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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= Galveston Daily News Wednesday, 29 September, 1875 From Wallisville EFFECTS OF THE STORM UP THE BAY AND ABOUT THE MOUTH OF THE TRINITY Wallisville, Sept. 23, 1875 - Having been over most of the track of the late storm in this section, I can give you full particulars of the losses sustained by the people around the Bay and on the Trinity. Left Galveston in the staunch schooner Traviata, Captain Ed. Sherman, on Monday, Sept. 21, and, anchored in Turtle Bay at 11:30 same night. Next morning took a look around the bay. First visited the residence of MRS. MARGARET SHERMAN. Her house sustained no damage; the large China trees in the yard were blown down and the shrubbery much damaged. Her house stands on a bluff, some fifteen feet above the water. The tide rose to within four feet of the top of the bluff. Next went to the house of Captain ED. SHERMAN, adjoining that of his mother. Found everything a perfect wreck; the house lifted from its foundation and blown ten feet, de- molishing the kitchen and front gallery. The chimney was literally blown to pieces, burying beneath the debris a large number of chickens that had taken refuge behind the house. The corn crib and stables were completely smashed to pieces, and are a total loss. Trees were torn up by the roots and the shrubbery completely demolished. For- tunately MRS. SHERMAN and her children had left the house just before the norther came on and taken refuge with her mother-in-law, who lives only a short distance away. The kitchen of Mr. D. WILCOX, at Anahuac, was blown down, but his residence was not materially injured. The rest of the residences on the bay front sustained little or no damage. Three schooners were high in the fields. The water was so high at the store of Mr. GEO. WILCOX, at the forks of Double and White's Bayou, that he tied up the sloop Syren to the store, and loaded it from the door and window. Returned to the schooner and sailed up the Trinity very slowly, the wind being very light from the northeast. The water had swept over the cane twelve feet above the bank of the river, as was indicated by the grass and float left clinging to the tops of the trees, and the river was full of drift and logs. From the mouth of the river to Wallisville the land is low and swampy, the first perceptible rise being the site of a house formerly owned by DR. PHEALAN, and occupied by some negroes, before the flood. The house was entirely carried away, not a vestige of it is to be seen. There were nine of the negroes, and eight of the number drowned, after remaining in trees from ten to fifteen hours. One of them becoming perfectly crazy from fright, tore the clothes from his mother in his efforts to climb a tree. The mother of the family, a woman some fifty or sixty years of age, was rescued on Sunday by a party passing down the river, and taken to Wallisville. Got to Wallisville just before dark, after "poling" some of the distance. The town is complete wreck, and presented a pitiable sight. The few citizens who were seen looked as though they had not yet recovered their usual cheerfulness and good spirits; they were commu- nicative, however, and gave all the information desired. From MRS. JOS. LAFORE learned the following losses: MR. JOS. LAFORE loses his dwelling, gin-house and press. MR. VANPREDELLIS, store, wharf, etc., and a new stock of groceries just received before the storm. The post- office was in his store, and the mail matter on hand went with the store. His loss is about six or seven thousand dollars. MR. WOOTEN'S dwelling, store and groceries are a total loss, as also the residence of FRANK WALLIS. JACOB SHERMAN loses his dwelling, furni- ture and out-house, but his cotton-gin was only slightly damaged. The residence and furniture of MR. JOHN WHITE were badly injured and his out-houses destroyed; MRS. WARREN'S badly damaged. The Lafore Hotel withstood the terrible rush of water and wind, but sustained consider- able damage, the bedding and chests of clothing being injured by water. The storehouse, with a full stock of groceries, was washed away. The stables and out-houses were very much damaged. The wharf and ways were entirely washed away. Total loss $1500. WM. COOPER, a colored man, is utterly ruined; he loses his dwelling and out-houses, and his sloop is high and dry on the bank. Capt. ORIN loses everything, dwelling, etc. MR. JAS. WILSON'S place was slightly damaged. Every house in the town is more or less damaged. It will take years to rebuild the town. From the present feeling of the people don't think many of them will rebuild. MR. MAYS, who lives half a mile above Wallisville, on Dorr's Island, lost fifteen hundred head of cattle and fifty head of horses; his dwelling only slightly injured. Through the kindness of MR. LAFORE, procured a horse and proceeded by land to McMannus's Landing, ten miles higher up the river, our boat not being able to go against the strong current coming down the river. After a tedious and tiresome ride of fifteen miles through prairie, forest and swamp, guided by a communicative colored brother, arrived at the landing, and was kindly greeted by the estimable lady and daughter of Mr. Mc- Mannus. No lives were lost here, but the storm has desolated the place. The floors were ripped up, trees blown down, and the beautiful garden that fronted the house entirely destroyed. The fences were all carried away and the cotton, potatoes, etc., destroyed. MR. CAZANEAU McMANUS informed me that he lost two or three hundred hogs, some cattle, and about one hundred and fifty barrels of corn. The damage to the crops above and out from the river was very great, especially to the cotton, which was blown down and beaten into the ground. Your correspondent returns thanks to CAPT. SHERMAN, MR. LAFORE and MRS. MARGARET SHERMAN, for many favors. ===============================================================================