Table of Contents Setting the Stage 4 Rising Winds 6 Fear 8 A Safe Place 12 Destruction 16 Finding Friends 18 Escape 21 Tents 22 Rebuilding 24 Discover More 26 Websites 29 Glossary 30 Index 31 About the Author 32 3
Setting the Stage The Galveston County Daily News Tuesday Night of Terror Leaves Thousands Issue 2 Volume 3 September 15 1900 Dead or Stranded Last week's hurricane struck with enormous force Winds far stronger than the Weather Service had predicted swept bathers from the beach out to sea Volunteers working under the direction of the Red Cross are trying to help families families identify the wounded and the dead Numbers are still coming in but it is estimated that as many as 10 000 Among these are all the girls from people may have died the orphanage It is believed that none of them has survived Thousands have been stranded since their homes collapsed Government Government and business buildings across the island lie in ruin Work teams have begun to clear away the rubble as the city remains 4 shock in
On September 8 1900 a hurricane hit Galveston Texas that changed the city and its residents forever At the turn of the century Galveston was one of the wealthiest cities in the United States By the end of the horrific storm it was almost unrecognizable with overwhelming damage and destruction throughout I’m glad I’se living is a statement many expressed including this boy in the aftermath of the Galveston hurricane in 1900 On the morning of September 8 winds began to pick up with great intensity and massive ocean waves crashed on the beaches By the end of the day it is estimated that winds reached close to 130 miles per hour the majority of the city was destroyed and one-sixth of the population of Galveston was killed One of the saddest stories from the storm occurred at St Mary’s orphanage All but three of the children living there were killed along with the nuns who were their caretakers Galveston prides itself on rebuilding rather quickly They built a sea wall but remained vulnerable to future storms Their economy never completely recovered and Galveston became a quieter beach town 5
