Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-05
The Floods In Texas---AccOunts OF
Some Of the Disasters.
THE DESTRUCTION or LYYcHBuRe.

Thursday night was one Of terror. The
tide now 10 It's full height, surged with
the fury of the gale. Torrents Of rain
fell and the wind howled with all the
fury of hurricane. All but a few too
confident people Of Lynchburg and San
Jacinto had gone 10 the hills for safety be.
fore night. After midnight houses, yes.
sels, everything yielded TO the gale.
Friday morning nothing but devasia-
tlon met the eye Destruction and wrecks
ALI around RATS, logs, timbers and frag-
ments OF houses, bearing struggling hu-
manity, driven here and there by the pitt
less gale; Tutoring signals OF distress
from many n trce-top; the fierce wind and
waves dimmcd all cries for succor; piteous
motions alone told the looker-on Of the
distress OF the imperiled.
The steamer Matamoras No. 2, 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 accommodating around them,
and fortunately her position was point
of concentration for the floating debris to
which people had chung. Capt, Bell, win
Mr.. Leacock, engineer, and four men got
out the life-boat and rescued such persons
~ they could get near, but The gale was 50
fearful that they could make but little
Roadway.
About ten d. N. a small raft with two
persons on was seen approaching, AS II
came nearer they were discovered to be
DR. Chamberlain and wife, Of Lynchburg
| He was sitting ON the raft holding his
| wifrs 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
rescuers from the Matamoras got rope
around DIR. Chamberlain, Mrs. Chamber
| lain's body was torn from bis grasp and
swept under the drift The husband
thoughilcss Of his own life, was appeal
ing 10 the rescuers: Don't save me, save
my wife" and after she was gone begged
them 10 let him down with her. He was
hauled on board in benumbed condi.
ton. II Is the opinion Of Capt Bell and
Mr.. Leacock that she was dead before
seen by them.
About noon family named Perkins,
three men, a woman and child, came
floating from down the river on top Of a
which they all got, from where they were
all taken in safety by the yawl-boat OF
the Malamoras. The current and wind
were so strong that four men could mol
manage the boat After various efforts to
get to them Capt. Bell paid out line and
ioated the boat 10 them and took them
off. During the day Campbell, Mr., Lea
cock and the crew OF four men picked up
and saved twenty-one persons.
The Perkins family say that everything
was swept off from Adams Island, which
is about five miles below Lynchburg.
A number OF persons are known to
have been drowned in the vicinity OF
Lynchburg and San Jaeinto.
The report Is that all the houses along
the shore from Lynchburg TO the bay are
swept off.
The scene from Harrisburg TO Lynch.
burg Ii deplorable. The water is up TO the
top of the cars on the San Antonio Rail.
road track ut Harrisburg. AT Morse.
worthy's il was up to the ifont.yard gate.
AT Massic's the drift marked the height
OF the tide tar up the bank at his landing.
DIR. Massie stated to the passengers on the
Fowler that the tide.water from the gulf
was thirty.iour inches above the highest
rain.tlood within his knowledge on the
bayou.
Between Lynchburg and Morgans Point
not house Is standing ON the Immediate
shore Of San Jacinto BAY or on the islands
except the warehouse of the Ship Channel
Company on the point. OF the residents
Mrs. Pierce and four children, little Clara
Grafton, Mrs. Mckee anu Mrs. August are
known TO have been lost. Mr. and Mrs.
Alexander and Mr. Mckee are said to have
been saved by young Mr. Miltrun.
UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE or Two FAMILIES.
Mr. and Mrs. West formerly Mrs.
Grailon) occupied new house at Bay.
town. Mrs. Mckee and little Clara Graf.
ton, Mrs. Vests child, were with them.
When the water rose over Hog Island MIR.
Mckee. Charles Post, the lightkeeper, and
Mrs. Pierce, with four children, aban.
doned that place and came in skiif TO
Vests, Thursday morning before day
light. During Thursday the water rose
gradually in the house, and by afternoon
reached the ceiling They hung on by
the windows until about four p. m, when,
finding that the water was gaining, they
got into skill with the hope of reaching
the high land. In half an hour the skifi