Magnitude of the Relief Necessary--Twenty Thousand Persons to be Clothed
and Fed--System of Relief Organization--How the Storm Affected Trade.
The situation at Galveston on Saturday night, just a week after the
calamity, was thus described by a competent authority who arrived in the
city the day after the flood:
"It must be possible by this time to give some idea of the magnitude which
relief must assume. There were 38,000 persons in the city when the census
was taken a few weeks ago. After the storm 32,000 remained. This latter
statement is made after careful inquiry from the best sources of
information. About 3,000 have left the island, most of them women and
children, to go to friends temporarily.
"Of the 29,000 remaining how many must be helped and how long?
"The question is a hard one. The men who knew most of the situation, who
have labored day and night since Sunday, hesitate to answer.
"Mr. McVittie, the executive head of the relief work, said it was possible
there were 3,500 persons in the city who did not require any assistance
whatever. Mr. Lowe of the Galveston News, a most careful and conservative
man, said he believed fully two-thirds of the surviving and remaining
population were dependent to-day. Others familiar with the situation were
asked for their opinions, and they estimated variously the number that
must be helped temporarily at from two-thirds to three-fourths.
"The conclusion is forced that there are to-day in Galveston 20,000
persons who must be fed and clothed. The proportion of those who were in
fair circumstances and lost all is astonishing. Relief cannot be limited
to those who formed the poor class before the storm.
"An intelligent man left Galveston to-day, taking his wife and children to
relatives. He said: 'A week ago I had a good home and a business which
paid me between $400 and $500 a month. To-day I have nothing. My house was
swept away and my business is gone. I see no way of re-establishing it in
the near future.'
"This man had a real estate and house-renting agency.
"At the military headquarters, one of the principal officials doing
temporary service for the city, said: 'Before the storm I had a good home
and good income. I felt rich. My house is gone and my business. The fact
is I don't even own the clothes I stand before you in. I borrowed them.'
"Now these are not exceptional cases. They are fairly typical. Men who
worked for salaries, who rented or owned good houses and considered
themselves fairly well provided for, as the world goes, are to-day, by
thousands, not only penniless, but without food, without clothes, and
without employment.
"There must be fed and clothed these 20,000 until they can work out their
temporal salvation. And then something ought to be done to help the worthy
get on their feet and make a fresh start. Some people will leave
Galveston. It is plain, however, that nothing like the number expected
will go. Galveston is still home to the great majority. It was a city of
fine local pride. It was one of the most beautiful of American cities, and
with its surrounding of gulf and bay was a pleasant place to live in,
even in summer. Those who can stay and live here will do so.
"If the country responds to the needs in anything like the measure given
to Johnstown, Chicago, Charleston and other stricken cities and sections,
Galveston as a community will not only be restored but will enter upon a
greater future than was expected before the storm.
"This seems rather an extraordinary thing to say. It has been the
experience, wherefore it is expected here. Since Tuesday there has been no
doubt of Galveston's restoration. If in the future this city celebrates a
flood anniversary the day upon which the community's courage was reborn
ought to be remembered.
"From a central organization the relief work has been divided by wards. A
depot and a subcommittee were established in each ward of the city. 'They
who will not work should not eat' was the principle adopted when the
organization was perfected. Few idle mouths are now being fed in
Galveston. There are fatherless, and there are widows, and there are sick
who must have charity.
"But the able-bodied are working in parties under the direction of bosses.
They are paid in food and clothing. In this way the relief committee is,
within the first week, meeting the needs of the survivors and at the same
time gradually clearing the streets and burning the ruins and refuse.
"A single report made by a ward committeeman to Mr. McVittie will serve to
show on what scale this plan is being carried out. 'In my ward,' said the
committeeman, 'I have 600 men employed and I am feeding 3,700 persons.'
"The system of the Galveston relief organization is admirable. Perhaps
never before was economy practiced so rigidly in the distribution of the
nation's largess. 'Our aim,' Mr. McVittie said, 'is to distribute no money
at this time, but to employ with relief funds all of the labor in the
clearing of the city and the cremation of the dead until we have removed
to that extent the ravages of the storm.
"'We employ all who can work and we give food and clothing as
remuneration. We scrutinize most carefully applications for charity and
grant none if the applicant is able to render service. We adopted this
plan in the beginning and we are going to continue it. Most of our people
responded to the rule and went to work. To those who were unwilling to
work we applied the authority of martial law.
"'All Galveston is now at work and the contributions which we are
receiving from the sympathizing nation are going to pay for the most
urgent work the storm imposed on us.'
"Six days have wrought surprising changes in conditions at Galveston. Each
day has been a chapter in itself. Sunday was paralysis. On Monday came the
beginning of realization. Tuesday might be called the crisis period. And
the crisis was passed safely. What has been accomplished since the turning
point on Tuesday is amazing. It is almost as incredible as some of the
effects of this visitation are without precedent.
"On Sunday the people did little but go about dazed and bewildered,
gathering a few hundred of the bodies which were in their way. On Monday
the born leaders who are usually not discovered in a community until some
great emergency arises began to forge in front. They were not men from one
rank in point of wealth or intelligence. They came from all classes. For
example there was Hughes, the 'longshoreman.
