ere and lasting gratitude of the soldiers and the public
is due and freely accorded.

"In tracing these events we are constantly reminded of our obligations
to the Divine Master for His watchful care over us, and His safe
guidance, for which the nation makes reverent acknowledgment and offers
humble prayers for the continuance of His favors."--FROM PRESIDENT
MCKINLEY'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, DECEMBER 6, 1898.

IX

GALVESTON

1900

This time there was no murmur in the air, no warning of approaching
danger. Even the watchful press, that knows so much before it ever
happens, slumbered quiet and deep, till the hissing wires shrieked the
terrifying word--Galveston.

Then we learned that, as at Port Royal, the sea had overleaped its
bounds and its victims by thousands were in its grasp.

In all the land no one slept then. To us it was the clang of the
fire-bell, and the drop of the harness. The Red Cross clans commenced to
gather.

In two days a little coterie of near a dozen left Washington under
escort of the competent agency of the New York World, which had on the
first day telegraphed that it would open a subscription for the relief
of Galveston, and would be glad to send all supplies and money received
to the Red Cross, if its president, Miss Clara Barton, would go and
distribute it. It was the acceptance of this generous offer that had
brought to the station in Washington the escort; and a palace-car,
provided with all comforts for the journey to Galveston, was under the
management of the World's efficient correspondent and agent, Robert
Adamson.

The direfulness of the news gathered as we proceeded on our journey, and
delays were gotten over as quickly as possible. A detention of several
hours in New Orleans gave opportunity for consultation with the officers
of the Red Cross Society of that city, which had held its loyal ranks
unbroken since 1882, and became a tower of strength in this relief. A
day of waiting in Houston for a passage over the Gulf gave us a glimpse
of what the encroachment had been on the mainland. We found the passage
across to Galveston difficult, and with one night of waiting by the
shore in almost open cars, at Texas City, we at length arrived in
Galveston on the morning of the 15th of September.

Here again no description could adequately serve its purpose. The sea,
with fury spent, had sullenly retired. The strongest buildings, half
standing, roofless and tottering, told wha