The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-08
Texas Floods.

Houston, Tex July D. The half has
not been told OF the havoc wrought III
the flood districts. The disaster Is 50
appalling that description ~ not posi-
BILE. After this flood will come sickness
undoubtedly and what week ago was
the fairest part of Texas is now almost
a God forsaken wilderness. The waters
Of the BrazOs have for six days covered
Its valley to u depth of from six "a
thirty feet where week ago there
were on every hand fields Of cotton and
corn and thousands of acres Of water
melons and oantaloupes. today there u
Shiny mud over all the vegetation
There are carcasses Of COWS. mules
pigs. dogs and cats. and, maybe, human
bodies. for many are missing
Everything is under water from two
to seventeen feet II looks on all sides
like great lake, and the water was so
high that for Vast area II completely
submerged the telegraph and telephone
poles along the line In Tuth portions
Of the Navasoto bottoms are even now
perfect sea. extending four Of five
miles wide at certain points Hundreds
Of houses are totally submerged and
many more were swept from their
foundations and destroyed The plant
ers of the bottoms are still moving
their help and whatever Is left II their
stock to places where they can be cared
for They are all molly helping each
other. and taking refuge wherever they
can, some of them seeking safety on
hOuse-tOps
FIVE HUNDRED MILES OF pESTRrc-
TION.
All the planters state that he outside
world has no conception of the floods
or losses incurred by the destruction Of
crops. stock and buildings Nearly
every planter has built boats and sent
them through the flooded districts 20
render assistance TO the people and, if
possible, save some of their drowning
81 Jck
The food district has q length Of over
500 miles, ~ breadth OF probably 90
miles and in all this vast space dam
age incslculable has been done
The loss to life will never be ful y
known, perhaps The bottoms were
thickly settled. mostly with negro ten
ant farmers Among these there has
been the greatest loss Of lfe To show
the damage done the following esti-
mates have been made by men who are
in position to know
ESTIMATED Loss OF LIFE AND PROP
ERTY.
Lives lost. from 100 10 BOO
Loss to farmers. including crops a.
well AZ live stock from 5000 900 10
els coo. 900.
Damage to railroads and country
bridges, g. 900. 900 t. -. 900. 900
It is known that more than sixty PEG.
pie have met their death; that many
bodies have been recovered But 1t Is
not believed that all of them VIII ever
be recovered
GOV. SAVERS ArrEAL~ FOR Alp,
A dispatch from Austin, Tex states
that Gov Sayers has received he toi.
lowing telegram from number 81
prominent residents II Brook-hIre. "a
small town IN Waller county. ON the
Brazos river. about thirty miles from
Houston
" Hundreds of people here, with
everything swept away toy h,ad have
not "a mouthful o eat and mo- shelter
Unless food is sent At once - iryAtion
is inevitable. and 10 you, as governor
IT Texes. We appeal for Immediate and
and food -
Gov Sayers replied hy wiring the
mayors OF Houston, ti,l ston aud san
Antonio a. follows.
Am just advised tnat hundreds Of
people are sunerus at bmYkshre for
want Of food Have NO rLhlic funds Of
my disposal Please call ON the people
Of your city % assist.