Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-01
THE TEXAS FLOODS.
Some Incidents of the Great DIsaster---
Remarkable and Unhappy Experi-
ences of Two Families.
THE DESTRUCTION OF LYNoHBURe.

ences OfTwo Families.
THE DESTRUCTION OF I,YNCHBURG.
Thursday night was one of terror The
tide, now to its full height, sllrged with
the fury of the gale. Torrents of rain
fell, and the wind howled with all the
fury of hurricane. All but few too
confident people of Lynchburg and San
Jacinto had gone to the hills for safety be
fore night. After midnight houses, YES
sells, everything yielded to the gale.
! Friday morning nothing but devasta-
| tion met the eye. Destruction and wrecks
all around; RATS, logs, timbers and frag-
ments of houses, bearing struggling hui
manity, driven here and there by the pitt
less gale fluttering signals of distress
from many tree-top; the fierce wind and
waves dimmed all cries for succor; piteous
motions alone told the loOker-on of the
distress of the imperiled.
The steamer MatamOras No. 9, Capt.
Alexander Bell, formerly of the Houston
Direct Navigation Company, had been
driven across the flats on the north side of
the San Jacinto. The steamer Star and
barges were driven near her. The drift
commenced accumulating around them,
and fortunately her position was a point
of concentration for the floating debris to
which people had clung. Capt Bell, with
MIR. Leacock, engineer, and four men got
out the life-boat and rescued such persons
as they could get near, but the gale was so
fearful that they could make but little
headway.
About ten a. IN. small raft with two
persons on was seen approaching. AS it
came nearer they were discovered to be
DR.. Chamberlain and wife, of Lynchburg
He was sitting on the raft holding his
wife's head in his lap. Her body was
partly under water. The current swept
them near the Matamoras, and as the raft
struck among the drift, and Just as their
Tescuers from the Matamoras got a rope
around DR.. Chamberlain, Mrs. Chamber
lain's body was torn from his grasp and
swept under the drift. The husband,
thOughtless of his own life, was appeal
ing to the rescuers: Don't save me, save
my wife, and after she was gone begged
them to let him down with her He was
hauled on board in benumbed condi-
ton. 1t is the opinion of Capt. Bell and
MIR. Leacock that she was dead before
seen by them
About noon family named Perkins,
three men, a woman and a child, came
floating from down the river on top of
house. 1t caught among the trees, into
which they all got, from where they were
all taken in safety by the yawl-bo of
the Matamoras. The current and wind
were so strong that four men could not
manage the boat After various efforts TO
get to them Capt. Bell paid out line and
fioated the boat to them and took them
off. During the day FeH5aSs'' o.,,t,;rg
COCK ana 9dl;ns tnH family say thaS thIand Nd Which
,rasnswent eff 8ftfe5 from 5esS Ai',i = i.ynchburg.
A number of persons are known 10
have been drowned in the vlclnity oi
Lynchburg and San Jacinto.
The report is that all the houses along
the shore from Lynchburg TO the pay are
swept off.
burg is deplorable. The water is up to the
ton of the cars on the San Antonio Rali-
road track at Harrisburg AT Morse
worthy's it was up to the front-yard gate.
At Massie's the drift marked the height
of the tide far up the bank at his landing
DIR. Massie stated to the passengers on the
Fowler that the tide-water from the gull
was thirty-four inches above the highest
rain-hood within his knowledge on the
bayou. -.- M
Between Lynchburg and Morgan's
Point not house is standing on the I'M
mediate shore of San Jacinto Bay or on
the islands except the warehouse OF the
Ship Channel Company on the point. VI
the residents Mrs. Pierce and four chill
dren, little Clara Grafton, Mrs. Mckee and
Mrs. August are known to have been lost'
Mr.. and Mrs. Alexander and Mr.. Mckee
arc said to have been saved by young Mr.
Miltrun.
r UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE OF TWO FAMILIES
MIR. and Mrs. West formerly Mrs
Grafton) occupied a new house at Bay
town. Mrs. Mckee and little Clara Graf
4, ton, Mrs. Vests child, were with them
When the water rose over Hog Island Mr
Mckee, Charles Post, the lightkeeper, anc
Mrs. Pierce, with four children, aban
S doned that place and came in skin t(
e Vests, Thursday morning before day
S light. During Thursday the water ros
gradually in the house, and by afternoon
Y reached the ceiling They hung on b,
n the windows until about four p. m, when
: finding that the water was gaining, the.
got into skiff, with the hope OF reachln
f the high land. In half an hour the ski
: was swamped, and in getting hold OF tn
s windows again two children were los
the oldest and youngest girl. Mr: We'
then made a hole in the roof, and all wer
- got on it. Small hand-holes were mad
- TO cling to. In a short time the roof wi
y swept away from the building, the tic
carrying them up the bay several mile
s They drifted about Thursday night an
II Friday at the mercy of the waves, duri1
OF which time Mr. Mckee and Mr.. Post g
in tree, when the norther came out
r. Friday and drove them back down u
n bay. OF the occupants of the roof nol
fl remained hut Mr.. and Mrs. West, MI
Pierce and one child, and Mr.. Post III
er wind drove them across the bl
= and the current into the mouth OF .
m canal Just as the roof entered the canal
- turned over and Mrs. Pierce and chi
-. were lost Mr.. West rose, clinging
1ot his wife and seized the roof again, I
eo,' current swept the roof over on the e'
IIa side, and when II struck the bank the t'
ms were thrown up on the side OF the dun
Post was able to reach the bank, W.
he was senseless, and Mrs. West stunned, |
TED moaning. The tug Coates had been driv
by the gale on the point, and lay on
lOo other side of the dump Mr.. Nelson, W
had brought her up from Red-fl
ak through the gale, and Mr.. Rhett, mast
EN- mechanic, were on board. Hearing
!, means, they went over the dump and
)ok ried the rescued pair on board the I
About seven p. M, within, half an Ia
as after Mrs. West was carried on the I
her she was taken in and gave birth 10 b
yer These rugged men, fathers themselves,
was unused to such minishations, aided
5s- Mr. West, faithfully performed the du
Few belonging TO gentler hands, The br
~ little woman who had undergone all ii
Ave perils, seeing mother, child, sister and
and four nieces swept away before her 6.
gave directions which doubtless saved
life and that of the babe. AS soon
rs a mother and babe were in condition Il
was moved and the gale would permit co
tru- was made and the men of the dredg
loth fleet carried them up TO the old Nor
zed' place, occupied by Mr.. Tom Edwa
4, of where every possible arrangement
less made for their comfort Yesterday e
ap a ing, when the Fowler left Morgan's l'C
ting both were doing well.--Housto>
grGph, Sept. 81.