Coke County, Texas

STORM AT ROBERT LEE

The following article was copied from Coke County, Texas,
related files at the West Texas Collection, Angelo State University:

STORM AT ROBERT LEE

The Angry Elements Visit Their Fury on Coke's Capital With Destructive Results

JUDGE GRAHAM'S DAUGHTER A VICTIM TO FLAMES

Seven Buildings Completely Wrecked and Many Others More or Less Injured.
Damages at Other Places.

On Wednesday, February 26th, at 5 o'clock, the little city of Robert Lee, situated on the banks of the Colorado, was the unfortunate victim of an angry wind, that dealt destruction to a considerable amount of property and death to Miss Mamie Graham, the fair young daughter of Coke 's Honorable county judge.
The following specials received by the Standard, announced the sad news in San Angelo:

Robert Lee, Texas, Feb. 26, 1902. - To the Standard - Miss Mamie Graham, daughter of Judge Graham, was fatally burned this afternoon. This was one of the sad results of the hurricane that traveled from east to west today. Judge Graham's new two story residence was the first blown over and Miss Mamie was caught in a corner and most of her body was burned to a crisp before she was extricated. The large residence was a total loss.
Schintz's drug store and stock of drugs were damaged considerably.
Woodloe & Brooks, general merchants, sustained some loss, their large building being completely wrecked.
The Burroughs building was completely wrecked.
The following residences were blown down, but no fatalities: R. L. Hene, J. J. Vestal, Mrs. J. W. Kidd.
Several others were damaged more or less.
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MISS GRAHAM SUCCUMBS

Robert Lee, Texas, Feb. 27, 1902. - To the Standard - Miss Mamie Graham died at 12:15 last night. She was unconscious from about dark until death relieved her.

Miss Mamie was the 18 year old daughter of County Judge Graham, an amiable girl in the bloom of womanhood, and her shocking death spread gloom over the city of Robert Lee where she had many, many friends. She was conscious and rational until about dark Wednesday evening and recognized the voices of friends, class mates and loved ones who gathered around her bed to say a last farewell, though she was horribly burned, the flesh being completely crisped on her right arm and lower limbs. She bore the intense suffering with the faith of a Christian, who realized that death was near at hand and that death meant a higher, happier life.

To her loved ones the Standard pours out a full measure of sympathy.

 

All day the wind blew from the west, at times growing dark and dense and cloudy; but it was only thought to be one of the regular sand storms that so often frequent this section. No one dreamed that behind the clouds of sand there lurked destruction and death. But all at once, as the days was drawing to a close and the inhabitants of the little city were happy at the thought of a calm night and a sweet rest after such a day, the elements grew angry, the winds swept down in their fury and Robert Lee was left in tears.

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AT BRONTE

One house was blown down at Bronte, one barn completely wrecked, and the top of one building picked up by the whirling winds and carried a full half mile from town. The college building was reported damaged to the value of $600.00.

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Some little damage, such as blowing down windmills, barns, fences, etc., are reported from Schleicher county, Sterling City, and other places.

This page was updated: Wednesday, 06-Jul-2022 19:32:57 MDT

Copyright © 2009 Jacqqueline Latham and the Individual Contributors