Men are at work clearing the streets of piles of timber and refuse. Men are beginning to realize that the living must be cared for. It is now the supreme duty. There is much work to be done, and it is being done. Women and children are being hurried out of the city just as rapidly as the limited facilities of transportation will permit. The authorities and committees are rational and idleness is no longer permitted. There is an element with an abundance of vital energy, who intend to save the town, and the town is being saved.
WORK RAPIDLY PUSHED.
Burying the dead, feeding the destitute, cleaning the city and repairing wrecks of all characters is under fair headway and will be pushed as rapidly as men can be found to do the work. The great utilities of the city are being repaired to a state of usefulness, men are in demand, and workers are coming to engage in the duty of restoration. Life is beginning to supersede death, and there is apparent everywhere a desire to save the city and rebuild it. Before another week has passed, the listlessness of mourning people will have been changed into a lively interest in life, and as this becomes so, Galveston will begin to realize just what the world expects of her.
Colonel W. L. Moody reached Galveston on Friday night, returning from New York. He was in New York when the news of the storm reached there and he immediately started for home.
He had determined before he reached here that he would rebuild everything he had which had been damaged by the storm, and he was hoping that telegraphic communication would be restored so that the work of relieving the distress might be rendered more efficient and so that people might wire for the material necessary to repair and rebuild their houses.
When asked for a statement as to his intentions, he said:
“I was in New York when the news of the storm came, and intended to start for home the last of this week, but immediately changed my plans and left for Galveston at once. The people of this country have responded generously, liberally, to the cry for assistance; the disaster is appalling and appeals to the feelings and sympathy of mankind. And the country has responded liberally, as I said, even before they knew or appreciated the extent of the ruin and its consequences.
“The first news we received was very mild compared with what followed. Galveston was cut off from communication with the world, and the story of the storm was but partially told. The further along I got on my journey home, the fuller became the information in regard to the storm and we learned more and more of the greatness of the disaster. The fact that the world responded so freely to the first appeal is gratifying and inspires us with confidence in humanity. Those who have suffered from the storm will be cared for by a generous and sympathetic public. The prompt and generous aid is a beautiful thing.
DAMAGE WILL BE REPAIRED.
“What of the future? Galveston will be rebuilt; it will be stronger and better than ever before. On my way home I stated that I would restore my property, whatever the damage might be, as quickly as money and men would do it, if I was the only man to take that course; and I furthermore said that I believe I knew and understood what the feeling of the business community of Galveston was in this respect and that I had voiced it.