Skip to main content
The largest online newspaper archive

The Houston Post from Houston, Texas • Page 1

Publication:
The Houston Posti
Location:
Houston, Texas
Issue Date:
Page:
1
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

TWELVEPACES TODAY i P.TUT MOST OF THE BEST proud boaati but Tha Pott "made Ooed'wHh It and has, at result, baeoma tha Household Paper. COMPARISON 1 I- i Of Tha Post with liny newspaper lithe anywhere It aura to remit In favor Of Tht Pott. 7 VOL. 30, NO. 137.

HOUSTON, TEXAS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1915. PRICE 5 CENTS ''r--l- V' Galveston Still Cut Off From World n1, TT Loss Is 18 Lives Mil OV ll IIM. IT 11 -fc a mm mmmm -m I if i svv vra A t7L2k. I TI TC TUT? WEATHER BUREAU RECORDS DRIFTED 9 MILES ON A RAFT BEFORE RESCUE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR MAROONED IN BIG BUILDINGS Three to Six Feet of. Water Said to Cover That Gty and Rescue Boats Sent.

TEXAS CITY DEATH TOLL Rumors of Heavy Life Loss Among the Soldiers and Citizens Denied Officially. Was That of E. D. Morgan's Point Til Thrilling Experience Armstrong of Lost All His Possessions Heavy Loss of Property of Army, City and Texas City Business Concerns Reported, but Water Has Retreated From City Martial Law Safety of His 15-Year-Old Boy The Water Rushed In and His Home Went Over in the Flood. Tha wind, rain and barometer record at Houston by hours during tha passage of the storm was as follows: The barometer reading Is for Houston altitude and may be reduced roughly to sea level reading by the addition of .15 Inch to tha Houston reading: i ii velocity.

Rainfall Miles Wind Barometer. in hour. Date. Hour. per hour.

direction. Inches. Inches. August 16 Midnight 9 NANNE 29.70 A August 1 NNE 29.57 0 August IS Noon 24 NNE 29.50 August 16 2 p. NNE 29.45 August 16 p.

29 NNE 29.40 August 1 6 p. 31 NNE 29.30 .22 August 16 p. S4 NNE 29.27 .21 August 16 p. $8 NNE 29.15 .38 August 16- 42 NNE 29.10 August 1610 p. 46 NNE 29.06 .46 August 16 p.

.....60 NNE 29 .73 August 16 Midnight 54 NNE 28.80 1.10 August 17-t a. 50 NNE 28J0 .95 August 17-2 a. 4S NNE 28.65 .26 August 17 a. 6D NNE 28.50 .30 August 176 a. 70 East 28.20 August 17 a.

k0 Southeast 28.06 .68 August 17 4 80 Southeast 28.25 .20 August 177 a. 0 Southeast 28.60 07 August 178 a. 50 Southeast 28.75 .02 August 17- a. m. 45 SES 28.80 August 1710 a.

40 South 28.85 August 1711 38 South 29 August 17 Noon 38 Sbuth 29.05 August 17 1 p. 37 South 29.10 August 172 p. 30 South 29.20 August 17 1 p. m. 29 South 29.:2 August 17-4 p.

m. 26 SSE I -9-27 August 176 p. 24 SSE 29.30 August 176 p. 20 SSE 29.33 AT AND NEAR THE POINT Colonel H. B.

Moore of Texas City in a statement to the Houston re- lief committee declares the following, supplies are needed at once In Texas city. One tank of fuel oil for the Ice factory. Two tank cars of fresh water dally. Two cars of food supplies for civilians. One of the most thrilling stories that have come to Houston since the storm was that of E.

D. Armstrong, of Morgana Point, who hung on to a raft and drifted for nine miles, buffeted by the strong current and tha wind, before he was finally rescued. He was picked up by the Mary I nut, and brought to Harrisburg. Mr. Armstrong lost all his possessions in the His greatest anxiety now is for his 15-year-old boy Justin, for whose safety he entertains grave fears.

When the storm began to grow Monday evening, he sent tba lad to Ike Miller at the Cupola Inn for safety, while he remained In all small frame cottage not far away. "I had no idea," said Mr. Armstrong Tuesday night, "that the water would come over the flats, after they had been filled. Shortly before 1 o'clock Tuesday morning, I heard the water running under the house, I opened the front door and a flood of water rushed in. I shut it Immediately.

