INTERIOR OF ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH WHICH WAS DEMOLISHED BY THE HURRICANE
Galveston at the time was a growing city, and as it offered the opportunities Mr. McKenna desired he settled there and devoted himself to the upbuilding of newspapers. His success was of such a nature that he made his permanent home in Galveston, and during the thirty-eight years that have passed, was recognized as one of the most foremost journalists in that city. Latterly he was connected with the Galveston “Despatch” and also conducted a publishing house for himself.
Separated as he was by thousands of miles from the city of his birth, Mr. McKenna was able to make only a few visits during the last twenty-five years, but he kept up a constant correspondence with several relatives. In these letters there was frequent mention of the fact that the city was lower than the sea and open to the attacks of any storm that might form in the Gulf of Mexico.
CLEARING THE WATER FRONT.
At a conference held at the office of the City Health Officer on Friday, the 14th, it was decided to accept the offer of the Marine Hospital Service, and establish a camp at Houston, where the destitute and invalids can be sent. The physicians agreed that there were many indigent persons in the city who should be removed. A message was sent to the Surgeon General asking that the department furnish one thousand tents, of four-berth capacity each; also seven hundred barrels of disinfecting fluid.
Another important movement in the direction of sanitation was made by the Health Department in calling for one hundred men with drays to clean the streets. The idea is to district the city and start the drays to remove all unsanitary matter from the streets.
STRANGE BURIAL PLACES AND GRAVES.
Although the work of disposing of the dead is being pushed, several hundred bodies are still buried beneath the wreckage. Thirty-two sand mounds marked with small boards, attract attention on the beach, near Twenty-sixth street, and tell the story of where about seventy-five bodies have been buried.
One of the greatest needs of the city now is disinfectants. The local Committee on Correspondence drafted this general message to the country:
“Our most urgent present needs now are disinfectants, lime, cement, gasoline stoves, gasoline, charcoal furnaces, and charcoal. Nearby towns also may send bread. For the remainder of our wants money will be most available because we can make purchases from time to time with more discretion than miscellaneous contributors would exercise. We are bringing order out of chaos and again offer our profound gratitude for the assistance so far received.”