The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-07-06
SITUATION GETS WORSE.
waters are Now Devastating South
Texas-tfundreds Must Perish.

were abandoned IN some instances
and forced to take the back track
in others. The people at Caldwell
could distinctly hear the voices OF
children in the driftwood hurting
down to destruction. Hundreds
of negroes, homeless, penniless
and starving are huddled together
on mounds anxiously awaiting sue
cor. During the past week forty
one deaths have been reported but
the returns are so incomplete that
this number will be increased.
This is admittedly the worst in
the way of floods in the States
history.
A Brookshire special says: Two
boats and a party of rescuers from
Houston came in last night on
special train. Eighteen persons
were rescued last night. The cries
over the bottoms for help yester-
day were heartrending. Boats were
made and launched and some ex-
cellent work was done. All are
ready to return this morning and
with good results. To-day all par
ties can be picked up. The river
is ten miles wide and rose six
inches last night. The horrors are
known only to those that were out
in the waters. Vast plantations
with fine growing crops and inhab-
tied by happy and prosperous peo-
pie are now six feet under running
water. Hundreds of negroes are
carried out of the water hungry
and homeless. Mothers can be
seen by the roadside holding their
infants without morSel of food.
Merchants and citizens are feeding
all within their power, but to feed
all is impossible. We will have to
ask for aid outside.
At Sealy the water IS at a stand
still. Four hundred destitute ne
groes are on a mound about seven
miles from San Felipe.
The people of San Felipe request
that an appeal be made through
the News to the country at large
for immediate assistance. They
have done all they could them
selves, but are now at their wits
end. The whole country is mum
dated.
About 100 people have thus far
been taken from the mounds, but
there are still 400 there.
Their homes are gone and are
floating down the river.
They are in need of bacon, meal
and clothing. Clothing is being
provided to some extent by the
people of San Felipe.
At Caldwell the water receded
nearly six inches, but there are 200
negroes isolated without rations
near Parker's upper store.
A relief party left here this
evening with provisions and boats
for their rescue. There are several
negroes unaccounted for.
In large mass of drift passing
down yesterday could be heard the
voices of children, but there were
no boats available to approach it
land rescue them.
Excellent rescue work is report
ed from Clay Station and Tunis.
The people are being aroused to the
seriousness of the situation. There
were more reports of drownings
today without confirmation.
THE GOVERNORS TELEGRAM.
Austin, Tex. July 5.-Gov. Say
ers sent the following telegram to
the secretary of war. war depart
ment, Washington:
Please Immediately order by
wire boats at Galveston to ascend
rivers, using launches and yawls
to rescue people from the waters
which are widespread over the land
of the lower BraZos.
please also order commanding
officer at San Antonio to place at
my disposal for immediate distri-