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

PLACE AND ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.

Mayor Jones stated to a “News” reporter yesterday that the people of Galveston are obligated to General Scurry for the way he has conducted the affairs of the city in this hour of peril. He has brought peace and order out of chaos and with a remarkable display of executive ability he has brought sunshine from darkness and gloom. Without the slightest friction, without disturbance of any consequence, and without aid or advice from anyone, he has wrought wonders and restored the city to normal conditions.

As the work of removing the debris progresses more dead are found buried beneath the ruins. There are no official records at hand of the bodies found, and it is probable that the record will never be completed. It is known that there are many bodies found and disposed of by volunteer parties who failed to make a detailed report of the work. It is also known that there were many dead swept to sea and to mainland. Only those found on the island and on Pelican are accounted for. Even those on the mainland were not recorded. Some of them were from Galveston and some were from that section.

Several hundred of these bodies were disposed of by relief parties coming into Galveston on the first relief trains which came near the bay shore after the storm. The trains could not get to the bridge nor to Virginia Point, and the relief parties put in their time burying the dead. No record was kept of this work.

It is not known how many bodies are still in the ruins. It is known that there are many dead buried beneath the debris yet undisturbed. There is absolutely no way of estimating with any degree of accuracy how many unfortunates remain in their death prisons beneath the mountains of wreckage yet to be released. It is believed by some that many surprises await the removal of all the wreckage.