Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1909 — FIVE, LISTED AS DEAD, RESCUED [ARTICLE]

FIVE, LISTED AS DEAD, RESCUED

Found Clinging to Drift’ wood In Galveston Bay. DAMAGES UP IN MILLIONS Storm Enables Prisoners to Escape From Jail In Texas—ln Some Towns Large Numbers of Buildings Are Demolished—Safety .of Members of the Tarpon Pier Party Strengthens Hope That Others May Be Alive—Two Fishermen Drowned. Galveston, Tex., July 23.—As if from the bottom of the sea. five of the storm ■wrecked victims from the Tarpon fishing pier were picked up alive off Red Fish reef in upper Galveston bay. With the report of the rescue of these men, hope for the safety of the other five persons became strong. The launch, Maud, bound for the Cedar Bayou, passed within a short distance of one of the men, who was clinging to a piece of timber. Four others were found hanging on to bits of driftwood. That the hurricane levied a far heavier toll in loss of life and property damage than at first supposed, was indicated when points which had been cut off from communication again got In touch with the outside world. That the property loss will run Into the millions was made a certainty when whole towns it was thought escaped. were reported wrecked. Cameron Parish, La., reports two fishermen drowned. Cities and towns in Texas which suffered are: Galveston—Five lives lost off Tarpon pier. One man killed in the collapse of a building. Property damage, $175,000. Bay City—Three dead, six seriously injured and property damage $150,000. Velasco Only three stores left standing and many homes blown down. Richmond Fifty . residence and stores partly demolished. Eagle Lake—One dead, many houses unroofed and two large sugar and rice plants wrecked. Six prisoners escaped from the jail at Richmond when the windows had been blown in and while the guards were repairing the damage.