A devastating tornado in Goliad, Texas, killed 98 people and injured 103, causing $200,000 in property damage in 1902.
Goliad Death List Numbers 98
HOUSTON, Texas, May 19, 1902. — The latest reports from Goliad state that 98 persons were killed and 103 injured by the tornado which passed over that city yesterday afternoon.
The property loss in the city and surrounding country will probably reach $200,000. The storm swept the city from end to end and demolished 150 stores and residents, many of which cannot be repaired.
There is only one telegraph wire working into Goliad, and owing to the crush of official business it is impossible to obtain a list of the dead and wounded at this hour.
The tornado, which was preceded by a terrific downpour of hail, lasted only a few minutes. The hail storm drove the people into their houses, where they were caught like rats in a trap and the death-dealing wind came upon them with terrific force, leveling everything in its path. The tornado swept an area 250 yards wide for a distance of a mile and a half.
Houses collapsed as if built of cardboard, covering the dead and injured with debris, which necessarily makes the work of rescue slow. People flocked to the town from all the surrounding country. Many of them had relatives in the city. The work of rescue has been carried on all day, and the funeral of several of the victims took place this afternoon.
The supply of coffins was replenished from other towns and a large force of laborers are still at work digging graves for the unfortunate victims. The citizens have perfected an organization and everything is conducted in an orderly manny, and the work of caring for the dead and wounded is now on a systematic basis.
The storm wrought severe havoc to the surrounding country, but no lives are reported lost.
Governor Sayers today issued an appeal to the mayors of all cities of 3,000 population and over in the state of Texas asking them to send food and raise funds for the sufferers of Goliad.
Source: The age-herald. (Birmingham, Ala.), 20 May 1902.
