Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-06
WORSE AND WORSE
$4,000 Square Miles Of Southern
Texas Under Water.
GOVERNOR SAVERS APPEALS FOR AID
Asks War Departments Assistance
to Distribute Rations
CONDITIONS

ST LOUIS, Mo. July CA special 10 the
Republic from Austin, Tex. says:
Gov. Sayers has received the following
dispatch from Galveston:
My information shows appalling condi-
tons from flood. with continued rise and
spread of waters. until probably 25.n0
square miles under water south of Call
vert. Relief should be immediate. and /
fear on a more extensive scale than private
subscriptions. no matter how generous. can
provide. Under the circumstances 1 deem
it eXpcdient to make the situation known to
the Secretary of War. and ask that relief
boats now in Galveston be permitted TO as
cend the river and at points inaccessible TO
them to use their launches and yawI boats,
and at the same time arrange for the dis
tribution of 10000 rations. If you concur
l have the honor to suggest that you wire
the Secretary of War accordingly Mean
time Galveston and doubtless o.hcr COM
mittees will proceed with the work of re-
lief to the fun extent Of Their means. |
await your action and will join. II desired,
IN any course you take.
tSigned) ''R B. T4ANI.EY."
The following was Immediately sent in re-
ply:
austin. Tex. July ;.
'R. b. Hawley. Galveston:
Have wired Secretary of War. as sug-
gested. Will be glad to have your co-up-
Grafton.
JOSEPH d. SAVERS. Governor"
Boats and Rattons Requested.
Subsequently the following was wired:
AUSTIN. Tex. Ju,y ..
ITO the Secretary of War. Washington:
please Immediately order by wire boats
at Galveston to ascend rivers. using launch
es and yawls to rescue people from the
waters which are widespread over the
lands of the lower Brazos Please a.sa or
der commanding officer at San Ant, MO TO
place al my disposal for immed ate dis
tribution 10,Gjo rations. Recommend TO
legislature to refund to the United states
their value when it next meets and do not
doubt that it will be promptly done. De-
vastation great. Immense loss of life prob
able. Prompt action very important. An
swer. JOSEPH ID. SAVERS,
Governor"
Thousands Starving.
News received here by Governor Sayers
from the flooded territory along the Brazos
river indicates q distressing condition Of
affairs. In addition to appeals already re-
ceived for aid, one came from Fulshear,
Tex, yesterday, reading follows
Thousands starving. Immediate aid
wanted
From other sections of the flooded dis
tricts south of Hearne and between there
and the mouth of the Brazos appeals for
the people entirely bereft of their
homes food and clothing.
The larger cities of the state are respond
ing literally to the call for aid, and are
confident that they can look after the af-
ficted district.
Starvation Seems Imminent.
ST. LOUIS, July GA special to the Post
Dispatch from Dallas says At IL o'clock
today a short dispatch was received from a
lineman at Dewey, just across the Brazos
river from Sealey. 1t read:
River falling slowly since o'clock yes
terday afternoon. Conditions here terri
bic. Everything in country swept away.
Large number lives lost in bottoms. Looks
like starvation for those left Situation
not been exaggerated. Several days be-
fore line repairs can be made with any,
thing like system.
This telegram was received over the first
wire that has been working into Sealey
and Dewey for three days.
The wire only worked five minutes and
was then lost. Efforts to connect since
then have failed.
Dropped From Trees to Drown.
Deputy Sheriff swearinger at sealey tele-
phoned at noon:
There is Improvement in this section
of the flood district if anything, the situ-
alton is growing worse. No relief boats
have yet reached here from Houston or
Galveston. Sealey and neighboring towns
have about exhausted their resources. An
other negro family was drowned near here
today. Several other lives have been lost
since last night, especially among the refu-
gees on the mound near Old San PHILIPPE. A
number of negroes have fallen exhausted
from tree tops after hanging there three
days and nights, and were drowned.
"A rumor is current here OF great loss OF
life near Richmond, Fort Bend county As
We are cut OF from all that southern sec
ton, definite Information is unobtainabe:
but the situation naturally must be as bad
here
Government Give Aid.
The Secretary of War last night received
the following telegram from Gov. Sayers
of Texas in regard to the floods in that
state:
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
lands of the lower BRACES. Please also
order commanding officer at San Antonio
to place at my disposal for immediate dis
tribution 10000 rations. viii recommend
to legislature to refund to the United
States their value when it next meets, and