The scare grew out of a $400,000 fire in Houston, which destroyed the Merchants and Planters’ oil mill, the largest in the world. The fire broke out at noon, but was not observable until nightfall, when the glow in the sky could be seen for a great distance.
Galveston was reassured by telegraph that a second southern Texas calamity was out of the question and that the relief supplies were safe.
One feature of the efforts to relieve the people of Galveston was the delay in getting supplies to the island city. Trainload after trainload was in Houston, which would have assisted materially in the work of relief, but on account of the limited transportation facilities they could not be hurried there. There was but one track and it was of light rails and was used only for terminal business. Even if the supplies were at Texas City they could not be moved fast, as there were not enough boats of light draft at Galveston. Buffalo bayou could be used from Houston, but it was impossible to get the boats for the purpose.
LABORERS IMPORTED INTO GALVESTON.
The general committee of public safety at Galveston decided, on September 17, to import laborers. This action was taken with the consent of the local unions. Skilled mechanics had been busy burying the dead without pay, but were relieved of this work and replaced by imported unskilled labor.
According to Dr. William W. Meloy of Chicago, who has investigated the health situation, there was no fever in Galveston September 17.
“The water supply has been adequate,” he said, “and is not liable to contamination. Nervous prostration, hysteria and mild dementia occur among the wealthy class, due to shock, exhaustion and grief. Among the poorer classes the use of spoiled food during the earlier part of the week has led to intestinal troubles. Several cases of heat prostration have occurred among the workmen. The danger from the unburied dead is mostly to the people who handle them.”
Major Frank M. Spencer arrived at Galveston on September 16 with $50,000 cash from Governor Sayers, to be expended in hastening the disposal of the debris and the burial of bodies. Major Spencer arrived too late to bank the money and for twenty-four hours it rested in the safe of the Tremont House, guarded by soldiers.
Galveston passed the first Sunday following the disaster burying the dead and clearing away debris. General Scurry’s order that all men able to work should labor to the limit of their strength was carried out to the letter.
“We’re thankful,” said Mayor Jones on Monday, when told of the arrival of the Chicago relief train at Houston. “You can’t make that statement too strong to the people of Chicago. We are thankful and thankful again. Chicago people are among the staunchest friends in the world in times like these. Yes, we’ll build Galveston up again, and, like Chicago, we’ll make it a better city than it was. We shall never forget the kindness of the people of Chicago in coming so generously to our relief, and we all thank them from the bottom of our hearts.”