"About five minutes to 1 this morning the house went over. There waa no light and I grabbed for something and held on. I don't know how I got out from under the bnllding, but I found afterwards I had caught hold of part of the roof. As I was tossed about, the raft grew smaller and smaller, because of pieces being torn away. At times the breaker! were so high, thought I was in the channel.

"Just as daylight waa dawning I passed Jenny's Island. Finally 1 reached Lynchburg, nine miles from where I started, sometime Tuesday, -morning, and there I was caught and pinned against some obstruction. I hung there until Captain Lem MacMilllam and Irving Block of Harrison rg cams along in the Mary Ima and picked me up. They took me to Harrisburg, After walking a short distance, an automobile pfeked me up and brought me to Houston." Mr. Armstrong lost his daughter and daughter-in-law, Hiss Edna Arm-strong and Mrs.

Mabel Armstrong, both of whom were drowned at Morgans Point about two months ago. He was taken to the home of relatives. eeeeoee THREE SOLDIERS RESCUED FROM A TELEGRAPH POLE IN BAYOU Large quantity of candles. One car of limes or other dialnfectants. Colonel Moore Asks that these be consigned to Major General J.

Frank- ltn Bell. United States 'army officer In command at Texas City, for dls- trlbutlon. Texas City has sustained a severe blow as the result of the hurricane which swept the gulf coast, an approximate damage of $400,000 being done there, but only eighteen lives were lost. This damage and the life loss covers, however, the extent of the toll Jevied upon the citizens, the Texas City company and the division of the U. 8.

army statloaed there under the command of Major General J. Franklin Bell. Texas City Tuesday night was out of danger and ready for work of rehabilitation. The city Is under martial lawuid 1800 of the U. S.

troops who under orders of General Bell had abandoned their encampment and pro ceeded as far as LaMarque, under new orders, were returning to Texas City proper there to join the some 2600 soldiers who had taken refuge In, the town when the encampment was evacuated. Information to this effect was brought to Houston Tuesday evening by E. V. Rhodes, superintendent of terminals for the Texas City company, who left Texas City at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon and being relayed by four automobiles came to Houston -bearing a statement by Colonel H. B.

Moore of the Texas City company addressed to the Houston relief committee and l8based on the report of Mr. Moore, reports to General Bell and personal observation. Mr. Rhodes deplored exaggerated stories of the loss of lives and damage at Texas 4Jlty and in fact Hesitated to place the total financial loss entailed at the high figure mentioned although he believed the extent of damage might reach that total. tically the total casualties suffered by the army division.

A total of eight civilians lost their lives. It Is estimated that perhaps 250 persons had taken refuge in the- Thompson building previous to its collaose, but the majority of these had left that building when the roof blew off. Refugeea who were In other houses at the time of Ha (Continued on Page Two.) John Mueiler, Joe Berger, E. M. Hartrick and Tom Riggs and His Son Roy Have Been Identified.

COLLAPSE OF BUILDING LOST THEIR LIVE8. The lose of life entailed In Texas City Itself Is largely due to the collapse of the new Thompson building, which was practically computed, and the top two stories of which collapsed. lClght soldiers' died here and several civilians. Two other soldiers were drowned and as far as General Bell could ascertain this formed prac Losing Horses in Stream Near Dickinson, Three Sixth Cavalry Troopers Were Saved by Private Jelle of Twenty-Seventh Infantry After Thrilling Experience. in Storm and Fears for wire and got on top ef the telegraph pole, grasping ihe branch of the tree and holding myself there by that means.

In the meantime Walsh was also thrown from his horse Into tha water, and he- struggled to the same pole on which 'I was sitting. Private Webber who waa with us at Dickinson, thoroughly fright'. ened. jumped from his horse, rrasplng La telegraph pole, clinging, on for dear life. Private Cottell's hdlse threw him at the same time on the shell road leading to the shore on which he easily walked toward the shore.

