarkable thing that there were no signs of outward grief in the way of tears and groans to mark the misery that raged in the breasts of the people. Only when some person who was thought to have been dead, appeared to a relative living who had mourned for him or her, were there any tears. There was a callousness about all this that attracted the attention of those who had just come to the unfortunate place. There was a stoicism in it. But it was unexplainable. It indicated no lack of appreciation of what had occurred.

“It demonstrated no lack of affection for those who had gone. Nature, generous in this instance, came to their relief in a way and made them dull to the seriousness of what had occurred, to an extent which prevented them from becoming maniacs. For, if the grief which comes to a mortal when he loses a dear one, had come to this whole community, the island would have been filled with raving maniacs. In case of individual losses, there is always some one near to give consolation. Had the grief came to the whole island, there could have been no consolation, for every soul on it had lost in some way that which was dear to it.

“‘The case is just like the afterthoughts of those who have participated in a great battle,’ said an old soldier to me. ‘If a popular man was lost on the picket line, there were tears for him, but when the time came for all to be mowed down, the horror of it dulled the sensibilities of those who survived.’

“I was talking to an estimable and bright woman on the subject. She had lost members of her family, though not immediate ones. She said to me: ‘I study myself and am overcome at myself. I know what has happened. I know the losses. I have lost some of the members of my family, though they are not blood kin. I have lost the dearest friends of my life. And yet I have not shed a tear. My eyes are hot. I would give anything to cry, but it looks as if the fountains were dried. I am ashamed of my seeming indifference to this horrible thing and the loss of those who were so dear to me. But I cannot cry. I know that I suffer, but it looks so cruel to sit here with dry eyes and without any other evidence of the deep sorrow that fills my bosom.’

“I talked to one man and asked him how many people he had lost. He had saved his daughter and her child. All the rest, amounting to three souls, were gone. But they were dry. He spoke in a low voice, but it did not tremble. He was agonized—I saw that—but his mind was unable to grasp the true meaning of his loss, and when he had finished he asked if I had a match about me.”