“There has been a great deal said about martial law,” continued the colonel. “The city is yet under the control of the mayor, and civil law is in force. The soldiers are being used simply to enforce the civil law and to maintain a discipline which is necessary under the disturbed conditions. The soldiers do not work a hardship on any one.”
A statement and an appeal addressed to the American people, signed by Mayor Jones and members of the Relief Committee, and endorsed by Governor Sayres, was issued September 25th. It set forth in detail the extent of the disaster which overtook the city, in part as follows:
“Seventeen days after the storm at Galveston it is still impossible to accurately estimate the loss of life and property. It is known that the dead in the city will number at least one sixth of the census population. The island and adjacent mainland will add perhaps 2000 to this number. Actual property damage is incalculable in precise terms, but we have the individual losses, and losses in public property, such as paving, water works, schools, hospitals, churches, etc., which will easily amount to $30,000,000. This estimate takes no account of the direct and indirect injury to business. Along the beach front upwards of 2600 houses, by actual map count, were totally destroyed. Moreover, we estimate that 97½ per cent. of the remaining houses throughout the city were damaged in greater or less degree. In fact none entirely escaped.”
CONFRONTED BY A GREATER PROBLEM.
Grateful thanks are extended for the help received, and the address continues: “But a greater and a graver work confronts us. Some kinds of homes, be they ever so humble, must be provided for the 10,000 people now huddled in ruined houses, public places and improvised camps, to the end that they may not become paupers, but may speedily set up their households wherein repose all that is best and noblest in American life. We believe that the well to do and the charitable people of this nation will not be contented to merely appease hunger and bind up bruises, but will in very large measure and with more far reaching effect contribute to the restoration of this people to a plane of self support and self respect. It is for this purpose that we make this further appeal.”
Miss Clara Barton also endorsed the appeal, saying: “Could the people of our generous country see as I have seen in its dreadful reality the desolation and the destruction of homes by thousands, the overwhelming bereavement in the loss of near and dear ones, and the utter helplessness that confronts those remaining, the appeal of Mayor Jones for continued help would meet with such a response as no other calamity has ever known.”
REVIEWING THE SITUATION.
Reviewing the situation in Galveston, a correspondent communicates the following: “On Sunday following the storm all saloons were closed by order of the Mayor. On the following Sunday several saloonists began selling liquor on the quiet. They were arrested and taken before Adjutant General Scurry, who warned them they must not repeat the offense. A prominent saloon man was arrested for disobeying the order and was put to work in a street cleaning gang. Dr. Donaldson, chief surgeon of one of the relief corps, says it will not be necessary for the outside surgeons to remain here longer than two or three days more. He has written an article for a medical journal commenting upon the comparatively small number of seriously wounded and sick persons. He explains the absence of a large number of seriously wounded persons by saying that most of those so wounded were drowned, but says it is surprising that more people, especially women and children, did not get sick from such trying experiences.
“Efforts are being made to open the public schools on October 1, the date set before the storm for their opening. Three of the school buildings can be made usable at slight cost and it is planned to hold two sessions a day.
“The estimated losses to the life insurance companies at Galveston are about $500,000. Most of those who carried old line life policies escaped. The fraternal orders will lose quite heavily.”