The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-06
DEATH IN TEXAS FLOODS.
500 NEGROES CUT OFF ON A HALF
ACRE MOUND.

Water for Miies-Aimost Impossible to
Brookshire Worst Authorizations of Iifo
Now Placed at 200, but Some Estimates
Go rs High ms 5oO-Appeals for Boats
and Proyisions-Many Negroes In the
Trectops Immense Damage to Property.
DALLAS Tex, July 5.--All former flood dis
asters In Texas rivers have been ecpsed in
the calamity near Sealy and Brookshre. Two
hundred lives are estimated as lost. and the
number may be much larger The property
loss will reach 30 far into the millions as TO
make the Calvert flood appear insignificant by
comparison. At o'clock tonight Deputy
Sheriff Swearingen made this statement to
THE Sun correspondent over the long-dis-
lance telephone from Sealy:
:" am so dumfounded by tho extent OF the
disaster that hardly know how to talk about
it. Fully POO lives have been lost within a
radius OF twenty five miles OF Sealy. Last night
and to-day nearly 100 have been lost near what
is known locally as the Mound. This ia small
piece OF high land three miles from Sealy and
near San Phillip.
AT first when tho food rushed down on the
plantation negro cabins in the bottoms OF the
Brazos three days ago the alarmed black
population ran for this place OF high land
for safety. driving their live stock with
them. The rush OF tho waters was so
sudden that thcy could not get to Seay
or San Phillip. Gradually the waters rose and
encroached on their place OF refuge until to-
night not exceeding one half acre OF the ground
is out OF the water. and that not more
than ono foot above the raging tor
rent surrounding 1t for miles On this
half-acre mound are huddled a surgng.
Gesticulating. screaming and praying assem-
bIage OF 300 negroes. death staring them in
the face. browning appears to be certain.
but starvation, exposure and exhaustion also
are doing fatal W )rk.
Crowded In among these poor humans are
cattle. horses. hogs. mules and other domestic
animals as uncomfortable as the poor negroes.
There is not a cabin or other bit OF shelter-not
so much as trec-on the mound. there is nota
mouthful OF food to eat. clean water to drink or
spot where the tired and weak and sick can
rest The nearest point OF land is moro than
three miles away. and no human could live In
the raging torrents who would try to reach It,
Many have drowned making the attempt.
The rushing waters are filed with floating
bodies OF live stock and with houses.
outbuildings. fences. logs. trees. lumber.
farm implements. furniture. merchandise
and other matter. ClinginG to many of
the objects are negroes doomed to almost GER
tain death. The white population at Sealy.
San Phillip and other places are powerless to
give aid. The frail rowboats cannot be handled
in the strong currents. and II they could. the
floating debris would crush them like egg
shells.
Many persons living on the outskirts Of the
flood escaped to San Phillip. Seay and Sunny
side the latter place being about twenty miles
north OF Sealy. 1t has been hoped all along
that substantial aid would come here from
Houston or Galveston. but this has proved
dlsappointmentt thus far. believe steam tugs
could do something IL they could be gotten
around by way OF the mouth OF the Brazos from
Galveston. This food region IA entirely so-
lated by rail or telegraph from the outside
world. This long distance telephone wire OF
which am talking TO you is the only medium
OF Communication. and that is cut of in all
directions except northward to Dallas.
Il have given you the situation as 1t Is in
and about Seay 1t is equally bad at and
around Brookshre. but can give no details.
for we are cut off. l know there are at
least 400 negroes on small island three or
four miles from Brookshire in a condition
similar to that at The Mound l learn that
only two Of the rowboats from Houston have
| been able to reach the starving and drowning
people there. and they could not take succor
enough to do any good. Tho loss OF life around
Brookshre will be as large as that around
| Seay
As to property loss It is not to be estimated.
| 1t will reach $l2.O00,0O0 or $4,000. 900 at
| least because everything in the shape OF crops
| and farm property In this part Of Austin
and Waller counties has been swept away
| clean. Tho condition to the southward
until the Gulf is reached must be worse
than It is up here. and in Fort Bend and Bra
zoria counties. fronting on tho Gulf. the de-
struction will be simply appalling when this
| food rours through.
| THE storm started on Sunday night about
| 10 o'clock. It came at first with more force on
Brookshire than it did on the Sealy neighbor-
hood As the fury OF the rain became moro
violent realization OF danger seized the
| poor negroes in the Brazos bottom and
| they began fleeing for their lives Many
| lives were lost that have not been taken into
account in tho accLmulatng terrOrs of tho sit
unton From present indications the loss OF
| life is kelly to reach 800, unless unexpected
| relief comes"
GALVESTON. Tex, July 5.-Storics OF destitu-
ton and death continue to come In from the
| flood swept belt Of the state. The worst stu
alton is in the Brnzos River bottom near
| Brook shire. n station on the Missouri. Kansas
and Texas Railway thlrty-eight miles from
| Houston. The meaCre dispatches received
| from there to-day say that men. women. and
children are lodged IN trees and are dying from
hunger and exhaustion Hundreds Of people.
| mostly negroes. arc tho victims. and IL Is i'm
| possible to give list OF the dead and injured
| or even make an approximate estimate OF tho
| tremendous damage suffered. II is known.
| howcvcr.that many have persisted and hundreds
are on the verge Of starvation. having lost
| everything.
People are huddled like sheep in places Of
safety and boats in charge OF rescuers are con-
stanty bringing in cargoes. The following
appeal to Gov. Sayers has been sent by n COM
mttcc Of the leading citizens OF Brookshirc:
Hundreds Of people here with everything
swept by the Hood. Have not mouthful to
eat and no shelter. Unless food is sent at once
| starvation is inevitable. and we appeal TO you
as Governor Of Texas for immediate aid"
The Governor Immediately replied by tele.
graphing the Mayors Of Houston. San Antonio
and Galveston that he had Just been advised
that hundreds OF people are suffering AT Brook.
shire for want OF food. Immediately upon