The Great Galveston Disaster

Paul Lester

• Publisher: Pelican Publishing
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781565547841
• eBook ISBN: 9781455605316
• Subtopic: North American History

A collection of photographs and stories chronicling Galveston's catastrophic hurricane in 1900, its aftermath—and the lives of those caught in the storm.

"Massive buildings were crushed like egg shells, great timbers were carried through the air as though they were of no weight, and the winds and the waves swept everything before them until their appetite for destruction was satiated and their force spent." —From the foreword by Richard Spillane, editor of the Galveston Tribune

More than 6,000 people lost their lives in the hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas on September 8, 1900. The many personal tragedies and triumphs of those who survived come to light in this full and thrilling account that is made even more evocative and jolting by its profusion of photographs taken immediately after the disaster.

S. W. Clinton lost his wife and six children, including two sons he could not save from drowning before his very eyes. Long engaged, Ernest A. Mayo and Bessie Roberts decided it was better to face the daunting tasks ahead of them together, and were married a mere five days after the flood.

Their stories, and the stories of all who survived the great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, attest to humanity's ability to overcome even the most horrific of disasters.

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• PREFACE.
• Introduction
• CHAPTER I. First News of the Great Calamity - Galveston Almost Totally Destroyed by Winds and Waves. Thousands Swept to Instant Death.
• CHAPTER II. The Tale of Destruction Grows-A Night of Horrors-Sufferings of the Survivors-Relief Measures by the National Government.
• CHAPTER III.: Incidents of the Awful Hurricane—Unparalleled Atrocities by Lawless Hordes—Earnest Appeals for Help.
• CHAPTER IV. The Cry of Distress in the Wrecked City-Negro Vandals Shot Down-Progress of the Relief Work-Strict Military Rule.
• CHAPTER V. Vivid Pictures of Suffering in Every Street and House-The Gulf City aq Ghastly of Ruins-The Sea Giving Up Its Dead-Supplies Pouring in from Every Quarter.
• CHAPTER VI. Two Survivors Give Harrowing Details of the Awful Disaster-Hundreds Eager to Get Out of Galveston. Clearing up the Wreckage.
• CHAPTER VII. Not a House in Galveston Escaped Damage-Young and Old, Rich and Poor, Hurried to a Watery Grave-Citizens with Guns Guarding the Living and the Dead.
• CHAPTER VIII. Fears of Pestilence-Searching Parties Clearing Away the Ruins and Cremating the Dead-Distracted Crowds Waiting to Leave the City-Wonderful Escapes.
• CHAPTER IX. Story of a Brave Hero-A Vast of Helpless Victims-Scenes that Shock the Beholders-Our Nation Rises to the occasion.
• CHAPTER X. Details of the Overwhelming Tragedy-the Whole City Caught in the Death-Trap-Personal Experiences of Those Who Escaped-First Reports More Than Confirmed.
• CHAPTER XI. Galveston Calamity One of the Greatest Known to History-Many Thousands Maimed and Wounded-Few Heeded the Threatening Hurricane-The Doomed City Turned to Chaos.
• CHAPTER XII. Thrilling narratives by Eye-Witnesses-Path of the Storm's Fury Through Galveston-Massive Heaps of Rubbish-Huge Buildings Swept into the Gulf.
• CHAPTER XIII. Refugees Continue the Terrible Story-Rigid Military Patrol-the city in Darkness at Night-Hungry and Ragged Throngs.
• CHAPTER XIV. Dead Babes Floating in the Waters-Sharp Crack of Soldiers' Rifles-Tears Mingle With the Flood-Doctors and Nurses for the sick and Dying.
• CHAPTER XV. Family in a Tree-Top All Night-Rescue of the Perishing-Railroad Trains Hurrying Forward with Relief-Pathetic Scenes in the Desolate City.
• CHAPTER XVI. Startling Havoc Made by the Angry Storm-Vessels Far Out on the Prairie-Urgent Call for Millions of Dollars-Tabgled Wires and Mountains of Wreckage.
• CHAPTER XVII. Governor Sayres Revises His Estimate of Those Lost and Makes it 12,000-A Multitude of the Destitute-Abundant Supplies and Vast Work of distribution.
• CHAPTER XVIII. An Island of Desolation-Crumbling Walls-Faces White With Agony-Tales of Dismay and Death-Curious Sights.
• CHAPTER XIX. Thousands Died in their Efforts to Save Others-Houses and Human Beings Floating on the Tide- An Army of Orphans-Greatest Catastrophe in Our History.
• CHAPTER XX. The Storm's Murderous Fury-People Stunned by the Staggering Blow-Heroic Measures to Avert Pestilence-Thrilling Story of the Ursuline Convent.
• CHAPTER XXI. Unparalleled Bombardment of Waves—Wonderful Courage Shown by the Survivors—Letter From Clara Barton.
• CHAPTER XXII. Galveston Storm Stories-Fierce Battles With Surging Waves-Vivid Accounts from Fortunate Survivors-A City of Sorrow.
• CHAPTER XXIII: Heroic Incidents—Arrival of Relief Trains—Hospitals for the Injured—Loud Call for Skilled Labor.
• CHAPTER XXIV. One Hero Rescues Over Two Hundred-Traveler Caught in the Rush of Water-Report of a Government Official-How the Great Storm Started.
• CHAPTER XXV: Storms of Great Violence Around Galveston-Wrecked Cities and Vast Destruction of Property-Appalling Sacrifice of Life.
• IMPRISONED BY THE STORM. Thrilling Experience of Colonel Anderson, the Fort Point Lighthouse Keeper and His Wife-In the Face of Death the Light Was Put Up-Isolated for Days in the Wrecked House Without Supplies.