In the meanwhile. Private Jelle came along and saw the three of us begging for help In the bayou. The wind was blowing the water -at an awful speed making our grasp of -the telegraph pole very unsafe." THREE TROOPERS CLUNG TO TELEGRAPH POLE. In speaking of this Jelle says: "Whewi" i reached Dickinson I saw the three caTr alrymen hanging on to the telegraph pole." a 1 Relating the events which followed Burkhart said: "Without wasting anjr. time at all Private Jelle, who had on bathing suit at that time Immediately went in the water for the first man nearest to him, who was Webber, telling, him -j to Jump, which Webber did.

and Jell 'C grasping him ledohim to high ground, from which he easily walked to shore. "Then without waiting to get hi breath lie started for the second man, who was Private Walsh, attklng him If ffe could swim. Walsh replied that he could little. Jelle shouted to him to encourage him and told him to try to swim toward -him and he would grasp him as he came nearer. This Walsh did, at the same time Jelle had an awfuV time pulling hina, aa Walsh is a heavy man and the current was very swift, which added to the difficulty.

"After getting on high ground Walsh immediately started back with Jelle to try to save me, when I Was near- ly ready to let go. He asked me lit 'v could swim any. and I told hiniotjtary much. He told me to remove5y heavy clothing and to try to swim for Walsh. -who was standing on high ground.

After. removing my heavy clothing I did try, but the current being so swift I got excited' and could not make my arms and lega go i fast enough to make my body move very swiftly. After trying, a few minutes I was ready to give It up as a bad job when Private Jelle grasped me by th neck, which frightened me and I aTasptd, for him. nearly drowning him la the at-'' tempt to save myself. BURKHART HAD A ft nscr CALL FROM DEATH.

"With quick presence of mind 3H grasped two telegraph wires and put THREE PERSONS ARE DEAD AND FOUR ARE MISSING Man and Woman Known Dead at Fort Arthur While Derrick Killed Engineer at Soar Lake. 800 Befngeei Beached Beaumont. (Houston Pott Sttcitl BEAUMONT, Texas, August 17. Three persons are known to have been killed and four others are missing and are supposed to have been drowned as a result of the terrific storm which swept this section last night and today. Port Arthur, twenty miles from here, Is covered with from three to six feet of water and the inhabitants are Seeking refuge in the federal building, city hall.

Elks' theater and aH other buildings of two stories or more in height. A rescue party of fifty men on a special Kansas City Southern train carrying motor boats and skiffs, went to Port Arthur this afternoon to help rescue the maroored people at Port Arthur. 800 REFUGEES FROM PORT, ARTHUR ON TRAIN. The only train operated from Port Arthur to Beaumont this morning brought 100 men. women and children from the storm-awept city.

Since noon yesterday the fire depart ment and city employes of Port Arthur have bean hauling people from their flooded homes to the higher building. The body of a man kilted by live wire last night before the power plant was put out of commission was found floating in four feet of water on Houston avenue at Port Arttftir today. The body of a drowned woman was also found floating In the business district of that city. It was reported here this afternoon that four others, three men and a woman, are missing and are believed to be drowned. At Sour Lake an engineer war killed by a falling oil derrick and it was said by oil men arriving from that place tonight that every derrick In the Sour I-ake field had been blown down.

Only one derrick remains standing in the famous Spindle Top oil field, south of here. BEAUMONT HAS NO WIRE SERVICE. Ever since 10:30 o'clock last night all telegraph and telephone connections between Beaumont and the outside world have been severed. Beaumont's lighting system, street car and nterurban lines have been detriorallxed since 10 o'clock last More than 1600 telephones in the city are out of commission and tha Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Company alone estimates its damage at not less than 150,000 Not a telegraph wire has been working out of here all day but every possible effort is being made to re-establish communication with the outside world. A special Southern Pacific train left here before noon with a force of linemen to repair the break-downs between here and Houston on the Western Union.

The postal and Matkay Telegraph companies are also making a strong effort to get their lines In working order. DAMAGE DONE IN BEAUMONT. A small Catholic church, several frame buildings and many fences and signs were blown down, the ball park grandstand was demolished and hundreds of windows were broken during the storm. Both Beaumont and Port Arthur have been in darkness now for two nights. No word has been received sine early Monday afternoon from Sabine, Sabine Pass, Rollover, Caplen and Port Bolivar, all of which are believed to be under water.

It was reported late tonight that the Gulf refinery West Port Arthur was flooded with, eight feet of water and that 150 employes were marooned on top of the buildings. Land wireless station No. at Port Arthur was blown entirely away last night. FLOOD REFUGEES NEAR DANGER IN AN EARLY MORNING FIRE Mr. and Mrs.

