The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-06
RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERERS.
.cprEp THAT WORK SHOULD DE
FOUND FOR THEM.
s,,,e Assistance Has Already Been
Given to Relieve the WANTS
of Few.

BRENNAN. Texas, July 5.-Messrs. Atlis
Deyer and James Hays Quarles, VINO ier'
at daylight Tuesday to carry supplies u
those who are homeless and without ioo.'
In the bottomland between the fegua anu
the Brazos rivers in Burleson county re-
turned at 3.15 o'clock this afternoon lhey
did not reach the edge of the overflow wa
ter until $50 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
They found people huddled about in camps
on whatever high ground could pc iounu
and in absolute want They were without
provisions and without supplies oil any
kind. Some of. them had but the clothes
on their backs. The supplies were carried
across four miles of overflow water ana
commissary was established at Mr.. DeVer 5
logging camp and James Ogden ana H. II
Curry farm managers were put In charge
and instructed to issue rations 10 those
who were in need.
1t is hard to describe the condition oil
those in the overlooked district. me
country is one vast sea of water. Those
on the bottom farms barely escaped WIN
their lives and had no time TO loos Sut
for stock Five deaths are reported III
Burleson county; there may pc more.
What is true of Washington and Burleson
counties is true of every county between
Waco and Velasco. BRENNAN first gave
| relief TO those in Burleson county across
the Yegua and more Is to be done for those
nearer home Every county Will be called
on to provide for those who have iost
their all.
The Post correspondent knows of this
destitution because he Las been among H.
going with the relief expedition. The
/ task of relieving the immediate wants OF
the flood sufferers in this county by those
who have Jared better than their neigh
bors in the recent deluge has been under
taken in earnest and along practical lines.
In response 10 the call issued Tuesday for
mass meeting of the citizens of precinct
| No s, signed by Judge L. p. Curry, quite
number of ladies and gentlemen assem-
bled in the county court house today. The
meeting was organized by the election of
Colonel D. G. Giddings to the chair; Hon.
Harry Haynes was made secretary.
Colonel Giddings stated that it had been
suggested in some quarters that outside
aid be called for For his part, he thought
the people of Washington county able TO
take care of their own and he opposed
outside aid until such time as our resour-
ces are exhausted This sentiment was
applauded.
The chairman further said that work
was the proper charity that should be Of
fered the sufferers and that he felt sure
the great majority of them would ask
nothing more than an opportunity to earn
a livelihood 1t would not be a good idea
to inculcate among the coored people that
they are to be supported in idleness. They
should thoroughly understand that the
supplies sent them are for temporary re-
lief and until work can be furnished.
Messrs. Joe Routt and John Carlisle of
Chappell Hill were present at the meet
ing and they concurred with the opinion
of Colonel Giddings. Mr.. Routt said that
the river was eight feet higher than the
1855 record and that the dwellers between
the hills had lost everything in the world
houses, fences, crops, stock and furni-
ture; the majority of these people only
want work and not charity, said Mr. Routt
There will be no cotton for them to pick
this fall.
Mr.. Carlisle said that on his place alone
there are forty-seven families, numbering
5l2 people who are in an utterly help
less condition. He estimated fully 1000
people in the vicinity of Chappell Hill
were in the same condition. AS secretary
of the meeting, Mr.. Haynes made a state
ment of the work already accomplished
toward the relief of the distressed. He
SN"SSA mat MI Nd'oOu' WHO udu Charge OIL
the Burton barbecue, had advised him that
$50 pounds of bread and 200 pounds of meat
left over from the barbecue would be for
warded to the needy.
Mr.. l.. F. Harris of Greenville had
agreed to organize a relief committee
there. IL is estimated that nine-tenths Of
the sufferers are among the colored peo-
pie OF the county.
On motion of Major Bolts the ladies'
present, with Mrs. Mary d. Ross as chair
man. were appointed committee to ar
range for house to house canvass for
clothing
This work will be begun at once. About
$500 in cash was subscribed
special train carrying the bridge force
OF the Galveston, Houston ami HENDERSON
rnlroad passed through the city today en-
route to Galveston. Tho crew had been
hired by the Santa Fe FOR repn'r work.
A wagon load OF supplies was sent out ia
Old Washington this afternoon. With sup
plies accessible at Chappcll Hill, Clay Sta
uon and Old Washington, 1t is thought
the immediate wants OF the sufferers can
be met
County Attorney Buchanan returned
from the river this morning. His report
was merely supplementary TO those that
have been given from day to day concern
Ing the havoc wrought by the raging river
So far not single human life has been
authoritatively reported as lost in this
county. The river is falling slowly, but at
the present rate it will require several
days before much showing is made.