The Great Galveston Disaster, Containing a Full and Thrilling Account of the Most Appalling Calamity of Modern Times Page: 327

HAVOC MADE BY THE ANGRY STORM. 327
sands of them were driven from their beds. Shortly after sunrise
there came a downpour of rain, the first since the storm. If there
was a house in town that had been sufficiently repaired to shed the
rain it was a rare exception. Cremation of the dead and clearing
the streets have taxed the energies. There has not been time to
give attention to roofs. Such repairs as have been made to build.
incgs have been in the form of straightening and strengthening
them so that they might not fall down. Many, while still standing,
are leaning like the tower of Pisa or are partly off the foundations.
FACES OVERSPREAD WITH SADNESS.
From this it will be understood that when the rain poured
down it entered the houses still called habitable and drenched the
contents again. The faces of the people showed the influence of
the rain. They were overspread with sadness. The hopefulness
which had been lighting up the features was gone. But it was
only an hour of depression. Then the shower, for that was all it
proved to be, passed. The sun come out.
All Galveston went to work with renewed energy. Three or
four horse cars made their appearance and, drawn by mules, were
operated over several streets. At the wharves there was activity.
The loading of wheat for export was commenced. Cremation and
cleaning went on. The finding and burning of over Ioo bodies in
the day shows that the end of this duty is not yet in sight.
In the southern and southwestern part of the city the great
windrow of wreckage still stands, concealing from sight but not
from smell what is underneath. Word was sent along the inner
side of the windrow to occupants of houses near, that they must
move back a block. The impression is that this means the authorities
have decided they will apply the torch to the great heaps
whenever a favorable wind from the north will make burning safe
for the rest of the city. This action has been strongly advocated.
The tents have come and with board floors and fences separating
them now make a white city on the beach front where the
houses were swept away. They will be much safer and. more
healthy than many of the shattered buildings which are still occu-