The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-05
HUNDRED AND FIFTY FAMILIES
Surrounded on an Island and In Daa-
ger Of nroWnfRR.

ger or Drowning.
Houston. Tex, July 4-The food situa-
ton was improved everywhere today ex-
cept in Weller county. The small village
Of Dewey has been washed away and
many people whereabouts are In danger OF
their lives. A brief report from Brook
shire says thirteen persons have been
drowned already and man more may soon
be- A relief train was sent out from here
tonight with boats and physicians. but
not nearly enough. The people were not
warned and had no time to escape. This
afternoon 1t was reported that between
100 and $50 farmers and their families
were on a small hill where Dewey was
and which has since become an island,
with the water slowly rising. 1t Is feared
that many OF them have been lost. No
reports can be had until morning. The
total number Of dead accurately reported
at all points now reaches s.xty-three,
forty OF them in Robertson county. This
is not believed 20 be half. Salvert Is re-
fusing offers OF assistance.
st. Louis, Mo-, July A special to the
Republic from Dallas. Texas. says: An
other food disaster, which, from the first
bulletin received here tonight. appears 70
be worse than that at Calvert on Friday
and Saturday last, occurred this after
noon in the Brazos valley about 100 miles
down the river from Calvert. Reports say
the large steel bridge OF the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas railway at Dewey sta
ton. near the crossing of the Brazos
river, Is gone. The river in that section
began rising suddenly yesterday and to-
night Is six feet higher than ever before
known. Immense drifts OF houses. trees.
fences, etc, are floating by Sesley and
Dewey. Alarming reports are coming IN
from La Grange and Sealey Of loss OF
life in the vicinity of Brookshire. Chief
Lineman Lowry. OF the Postal Telegraph
system, tonight made the following state
ment over the long distance telephone
from Sealey, twenty-five miles south Of
Dallas:
''The Brazos river here - more than FIVE
miles wide and the waters are lashing
furiously. All kinds OF floatable property
Is rushing along with the current On this
side OF the river at Sealey there Is as yet
little danger, but on the other side, at
Dewey and Brookshire. the conditions are
terrible. Brookshire % thirteen miles from
Sealey and thiEty-seven miles from Hous-
ton. We cannot get from the Sealsy side
TO the Dewey and BreOkshlre sIoe. and as
our wires are al gons q that eide We
cannot tell the extent OF the dSasier a;
Brookshire. I reached SeaIsy tonight In
a small boat. after spending last nigh.
on an island four miles from here The
big bridge Of the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas railroad al Dewey Is as good as
ruined il Is covered vita water and the
center span is Six inches out Of line The
entire structure Is likely 70 90 at any
minute Four miles OF the II ssouTi. Kaa-
sas and Texas track are gone OF IRE
Dewey side and about q mile On the Sea
ley SIDE has been washed away. II boats
and special trains from Houston or other !
points have lot yet reached BrookEhirs |
they are too late The people. / fear. vii |
be drowned before they can bs reached /
This afternoon there Were from 50 20 so |
persons on q small bland near Brock !
shire and the water Wss rising rapidly. ! /
fear they are drowned BY thIs tine. 81 /
they had not The slightest means q - 4
cape The river here tonish; IL SIX feet 4
hagaer than IN 1ss5. which was the rex
ord rp 20 the present"