The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-07-12
TEXAS DEVASTATED BY THE FLOOD.
THIRTY-EIGHT DEAD.
Thousands of colored Refugees are Huddied In
the Large Towns Awaiting Reiiei-Prop-
er,y Less Exceeds s6,ooo,ooo.

The loss of life, the destitution and
the enormous property loss resulting
from the floods in Texas last week is
something enormous. Thirty eight
known dead, $4,000 destitute refugees
herded into the towns 10000 to $1,000
square miles of fertile farming country
under water and property losses ex-
ceeding $4,000, ,000-this is, I'm brief, the
story of the food that has swept down
the thousand-mile valley of the BraZos
rivcr dlIing the last ten days.
The flood started on the Upper Braz-
os, about 1000 miles from the Gulf, on
Wednesday week. Since that time the
entire district tributary TO the Brazos
river has beer deluged. For the FIRST
four days the flood was confined TO the
territory lying between Calvert and
Hampstead. Since then the waters in
passing TO the Gulf. have flooded all
the country from Hampstead north
During the past four days II has been
growing worse south of Hampstead The
lands south Of Hampstead are so low,
and the water Will spread over so much
ground, that IL can not do the damage
that 1t did on the Upper Brazos.
The destitute, most of them negro
tenant farmers, picked out of tree
tops, off high mounds and floating
debris, and otherwise brought into the
towns, are closely estimated to number
5000.
Losses are estimated as follows:
Cotton growers, s., 900 900; corn grow
ers, 100000; public bridges and roads,
100000; small farmers on houses,
stock, melon crop, orchards, etc, So
100000; tobacco growers, $4,000: rail-
roads by washouts of tracks and
bridges, $780, 900.
The above estimate OF the railroads
share of the floods cost does not in
clude their loss on business, tied up for
TWO weeks. Some of the lines will not
be able to resume operations until the
middle of next week.
The Governor Sunday was busy di-
recting the various movements for re-
lief. Hundreds of people were report
I'd treed on the knoll on the bottom
land. Governor Sayers, on receipt of
this information, ordered boats sent
from Houston to their rescue, which
order was promptly complied with.
The constant appeals to Governor
Sayers indicate that the figures
quoted as to the destltution are II any
thing, lower than really exist. During
the past few days the Governor has
received about 500 900 in money and a
great many provisions, all of which
are being expended in behalf of and
delivered to the food sufferers as
rapidly as possible.
From every section of Texas fool
stricken district now comes the wall
of suffering humanity. Governor
Sayers, backed by the people of Texas
and charltably inclined persons abroad
has rallied to the assistance Of the
sufferers. and II is believed that with
in the next day or so all of them VIII
be getting material assistance.
A telephone message from Deputy
Sheriff Swearinger, of Calvert, Tex,
received Thursday says that 200 lives
have been lost by the floods within a
radius of 80 miles Of Sealey. Nearly
100 were drowned in the vicinity Of
The Mound. small piece of Highland
near San Phillip. to which hundreds
of negroes fed from the Brazos bot.
toms. taking horses and cattle.
Gov. Sayers, of Texas, has received
message from Sealey over the long
distance telephone. saying that 1000
persons who had taken refuge on a
mound three miles below there are
slowly perishing for the want of food.
To add to the horror, the unfortu-
rates are surrounded by poisonous
reptiles. Huddled together with the hu-
man beings are several hundred head
of live stock. A number of those on the
mound have received bites from the
reptiles and are in a dying condition.