Henry Warmke Came Down Ladder Blaze in Wolf's Shoe Store. Flood refuggees, only to be forced to seek safety from fire in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Henry Warmke. manager of the Texas Purchasing company, 304 1-2 Main street, and wife climbed down the Udder placed by local firemen at I JO Wednesday morning, after being awakened by smoke from fir In Wolf Bros. Shoe compnay, 304 Main street. The department responded promptly when the alarm was turned In by a messenger boy who noted the dense smoke pouring from the store.

The fire apar-ently originated In fhe rear and some difficulty SumT experienced In extinguishing It. The total extent of the damage could not be asertalned. Mrs. Warmke aald that their cottage at Oenoa was In danger from floods and that she and her Ituiiband consequently decided to spend the night In his office, which Is over bewta' Oyster parlor next to tha Wolf establishment. They were awakened by tha dens smoke.

The firemen soon affected their rescue. POST MADE SEVERAL EFFORTS TO GET A CAR TO GALVESTON The Parties Met With Many Difficulties and Did Not Make It Because of High Wind and Deep Water. George Hamilton went to Morgans Point Tuesday afternoon In Cal Wilkerson's car, returning Tuesday night. John Mueller, a former Houston restaurant man, and Joe Berger were camping on tableland opposite the Point rearing tha storm they came over to tha stopping at Riggs' store, where they were drowned; as were Riggs and his son Roy. E.

C. Delaney had been in the house with Mr. Riggs but when the water began to rise he insisted upon getting out. All of his effects were lost but Mr. Delaney arrived safely in Houston Tuesday night.

Mr. Mueller and Joe Berger had been on an island, but feeling unsafe they left there and went to the home of Mr. Riggs. Mr. Mueller was a few years ago one of the best known restaurant men in Houston and had a wide acquaintance among the traveling public.

He leaves a widow and one daughter. At Bay Ridge two unidentified bodies, a man and a woman, were washed ashore. Ommodore E. M. hartrick lost his life trying to swim ashore from the government commissary boat at the Point Two ydung men volunteered assistance to the commodore, but their aid was refused.

Jim Black was rescued about 4 p. m. Tuesday with his brother-in-law, George Batterby. Mr. Black's family, with Will Black and family, had goue to the ridge before the water became dangerous.

The cottage occupied by George Hamilton and family was washed away. Its occupants having been brought out in autos Monday afternoon. The old Coyle club house and the Joseph Meyer house are left standing, as are the main part of Jim Black's place, Will Black's, PUlot's, Kuhlman's residences and the ice plant. H. Baldwin Rice measured the water at the Point at 11 p.

m. Monday, finding it 14 feet above mean low tide, or four feet higher than the seawall at Galveston. The Zeeland was broken loose by floating barges and sunk in San Jacinto Bay. It is reported that she is a complete wreck. At Deer Park, Farmer Brown's damage was largely confined to outhouses and leakage.

Farmer Brown spent the night at Lynchburg, where all buildings were lost except Tompkin's store. About 50 people were gathered In Tompkins' store and finally fled to the top of the boilers of the Gulf Refining company plant While there they rescued a negro boy on a plank, who had floated from Jannlng's island. The rest of the family were on a raft, and In reply to question he said: "I don't know where they are at now." The club house on the island opposite Morgans Point is gone. No boats or skiffs are in sight at the point A barge, bearing the name of "Mother," that had been fitted up as a houseboat, is lying on the beach near Bay Ridge. On the barge were three hound dogs.

Over 100 dead cattle, belonging to Mr. White of Bolivar, were washed ashore at Morgans Point and the ridge is covered with sheep, pigs, rats, etc. Report reached the city from an authentic source that the bodies of a woman, a baby an a sailor had beached near Sylvan Beach. They were unidentified and apparently had floated from some place on the bay. TWO, LOST LIVES AT SEABROOK TUESDAY ACCORDING TO REPORT Captain Jack Vincent Clung to Seabrook Bridge for Hours Tuesday Until Rescue Was EffectedFrank Mills.

Bridge Tender, Drowned. Frank Mills, the bridge tender at Seabrook, and a negro named Charley who was employed by Captain J. G. Timmons of Houston at the latter's summer home, lost their lives at Seabrook Tuesday, according to reports brought to Houston. Captain Jack Vincent had taken refuge with Mills in the bridge house and remained there while the latter went with hit lantern at 10 o'clock Monday night Mills was never seen again.