"Bodies which lay exposed in the streets and which were necessary to
remove somewhere lest they be stepped on were carried into a temporary
morgue until 500 lay in rows on the floor. Then a problem in mortality,
such as no other American community ever faced, was presented. Pestilence,
which stalked forth by Monday, seemed about to take possession of what the
storm had left. Immediate disposition of those bodies was absolutely
necessary to save the living. Then it was that Lowe and McVittie and Sealy
and the others, who by common impulse had come together to deal with the
problem, found Hughes.
"The 'longshoreman took up the most grewsome task ever seen away from a
battlefield. He had to have helpers. Some volunteered, others were pressed
into the service at the point of the bayonet. Whisky by the bucketful was
carried to these men and they were drenched with it. The stimulant was
kept at hand and applied continuously. Only in this way was it possible
for the stoutest-hearted to work in such surroundings. Under the direction
of Hughes these hundreds of bodies already collected and others brought
from the central part of the city--those which were quickest found--were
loaded on to an ocean barge and taken far off into the gulf to be cast
into the sea."
HOW THE STORM AFFECTED TRADE.
The following trade statement, issued from New York on Saturday, September
15, showed the effect of the great storm in commercial circles:
"The tropical storm that devastated the gulf coast, almost wiping out the
city of Galveston and doing damage in other parts of the country, caused
reduction in the volume of business at the South, and railroads in the
gulf region have probably not shown their maximum losses of earnings as
yet, but even after such a catastrophe a recuperative power is shown.
"From many quarters of the West and Southeast a better distribution of
merchandise is reported in jobbing and retail circles. The weather has
continued favorable for the maturing corn crop, with cutting progressing
and the crop generally beyond danger, but damage to cotton by the storm is
still an unknown quantity. Prices of staple commodities are higher for the
week, hoisted by the sharp rise in cotton, but in manufactured products
there is little change, though steady increases of business at the current
level is satisfactory.
"Cotton closed last week at the highest price in ten years, and a large
short interest was awaiting reaction. Instead, there came news of the
disaster in Texas and sensational reports that 1,000,000 bales had been
destroyed. At the New York Exchange trading was far in excess of all
previous records, and prices rose by bounds. Subsequently there were less
exaggerated reports from the South, but the market failed to respond and
middling uplands advanced 11 cents.
"The rise in the raw material caused sharp advances in cotton goods. In
one week standard brown sheetings rose from 5.67 to 6 cents, wide bleached
sheetings from 20 to 21 cents, standard brown drills from 5.67 to 5.87,
and staple ginghams from 5 to 5.50 cents. Buyers who have been delaying
for weeks are anxious to secure liberal supplies, both instant and
distant."
TWO APPEALS WHICH BROUGHT MUCH MONEY.
Two appeals for aid which brought in much money were the following, the
first one being by the G. A. R. and Women's Relief Corps, Department of
Texas:
"The appalling calamity that has befallen Galveston and the coast
country has smitten hundreds of our comrades in the city, villages
and on farms. In many instances, portions of whole families are lost;
in a hundred others, houses are wrecked, live stock killed and crops
destroyed.
"George B. McClellan Post of this city is doing what it can, but its
efforts are all inadequate. Systematic organized assistance alone can
avert distress, and we therefore appeal to the members of this
department in behalf of these comrades. They had made their last
stand and effort to secure for themselves and families homes on the
coast country of Texas. Their all is involved. Far along in the
evening of their life they cannot recuperate.
"If there was time to make another crop they have nothing with which
to make it. Unless we help them they must abandon their homes, their
all. If the principles of our order--fraternity, charity and
loyalty--are of any avail, it is time to show it. Fraternity means
organization--charity means everything and is the 'greatest of all.'
Loyalty means standing by our comrades as well as the flag. They were
our brothers in arms, they are our kindred in adversity.
"We confidently expect every post, every member of every corps to
contribute something. Remittances and supplies from the G. A. R.
should be made to Colonel E. G. Rust, assistant quartermaster
general, and from the Women's Relief Corps to Mrs. Mina Metcalf, both
of Houston, Texas.
"CHARLES B. PECK,
"Department Commander.
"ANNETTE VAN HORN,
"Department Commander."
The other was by President Michaux of the Travelers' Protective
Association, addressed to the members of the organization throughout the
United States:
"Whereas, A great calamity has befallen the city of Galveston,
thousands of dead, dying and wounded to be cared for by our united
and benevolent people; and
"Whereas, Numbers of traveling men are reported seriously wounded;
therefore, to care for immediate wants, I deem it necessary to call
on the traveling men to contribute as much as in their power to help,
aid and assist our stricken companions.
"Our association is able and will take care of all its unfortunate
members, and I appeal to you in the name of charity and love to
assist us in caring for them not so fortunate. Remit what you can
afford by postoffice, express money order to James E. Ludlow, San
Antonio, Texas. Secretaries of all local T. P. A. posts will receive
and remit your subscriptions. I trust that this appeal to the
traveling men will be met by a quick response. Sincerely and
fraternally,
"D. W. MICHAUX, President.
"Texas T. P. A. of America, Houston, Texas."