The Great Galveston Disaster. Paul Lester
the transport McPherson at the services of the Citizens’ Committee of the Merchants’ Association of New York for the immediate transportation of provisions donated for the relief of the storm sufferers at Galveston.
The people who had been raising contributions and supplies in New York asked President McKinley for a transport, and the War Department acted immediately on the request. It was expected that the McPherson would leave within seventy-two hours and sail direct for Galveston. It was suggested by the War Department that the relief committees of Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia and other cities in reach of New York by rail within a few hours, place themselves at once in touch with the Chairman of the Relief Committee of New York, in order that clothing, supplies and food might be forwarded promptly to the carrying capacity of the McPherson.
Austin, Tex., September 13.—Alvin and other points along the coast are crying piteously for aid. They say that they have been overlooked in the general relief fund and that with all their property destroyed, their hopes gone, no clothing, no provisions, they are fit subjects for the hand of charity along with the unfortunates from Galveston. Governor Sayers promptly wired them that they should be looked after.
Touching on the subject of needs of the flood sufferers and the funds being furnished him for the purpose, Governor Sayers stated to-day that it would take at least one million and possibly a million and one-half to render the assistance that would be beneficial to the flood sufferers. Many of them will have to be supported for possibly the next two months, and it will require an immense amount of money to do this, inasmuch as there are estimated to be 10,000 destitute at Galveston and fully twice that many along the main shore.
From points along the coast comes the report that a great amount of wreckage is being thrown up by the Gulf and hundreds of people have wandered miles down the coast, seeking among the wreckage for valuables. The household property of Galveston people is strewn from Rockport in Matagorda Bay along 200 miles of coast front. Every conceivable household article is to be found strewn along the sands. Valuables are literally lining the coast. Trunks, valises, bureaus, chests and the like are being deposited on the shore.
People are pouring up from the coast by the train load. Many are going to relatives in the central and northern part of the State, and others are stopping in Houston. Of course, this applies to the more prosperous class of the Galvestonians, if there can be any such now.
MONEY AND SUPPLIES FOR THE SUFFERERS.
The subscriptions in New York up to Thursday, the 13th, for the relief of the Galveston sufferers were:
Merchants’ Association, $52,099; Mayors’ Fund, $7000; New York Mercantile Exchange Fund, $2000; New York Cotton Exchange Fund, $5300; New York Stock Exchange Fund, $11,100; New York Produce Exchange Fund, $10,500; Chamber of Commerce Fund, $25,000; miscellaneous subscriptions, $30,000. Total, $142,994.
The transport McPherson left at noon Monday, the 7th, for Galveston, carrying supplies which were contributed through the Merchants’ Association.
The Citizens’ Committee of the association deposited in bank $26,775, making a gross total of $40,526 so deposited. Secretary Corwine immediately afterward wired Governor Sayers authorizing him to draw $12,000 in addition to the $12,000 offered the day before. Mayor Jones, of Galveston, was also notified of the telegrams of the Governor.
The steamer El Sud, of the Morgan Line, sailed for Galveston with a large contribution of food supplies and clothing for the Relief Committee, which was contributed, through the Merchants’ Association.
A despatch from Clark, South Dakota, says that Governor Roosevelt has authorized Colonel William J. Young, of the Executive Department of Albany, N. Y., to issue an appeal for aid on behalf of the Galveston sufferers. J. Pierpont Morgan was named by the Governor as chairman of such committee and authorized to receive subscriptions.
CLARA BARTON GOES TO TEXAS.
Miss Clara Barton, President of the National Red Cross, and her staff, left for Galveston, accompanied by Mary Agnes Coombs, the Secretary of the Executive Committee in New York during the Spanish war.
It was the intention of the Salvation Army to equip a hospital car for Galveston. There were to be physicians and nurses on board and a large supply of hospital necessities. This car will be kept at Galveston as long as needed.
A meeting of Americans, resident and transient, in Paris was held at the Chamber of Commerce on September 13th for the purpose of devising a method for raising funds to assist the sufferers at Galveston. The United States Ambassador, General Horace Porter, was elected President; George Monroe, the banker, was made Treasurer, and Francis Kimball was appointed Secretary. Resolutions of sympathy with the people of Galveston were adopted, and a subscription list was opened, with the result that inside of fifteen minutes 50,000 francs were donated.
A committee of seven was appointed to carry out the plans of the meeting, which included canvassing the American colony in Paris. The French papers also opened subscription lists, many Frenchmen having expressed a desire to subscribe.
R. P. W. Houston, member of Parliament and head of the Houston Line of Steamers, cabled $5000 to Galveston for the relief of the sufferers.
SYMPATHY FROM FRANCE.
The following telegrams passed between the Presidents of France and the United States:
“Rambouillet, President, September 12, 1900.—To His Excellency the President of the United States of America: The news of the disaster which has just devastated the State of Texas, has deeply moved me. The sentiments of traditional friendship which unite the two Republics can leave no doubt in your mind concerning the very sincere share that the President, the Government of the Republic and the whole nation take in the calamity that has proved such a cruel ordeal for so many families in the United States. It is natural that France should participate in the sadness as well as in the joy of the American people. I take it to heart to tender to your Excellency our most heartfelt condolences, and to send to the families of the victims the expression of our afflicted sympathy.
“Emile Loubet.”
“Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C. September 13, 1900.—His Excellency, Emile Loubet, President of the French Republic, Rambouillet, France: I hasten to express, in the name of the thousands who have suffered by the disaster in Texas, as well as in behalf of the whole American people, heartfelt thanks for your touching message of sympathy and condolence.
“William McKinley.”
In response to an inquiry telegraphed to Colonel A. H. Belo, publisher of the Dallas News and of the Galveston News, the following hopeful estimate of the business future and prospects of Galveston was received:
“Although in the middle of our overwhelming disaster, the full extent of which can only be approximately estimated, the citizens of Galveston held a meeting on Sunday afternoon, as soon as they possibly could after the great storm. At this meeting the sentiment expressed was a grim and undaunted resolution to rebuild the island city. They said:
“ ‘Galveston must rise again.’
“They fully realize the vastness of their misfortune and the magnitude of their task to repair it, yet, amid all the wreck and havoc that the elements have wrought they say, with determination, that as soon as they bury their dead and provide for the immediate necessities of their living and destitute ones, they will set about to clear away the debris, and begin anew their lives of toil and energy on their storm-stricken island.
“They