When the house blow away Tuesday morning. Vincent clun to the bridge, and waa barely ahle to keep his head above water. He waa rescued at Despite every effort made by more than a score of autoists no one succeeded in reaching Galveston Tuesday and up to press hour no one had reached Houston from Galveston. i.ate Tuesday afternoon Reporter Ross of The Post got to Dickinson and lies there ready to start for Galveston Wednesday morning bright and early. So far as known Mr.

Ross is further advanced than any one in the effort, to get through, most of those who started out so briskly Tuesday morning having stopped at LaMarque or Texas City JuncUon. From those points the water is so deep that an auto can not be taken much further except along the railroad tracks, and that Is. a strenuous experience that most of the autoists do not care for, both on personal account and for the sake of their machines. The second of The Post's expeditions got to Webster and was turned back by the water from further effort in that direction. The third with Reporter McDowell lies at LaMarque and with the first streak of day will go through, as far as it is possible to go in a machine and will then abandon that method of transportation for footwork.

It is possible that the relief party which went dowa the channel may get through to Galveston by that route. A Post reporter is aboard and will be set ashore If there, be success in reaching the Island. The Post parties report that they had to do considerable chopping of trees in order to get through some of the road In getting aa far as LaMarque and Dickinson, The roads were obstructed badly and were also washed. The Virginia left at 3 o'clock in an effort to get through to Galveston with George L. Noble and several other officials of Ihe Texas company.

Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Dodge and Mrs.

J. E. Farnsworth are the special quest of the party but If there be others who care to come they will be brought back. Mrs. Dodge is in a hospital.

Four of the soldiers wlio left Texas City arrived in a group at Houston Tuesday afternoon and came to The Post editorial rooms to tell their tory of halr- escape from" the flood. Not be lieving the storm would assume such a threatening phase the men were not started out of Texas City until about 6:30 o'clock Monday Frederick Burkhart. Troop Sixth cavalry; Thomas F. Walsh, Troop Sixth cavalry; Otto Jelle, Company Twenty-seventh Infantry, and J. W.

Cot-tell, Troop Sixth cavalry, were the four men who called at The Post, and told the following story. They arrived in Houston about 6:30 p. m. Tuesday. "At 6:30 to 7 o'clock the men left Texas City in large numbers, while many remained, taking refugetthe larger buildings from the water wsA'h at 7:30 was 5 to six feet deep In Texas City.

We started out on horses about 7 o'clock from Texas City. The water was then about five feet high. It was so dark you could not see your hand before your face. We got as fur as Signal camp and started out in the way we thought was best, that is. to get out of there and reach hlghet ground.

All of us except Jelle were on horseback, being cavalrymen. Jelle joined us later, at LaMarque, at about 8 o'clock Monday night." THREE SLEPT ON STEP8 IN THE RAIN. Otto Jelle, who called later in the afternoon, said he was detailed 14 go In I ho wagon train of his infantry. With Jelle was R. A.

Yaws of Texas City. Jelle huid the wagon train spent the night on the road between LaMarque and Lodi, being unable to travel through the rising waters at night. At daybreak they could discern at places spots In the water they knew to the road, and so they drove on to Dickinson, sometimes going through water to the hubs. Proceeding with his story Mr. Burkhart said: "We three slept on the steps of a building all night in the rain.

At about 5 o'clock Tuesday morning I met Privates Walsh and Cottell on the road leading to Dickinson. We reached Dickinson bayou about 6 o'clock that morning. It was so dark we could hardly see the bridge. There were about 20 yards of Water between the bridge, and the shore. We met two other soldiers yiere, and they wanted to swim across, and they said they thought It would be casyto get across to IMckinson.

So 1 said we would try and we all Started across. When we got near' the bridge there was deep water there. The man's horse In front of me fell, knocking my horse' from under me. and it tumbled completely over, pushing down between his hoofs. "By the time I got up to the surface I reached out my hand tor the telegraph I 'I CELEBRATION POSTPONED Necessity for Relief Work Will Prevent Consummation of Big Plan.

It has been decided that the. bit celebration planned for Thursday Is to be postponed to tome future date, the necessity for relief 'and repair work being now uppermost and the most pressing consideration. o'clock Tuesday afternoon. t.sasaMeeeeMeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeMeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I-.

Get access to Newspapers.com

  • The largest online newspaper archive
  • 300+ newspapers from the 1700's - 2000's
  • Millions of additional pages added every month

About The Houston Post Archive

Pages Available:
188,391
Years Available:
1889-1952