Part V: Strange News Summary and Analysis

Gulf of Mexico: First Glimpse

The Pensacola drifted throughout Saturday and Sunday. The barometer indicated that the storm had finally passed. Captain Simmons ordered the engines to be restarted and headed to Galveston. When the ship arrived in Galveston, the city was unrecognizable. Steamers were ashore, the fort and barracks were gone and the city appeared to be destroyed. Where buildings had stood there were now piles of debris. The smell of death wafted from the direction of the city. By the time they arrived on shore, the smell was unbearable.

Galveston: Silence

Colonel William Sterett, a writer for the Dallas News, took a train from Houston to Galveston. There was great concern because all communication had been lost with Galveston. There were anecdotal stories about the death and destruction that had been caused by...