"

RICHARD SPILLANE

EDITOR OF THE GALVESTON TRIBUNE" AND ASSOCIATED PRESS COR-
RESPONDENT, WHO WAS CHOSEN BY THE MAYOR AND CITIZENS'
COMMITTEE TO SEIZE ANY VESSEL IN THE HARBOR AND CONVEY
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD THE NEWS OF THE GREAT DISASTER

GALVESTON DISASTER

CONTAINING A

Full and

Thrilling Account of the Most Appalling
Calamity of Modern Times

INCLUDING

VIVID DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HURRICANE AND TERRIBLE
RUSH OF WATERS; IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF DWELL-
INGS, BUSINESS HOUSES, CHURCHES, AND LOSS

OF THOUSANDS OF HUMAN LIVES

THRILLING TALES OF HEROIC DEEDS; PANIC-STRICKEN
MULTITUDES AND HEART-RENDING SCENES OF AGONY;
FRANTIC EFFORTS TO ESCAPE A HORRIBLE FATE;
SEPARATION OF LOVED ONES, ETC., ETC.

Narrow Escapes from the Jaws of Death

TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS OF THE

SURVIVORS; VANDALS

PLUNDERING BODIES OF THE DEAD; WONDERFUL
EXHIBITIONS OF POPULAR SYMPATHY; MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS SENT FOR THE RELIEF OF

THE STRICKEN SUFFERERS

BY PAUL LESTER

Author of "Life in the Southwest," Etc., Etc.

With an Introduction by

RICHARD SPILLANE

Editor Galveston Tribune and Associated Press Correspondent

PROFUSELY EMBELLISHED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DISASTER

THO

PREFACE.

HOUSANDS of men, women and children swept to sudden death. Millions of dollars worth of property destroyed. Scenes of suffering and desolation that beggar description. Heroic efforts to save human life. The world shocked by the appalling news. Such is the thrilling story of the Galveston flood, and in this volume it is told with wonderful power and effect.

There have been many disasters by storm and flood in modern times, but none to equal this. In the brief space of twelve hours more persons lost their lives than were killed during a year of the war between the British and the Boers or during a year and a half of our war in the Philippines.

The calamity came suddenly. Galveston was not aware of its impending fate. News of an approaching cyclone produced no alarm. Suddenly word was sent that the hurricane was bending from its usual course and might strike the city. Even then there was no sudden fear, no hurrying to escape, no thought of swift destruction. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the city waked up to the awful fact that it was to be engulfed by a tidal wave, and buried in the flood of waters.

The news of the overwhelming disaster came as a shock to people everywhere. Bulletin boards in all our cities were surrounded by eager crowds to obtain the latest reports. Many who had friends in the stricken city were kept in suspense respecting their fate. With bated breath was the terrible calamity talked about, and in every part of our country committees of relief were immediately formed. The magnitude of the disaster grew from day to day. Every fresh report added to the intelligence already received, and it was made clear that a large part of the city of Galveston, with its inhabitants, had been swept out of existence.

This work furnishes a striking description of a great city of the dead. It depicts the terrible scenes that followed the calamity,

iii