Disastrous Cyclone Sweeps Over Texas

Dallas, Tex., May 19, 2:15 a. m. -- Advices from all available sources here were that a disastrous cyclone swept across Texas yesterday causing great loss of life and almost incalcuable damage to property.
The cyclone is believed to have originated on the Gulf coast at a point almost directly south of Goliad, and traveled in a northeasterly direction as far as Kentucky. It left desolation behind it in four states, but Texas seems to have suffered more than all the others.
A special from Goliad says: Ninety are dead; 128 wounded. In addition there is a gaping wound in the town – the path of one of the most destructive cyclones ever known in Texas.
Forty-two dead negroes have been recovered. There are fifty-three negroes injured, many fatally, and it is thought there are at least fifteen dead not included in the above list.
The tornado struck this place about 3:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon, lasting on five minutes, leaving death and disaster everywhere in its wake. It came from the southwest without a warning, completely demolishing a strip about two blocks wide through the whole western part of the town, about a mile long.
Among the many houses demolished are the Baptist church and parsonage, just built; the Methodist church and a colored church. It is impossible to estimate the number of houses destroyed, but it is thought the number will reach 100.
Damage done cannot be approximated, but it is very great. All the dead and wounded have been taken care of.
The path of devastation is strewn with all kinds of debris and dead and wounded animals.
The pitiful cries of the wounded are heard everywhere and are at times heart-rending.
A report from the country around Goliad is to the effect that no damage was done. A special train bearing the O'CONNOR guards, six physicians, nurses and many volunteers came from Victoria, and also a special train from Cuero, bringing, physicians, nurses, druggists and volunteers. Although everything is done for the relief of the wounded, cries for physicians and medical attention are everywhere heard.
At Corsicana three or four houses were blown down, and at Dublin two or three bridges were washed away.
The Mineola operator for the Texas & Pacific railway said that he had been informed that at the little town of Alba, twelve miles north of there, on a branch of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad, a terrible storm prevailed. Twenty-five or thirty buildings were wrecked. It is not known whether or not there were any fatalities.
Wild rumors about the fate of Texarkana were in circulation for a time, but the anxiety on that score was relieved by the statement from incoming train crews that there had been no damage at Marshall, Texarkana or intermediate points. Shreveport, La., seems to be cut off from the world.

Ogden Standard Examiner Utah 1902-05-19

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THERE ARE 160 DEAD AND 100 WOUNDED.

Dallas, Texas, May 19 – The Associated Press reached Goliad by telephone for a few minutes shortly after noon. The operator there reported one hundred sixty dead and 100 wounded, the majority negroes. The storm swept the negro district in the west end of the town. The business section was not touched. The town is now under military rule.
The newspaper men on the ground are assisting in the burial of the dead and relieving the injured. None could be induced to take the time to talk of the disaster. The court house and residences are being used to lay out dead and as temporary hospitals for the wounded. The hurricane that struck the town came from the southeast at 3:30 p. m. The wires are demoralized and necessarily slow.
Houston, Tex., May 19 – The list of the dead and injured as a result of the Goliad tornado is as given into last night, with the exception of WILLIAM MADDOX, which should be taken from the list of injured and placed among the dead.
Relief parties left this morning for the surrounding towns. In Goliad forty doctors are caring for the injured. There may be a few deaths but the opinion of a majority of the physicians is that all will recover.
The property damage is heavy, as the first estimate did not take into account the number of houses wrecked. Fully 125 residences were blown to pieces or so badly damaged that they cannot be repaired. With the damage done in the country surrounding, is now estimated at $100,000.
Reports from the country show that a number of houses were wrecked and much stock was killed. As far as learned no lives were lost and only three persons hurt, none fatally.

Ogden Standard Examiner Utah 1902-05-19

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