Freestone County, Texas
Reflections


FREESTONE PAST & PRESENT
J. R. SESSIONS, JR.

HURRICANES

  In 1900 a terrible storm destroyed Galveston Island with some 8,000 
lives and most property lost.  
This the worst National Tragedy in US history including recent Katrina 
with about 1000 lives lost. There no FEMA or anything else to fall back 
on but themselves to rebuild it. The bodies of the deceased where 
carried out to sea to dispose of them, unfortunately they came back to 
the Island with the tide.
  When as a small child we lived in the old County Jail on the Courthouse 
Square Teague native Jack Alexander who lost both of his legs with a 
railroad accident was Freestone Co. Treasurer whom I became lifelong 
friends with and visited him often. Years later Jack gave me copy of a 
Galveston newspaper concerning the storm and Jacks father being placed 
in charge of burying the bodies brought back in by the tide and the 
professional way it carried out. Jacks family came to Teague with the 
railroad and his father employed here. Jack had many stories regarding 
Freestone Co., in later years he visited here often and though on artificial 
legs there wasn’t much he couldn’t or wouldn’t do.  Jack and others of 
his family are buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
  While serving as Freestone Co. Sheriff in the l960’s a big storm hit 
Galveston with high winds and heavy rains. During this a couple of Mid-
western hippy’s were stopped on US75 traveling north in an old vehicle 
reported stolen Galveston Co. Looked like a couple of downed rats who 
told they heard about the big money made working off shore drilling rigs 
and came to try and hire out. Hippy’s didn’t have much reputation as 
rough necks and didn’t find work, broke with no where to stay when this 
storm hit they asked the police where they could go for shelter, he told 
them about old Fort Crockett on the seawall that not been used since 
after WWII and vacant. With no lights they went into one of the gun 
ports, hearing something moving they struck matches and found they in 
den of rattle snakes. Running from the old fort in the rain they saw this 
old van parked on the street with the keys in it. They took it and headed 
for home. Believing their story and knowing if jailed Galveston Co. would 
not prosecute and the vehicle owner wouldn’t come for it I gave them gas, 
headed them towards Kansas and waved goodbye.
  Personally had more experiences with Typhoons in the Pacific during 
WWII while in the Navy. Rode out one of the worst in US Naval history 
on a flat-bottomed LST that sometimes went backwards more than 
forward as the ships screws seldom in the water due to the large waves. 
Much larger ships than this found on the beaches of Okinawa and Iwo 
Jima after. Didn’t frighten me at the time but does when think about it 
today.
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