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

PIANO TOSSING IN THE WATER.

“When they had nearly reached a place of safety they noticed a larger wave than usual coming. Charlie saw upon its crest an upright piano being tossed about as though it were a feather. Would it miss them? was the question that flashed into both of their minds.

“Onward it came, with its ivory keys, showing it was once a messenger of joy and happiness, but it was now a messenger of death, for with one mighty bound it went straight up into the air upon the foaming and frothy water and plunged straight down at Charlie and his fair companion. He saw that he had to make one more death struggle in an instant. He threw himself in front of his lone midnight charge and placed her arms around his body and told her to hold on to him with all her strength.

“The supreme moment was over—the piano had been thwarted in its effort to crush them, but in the struggle Charlie found that he had been torn loose from his lady friend, who had been swallowed up by the raging wave. He at once began a search by feeling and diving for her. Not a flash of lightning, nor the glimmer of an arc light was visible, for, like the life of this dear creature who was engulfed by the torrent waters, they had gone out.

“At this juncture a remarkable thing happened. He had decided to dive once more. He did so, and grasped the hand of what he thought to be his missing friend. He was overjoyed, but upon bringing her to the surface he found that it was not her, but another.

“The waters had increased so in depth by this time that it was impossible for him to attempt to wade, and about this time a house top came along and he crawled upon it. While drifting about on it, he picked up four boys from 6 to 12 years of age. His frail craft finally drifted to a place of safety, where he and his young companions were rescued.”