The Great Galveston Disaster, Containing a Full and Thrilling Account of the Most Appalling Calamity of Modern Times Page: 260
xiv, 17-536 p. : front., plates ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
260 THRILLING TALES BY REFUGEES.
story of his experience he said: I left Houston Saturday morning
and knew nothing of the storm until we reached Virginia
Point. The wind was blowing a gale and the water in the bay was
high and a considerable sea running. We got over on Galveston
Island at 10.30 and found the track washed out. A switch engine
and a coach was sent to us and everybody, including the train crew,
was transferred. The water was rising all this time and the wind
was increasing in violence. The water got over the track and put
out the fire in the engine, but the steam lasted long enough to get
into the depot. While going in the train crew had to go ahead and
push floating poles and ties and wreckage off the track.
" We got to the depot at 2. Io in the afternoon. The wind was
still growing stronger and the air was full of sheets of water. The
streets were waist-deep and the water was running like a millrace.
We could see people wading around trying to collect their families
and effects, and the bus was still running between the depot and
the Tremont. I knew the depot was a new, strong building, and I
decided to stay there.
GREAT GUSTS OF WIND.
"Every gust of wind seemed fiercer and more wicked than
any. It was blowing in a straight line from the northeast in great,
vicious gusts, as if it would tear down everything. Soon the water
came into the ground floor of the depot, and we had to go to the
second floor. The wind kept increasing in velocity and began to
blow the windows in, tearing out frames and all and throwing
them across the rooms. Men went to work and put additional
braces across the large panes of glass and wedged them tight with
newspapers.
" I saw a boy driving an express wagon, trying to reach the
depot. A gust struck him, and over went the wagon, horse and all,
the boy landing on the sidewalk. He was a nervy youngster and
came back, and I could see the knife in his hand as he cut the horse
loose in the water. He mounted and rode back to town.
"(Night came on, and still the storm grew worse and worse.
No man can describe the pandemonium of sound. The wind would
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
The Great Galveston Disaster, Containing a Full and Thrilling Account of the Most Appalling Calamity of Modern Times (Book)
This book covers the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the United States' deadliest natural disaster. It includes accounts from survivors and eyewitnesses, and photos of the devastation.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Lester, Paul. The Great Galveston Disaster, Containing a Full and Thrilling Account of the Most Appalling Calamity of Modern Times, book, 1900~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth26719/m1/318/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.