“Walter Wyman,“Supervising Surgeon General Marine Hospital Service.”
“Walter Wyman,“Supervising Surgeon General Marine Hospital Service.”
“Walter Wyman,“Supervising Surgeon General Marine Hospital Service.”
“Walter Wyman,
“Supervising Surgeon General Marine Hospital Service.”
“Austin, Texas, Saturday.—Imagine, if you can, fifty thousand persons, many of them without clothing, all of them in immediate need of food and drink; motherless and fatherless children, men who have lost their families,—men, women and children all dazed from one of the greatest calamities of the time, and you can have some slight idea of the conditions existing at Galveston and all over the country along the Gulf contiguous to the storm centre of last Saturday and Sunday.
“The most harrowing reports have been brought to Governor Sayers by dozens of relief committees, which have been pouring in here from all the cities along the coast pleading for assistance. In response to an invitation from the Governor a special committee of Galveston citizens, headed by Major Skinner, of the Galveston Cotton Exchange, arrived for consultation with Governor Sayers.
“The Relief Committee reported to the Governor that the city authorities would prefer that the city remain under the command of State Adjutant-General Scurry for the time being at least; that he not only be allowed to superintend the patrolling of the city, but that he be placed in charge of the sanitary work as well, and that he be allowed to hire 2000 laborers from other portions of the State, as the laborers in Galveston had their own homes to look after.
“Governor Sayers will not only secure the importation of 2000 outside laborers for sanitary work, but he will recognize any drafts made by Chairman Seeley, of the local Galveston Relief Committee, for such moneys as he may want from time to time, and in such quantities as are necessary, the same to be expended under the exclusive control of the chairman and the local Finance Committee of Galveston.
“In addition to the Galveston plea for assistance, several relief committees from other points were entertained by the Governor. The one from Velasco, following the Galveston committee, stated that there were 2000 destitute there. Alvin reported 8000 in the neighborhood. The Columbia District reported 2500, and several other towns reported in proportion, Fort Bend County coming with a report of some 15,000 in that county alone.
“In view of these reports Governor Sayers ordered bacon and flour to be sent to Galveston, Richmond, Fort Bend, Angleton, Velasco and Alvin in quantities ranging from 200,000 pounds of flour and 100,000 pounds of bacon for Galveston, to 5000 pounds of the former and 20,000 pounds of the latter as an emergency supply for Alvin. More supplies will follow at once.”
Says one of our great newspapers:
“Galveston is showing the same splendid courage as Chicago thirty years ago, before a less dire calamity, and the country as a whole is displaying the same liberality. The Galveston News undoubtedly speaks for the city and the citizens in declaring that the city will be rebuilt and protected. Its channel, as one slight recompense, has been deepened to thirty feet. There remains its protection by sea walls, and here the General Government might well deal liberally with the stricken city. Whatever Galveston port needs to protect and prevent the city from another tidal wave ought, and we do not doubt will, be the liberal care of Congress next winter.
“Much more remains. The insurance companies rebuilt Chicago, and furnished the city with working building capital. Galveston has no such resource. Like Johnstown the city has to be rebuilt and the houses refitted. In the great flood of 1889 this was rendered possible because all the great flood of relief was managed, methodized and economically directed by the Johnstown Relief Commission, acting for the State. This prevented waste, gathered together all aid and successfully rebuilt, refurnished and re-equipped the destroyed homes.
“The Galveston disaster needs a like body. Food and shelter will before long be provided. This is but a beginning. Contributions are pouring out all over the country and organized work has not yet begun. Any sum really needed by Galveston can be raised if it is asked by an authoritative body, able to speak definitely and with precision of the losses sustained by churches, hospitals, institutions and individuals, and competent to distribute relief with efficiency and economy. If Texas and Galveston put such a body before the country in complete control the desultory giving already begun will be succeeded by organized, systematic contributions equal to the great need, great as it is.”