Letter written by Henry Ebenezer MacDonald - Harris County Texas John Hendry 13 May 2001 ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ************************************************************************** Transcript of a letter from Henry E. MacDonald of Houston, Texas, to his brother Roderick in Melbourne, Australia. Houston Texas Feby 11th 1901 My Dear Roderick I know you are wondering why I do not write. Well Roderick it is not because that I did not want to, but actually I could not get my mind together to do so. I received your kind letter, also paper and Postal Card. I often commenced and laid pen and paper aside after heading it, with the promise to myself that “I will write next week sure” but next week came and so did week after week and now I see more than ever that “Procrastination is the thief of time”. But under the circumstances I could not help it. Regarding the Cyclone that visited Galveston and Harris Counties Sept 8th 1900, I was so upset being that it concerned myself a little. So to give it as briefly as possible. On that eventful day I moved to a suburb of Houston named “Houston Heights” about 3 miles from the City. It was Saturday and a beautiful morning. The sun was shining bright and no indication of a storm that was brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. No one knew it originated there, but when evening came the rain commenced, falling lightly and had everything moved by 5pm when dark came. About 12pm or 1am on the 9th our house blowed down. Myself, Annie and Loui, together with Georgiana, baby and husband were all together. Henry Broecker, Georgie’s husband nailed the doors, the wind Page 2 blowing at the rate of over 100 miles an hour. The house quivered and in less time than I write this “word” went clean over with all aboard. The house was new as I had not quite finished it, but we had enough left to straighten up again. I am happy to say that none of us got injured. The only thing that happened was that of the Safe, turning over on to me when the house went over, the medicine bottles on the top shelf breaking and spilt into my eyes, blinding me for a few minutes. You have no idea as to the effect of the storm. Large oak and pine trees from 2 to 3 feet in diameter by the hundreds were torn from their roots. Within 4 or 500 square feet from where I lived were 28 houses laying flat. It was the same all over Houston and the Coast country. As to Galveston, I do not wish to write about. I sent you papers giving some account of it, but they have failed to give the full statement of it. They are still finding dead bodies. Last Friday they found the remains of a little boy underneath a house. Of course it was decomposed and was burned as hundreds of others were done. The number lost are estimated at between 8,000 and 10,000 lives. In fact it will never be known in this world, as a great many were visitors from all parts of United States & Europe. We are at present all well, but have been under the weather with La Grippe Page 3 for over a month, but are getting all right again. There is plenty of work in the Shops and Texas is prosperous once more. Cotton is getting a good price and farmers are happy. Also they are putting large crops this year. I have not received a letter from Alick for some time, but he sends papers. He thinks I ought to write him, which he has a right to think. Honestly I have neither answered Alick or Rod Findlay since the storm, but I am writing now. They were all well when they wrote. I am almost ashamed in not answering any of your letters and I hope that you will forgive me this time. Will do my best not to happen again. I sent you last week the Post and Gall. News giving an account of the Burns Anniversary. We had a good time. Would like to have papers often, as I am the only one in the Caledonian Soceity that get Australian papers. I will now conclude with best wishes for a prosperous and happy New Year, both to Yourself and Annie and Annie joins me in the same. Hoping to hear from you soon. I remain Your Affectionate Brother H. E. Macdonald address Care H & T. C. Rd Machine Shop Houston Texas Note: - Reference the Cyclone refered to in this Letter - THE GREAT STORM Galveston's prosperity was suddenly taken to a halt on September 8, 1900, when the deadliest natural disaster in United States history hit Galveston Island. A storm with winds over 120 miles per hour and tidal surge devastated the island and killed over 6,000 people. At the time of the 1900 storm, Galveston had a population of almost 38,000 and ranked fourth in the state. One-third of the city was completely destroyed. The bodies were weighted and buried at sea, but later washed ashore and were burned. The dead were uncovered at a rate of 70 per day for at least a month after the storm.