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Victoria Advocate
Editor's note: This story first appeared in the Advocate 100 years ago, on May 19, 1902. As part of our "We Remember ..." series, we are reprinting the story exactly as it first appeared. The tornado that struck Goliad 100 years ago today splintered trees, homes and buildings while killing 114 people. Today marks the first memorial service for those killed. The service will be at 3:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church, the same time and place the original storm hit. The cyclone is tied with the storm that struck Waco on May 11, 1953 for the deadliest tornado in Texas history. Yesterday afternoon, at about 4 o'clock the appalling news was flashed over the wires: "Terrible Cyclone at Goliad Fifty houses swept away Many people killed." The intelligence quickly spread over the city, causing general consternation and apprehension for the safety of relatives and friends. Soon followed an appeal for help from the stricken town. Doctors and nurses were wanted to attend the injured, and the O'Connor Guards to assist in bringing order out of confusion. The regular train had started for Beeville, but upon reaching Goliad found orders to return at once to Victoria In a short time Drs. Crouse, with two trained nurses, Drs. Hopkins, Rape, Swain, and Lee repaired to the depot, supplied with instruments and surgical appliances. The O'Connor Guards in uniform, commanded by Lieutenant Klein in the absence of Capt. Barron, and a detachment of the Fire Department together with numerous citizens were soon in readiness to depart for the scene of the disaster After a short stop, the train which had returned form Goliad, started back, crowded with people eager to respond to the appeal of distressed humanity. Later a train from Cuero having on board among the others, Dr. Reuss and trained nurses, sped through here, bound on a similar mission. Late last night a telephone message was received from Mayor Schneider, who had gone over on the first train, that the only needs of the people there, were doctors and nurses and that he had telephoned to Yorktown for physicans to come from that place by private conveyance. The following is a graphic description of the storm, written by an eye witness: FROM AN EYE WITNESS. A strong gale blew from the southeast up to 3:30 p. m. when it commenced thundering heavily in the northwest, dark clouds gathering rapidly Large hailstones, but scattering, commenced falling. I was sitting on the gallery of the old Fannin hotel talking to Col. Whitney, the proprietor, and to Messrs J. E. and W. B. Pettus. Suddenly a noise came like a heavy train running in the distance, it rapidly increased in power and sound until it sounded like a million ton engine running away. Everything turned to my eyes a dark brown or red color. Limbs of trees, debris and everything filled the air. God seemed night. A horrible roar, a sigh as tho the earth were dead and the rapid dum, dum, dum, faster than you can think was over. I rushed to the western part of the town as soon as the storm had for a moment subsided. One block west of the square - the greatlive oaks were up rooted; two blocks - horror! Shrieks of the wounded met the ear, the streets were a litter of dead everthing - people, cows, dogs, cats, chickens - in fact every imaginable thing that one could think of. In company with many others, I helped all I could. The dead were on every side, white and black locked in a last death clasp to what they had seized upon. J.W. Browne. CALL FOR NURSES. The urgent needs at Goliad this morning were nurses, and surgical supplies. All the drug stores were called upon and their stocks of bandages, adhesives, plaster paris, powerful stimulants and similar articles were nearly exhausted. THE LADIES TO THE RESCUE. When it became known that there was work for nurses, a number of noble ladies at once volunteered to undergo the hardships connected with such duties, all for charity's sake. They left on a special train. Among them were Mesdames Loper, Lowe, Abney, W. C. heath, McCan, Rosell, Misses Sullivan, York, Hornburg, Clark and many others, whose names we did not learn, but which we would gladly publish. NARROW ESCAPES. As usual in great catastrophes, there were some narrow and marvelous escapes. Instances are cited where the storm passed within a few feet of a residence, carrying away a fence and up rooting giant live oak trees, yet leaving the building untouched. THE INJURED. The sights met among the wounded were horrible, even for the gaze of the physicians. Frame houses were converted into avalanches of splinters, and fearful was the fate of the mortal found in the path of the death dealing storm. PROPERTY LOSS It is not possible to estimate to any degree of exactness the loss of property Brick structures were carried away as easily as frame shacks The county bridge was twisted into a formless heap. THE SITUATION. At present the dead and wounded are receiving attention through organized effort Hospital supplies, costs, etc. were telegraphed for, and Victoria contributed its quota. Physicians and nurses were summoned from San Antonio, Houston, Beeville and other places, and arrangements have been made to relieve the physicians now on duty. Capt Barron of the O'Connor Guards who had come in from the country left this afternoon with a relief detachment of twelve men. A number of colored men went over this morning to help bury the dead. At two o'clock the dead was reported at 132. DEAD-WHITE. Pinkey Lott. Mrs. Stopple and 3 daughters, Mr. Stopple was in Dallas, expected to arrived this afternoon. Two Savage children. J. T. Cayce, wife and daughter. Margaret Pope, child. Mrs. Johnson, mother of Mrs. Pope. Mrs. Will Heard, two daughters and oneson. One daughter of Jesse Heard. Three children of John Anglestein. Three children of W. H. Maddox. S. W. Dial. Mrs. Herring, mother of P. P. Herring. Mrs. Habberson and son. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, late of Aransas. Mr and Mrs Paul and one child. Henry Angelstein, Sr. Nabinger and one son. Three children of Mr. Harringer Two children names unknown. Three Mexicans names, unknown. NEGROES DEAD. Haywood Jones, Joe Smith, Geo Patsy and baby, John and Abel Barefield, Will Weston and two children, Geo Taylor, Bill Tredwell, Cliff Douglas, Helen Simon, Joe Simon, Gussie Gordon, Fannie Robinson, Pauline Lott, Tommie Taylor, Topsey Tippin, Gussie Windex and baby, Floyd Lott, Claxton Taylor, Rufus Taylor, Terrel Hael, Mattie Lott, Alfrado Robinson, Abilene Jefferson, and some others whose names could not be ascertained. There were 43 dead negros in one house, and 29 negros and Mexican in another. The list of the negro injured could not be gotten. INJURED WHITE. Three sons of Mr. Harringer very badly injured. Mrs. Jno Gibson badly hurt not expected to live; Jno Anglestein, hurt, not expected to live. W. W. Lott, bruised, one child arm broken, and another head bruised. G. E. Pope, hip dislocated and otherwise injured. Mr. Pope slightly bruised. Mrs. Savage and daughter badly injured. Mr. and Mrs. D. Mathis cut about head; Two Mathis children badly injured. In all ten hurt in family. John Alexander, side and back hurt; baby arm broken. Mrs. Alexander badly injured They were all taken to Cuero last night. R D Newcomb, leg and arm broken; daughter's leg amputated. Dr Chilton's child was badly bruised. Miss Jennie Herring spine injured. Two Herring children injured. John Anglestein arm broken, and otherwise badly injured. W. H. Maddex and wife dangerously injured. Four Paul children badly injured. Mrs. Smith of Aransas not expected to live; one son leg broken, and another badly bruised. Ben Heeman, wife and child, badly bruised. Lenard Van Dohlen slightly injured; wife badly bruised; one child leg broken. Miss Buhler Dial badly bruised.
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