“We are not prepared to give precise historical data in support of the assertion, but crossing the limits of the circle in which only exact information is contained, and invading the circle in which conclusions are only reached by a system of reasoning, it can be quite confidently asserted that the island of Galveston has been standing since the waters of the flood receded from the earth, and quite likely from the foundation of the world, and though it has been swept by a thousand storms, tossed by a thousand tidal waves and deluged a thousand times by rains, it still stands securely where the Almighty Creator placed it a million and perhaps a billion years ago.
“To successfully maintain the assertion that the island will be ultimately swept away, it is necessary, first, to prove the assertion that the storm, or tidal wave, that will do the work will be a thousand times more furious than any the world has heretofore known. Any attempt to support either proposition is absurd. It is admitted, however, that the assertion that the island has been standing since the flood, or is a part of the original creation, is a theory, and worth no more than any other theory started from a proper predicate, but Galveston island has been known for more than 400 years, and has a fairly well-authenticated history since 1542. In 1541 De Soto is said to have landed on the Texas coast near the island, established a base of operations and penetrated the interior as far as the present site of the town of San Marcos.
“After his death a part of his exploring force settled on Galveston island in 1542, and constructed some kind of fortifications to protect themselves from the Indians and Spanish pirates or freebooters. This was 358 years ago. This undisputed historical fact proves beyond question that the Spanish pirates and the American Indians were acquainted with the island before De Soto’s men established themselves. Just how long is not known, but a knowledge of the island strip may be contemporaneous with the existence of the aborigines of America that were here during the explorations of the Norsemen, who made several voyages in the ninth century, 1000 years ago. In 1585, while La Salle was cruising around in the Gulf of Mexico, he mentions having lost a man in the Maligu (Brazos) River, and it is therefore very probable that he touched at Galveston island.
A MATTER OF HISTORY.
“In 1715, Governor Caspardo Awaya established the Orquisaco mission on Galveston bay and made a thorough exploration of the island. In 1816 the Mexican envoy to the United States, General Herrera, and Commodore Ansy took formal possession of Galveston island in the name of the Mexican republic, and from that time until now the history of the island is a connected, well-authenticated story, and as much is known of its climate, soil, products, temperature, rainfall, wind storms, etc., as any part of Texas. At that time the island was much lower than now, much of it a mere marsh, entirely unprotected by improvements, and a thousand times more liable to be swept by storms than now, and still it stood, and still stands.
“When Commodore Ansy abandoned the island, Lafitte succeeded him in possession and held it until 1821. Lafitte’s description of its topography agrees with Commodore Ansy’s in every essential, and both state much of the area was marshy and low-lying, and unfit for settlement. Is there any man who will assert that during the past eighty-eight years the altitude and stability of the island has not been constantly improved or increased? If such is the case, and truth forbids its denial, the conclusion is unavoidable that Galveston island may be crossed by howling tornadoes every week, but it is just as secure as any part of Texas from destruction.
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.