The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-07-14
RESULT OF THE
TEXAS FLOOD.
Thousands of People in
Distress.
THE LOSS OF LIFE Is ABOUT 80.
Whole Counties Inundated, and Crops
Almost Entirely Ruined-WOrk Of
Charity Among the Sufferers.

AUSTIN, Tex, July Gov. Sayers
stated tonight to an Associated
Press correspondent that Judging
from all the reports he had received
officially from the food district, that
there had been great loss of property
both personal and corporate; that
hundreds of people had been bereft
of their homes and belongings, and
that at present there were in the
neighborhood of 40 600 people, the
majority of them being negroes, who
were depending entirely upon public
charity for sustenance. The suffer
ing of water bound fugitives has
been very great. The governor fig
ures the reports out to show that the
loss OF life has been comparatively
small, not exceeding fifty. The loss
OF property, however, has been very
great.
Hundreds in Dire Need.
AUSTIN, Tex, July 15.-Gov. Say
ers and corps of assistants spent
the entire day working in behalI of
the flood sufferers swarming up al d
down the Brazos river bottoms. Re
ports from all along the stricken
districts to day are to the effect that
while the waters are rapidly receding
the condition of the flood sufferers
Is improving very little.
The Governor also received a tele-
gram from the citizens of Hearne
stating that they had fought alone
as long as they could, and would
now have to ask public aid; that all
the property Of the people of that
section had been LAID waste; they
were starving and homeless, and
would ask for both money and food
as we'll as clothing. Their wants
will be supplied at once.
County Judge Bell, at Bellville,
also wired an official report that
there were 1900 sufferers in the
country north of Mills Creek, and
1000 in the creek bottom in absolute
need. From numerous other portions
of the Hooded districts similar re.
ports came pouring in and theii
requests for aid were at once referred
to The various relief stations being
established along the flood district.
During the day Gov. Sayers was
in telegraphic correspondence with
a number of points botn within anC
without the State looking to the
purchasing of carloads of cotton
seeds, corn, p -as and other farming
seeds to be shipped into the fioodeC
district at once with view of re
planting as much of the farming
district as possible forthwith. Thi
afternoon he received information
, ~ ha
points that several car loads of cot
| tonseed had been forwarded to tn,
flood district to be planted as sool
as the waters receue.
Gov. Sayers stated to-day to al
Associated Press correspondent tha
the effort on the part of some to be
little the damage attendant upol
this flood was actuated by motive
that he could not understand; tina
during his long residence in TeXa
he had never seen a worse calamit,
befall it's people, and that from
reports he had at his disposal her
he was led to believe that the list 0
suffering would be very large. HI
has received so many reports rela
tive to the alarming condition sur
rounding the flooded district and it
people that he o-day sent Stat
Health Officer Blunt down to tn
scene of action with view O
3 making personal investigation @
3 the true condition of affairs eXistiu
9 there, and as to the condition of tn
country and the people livin
therein. 1t has been feared for som
time that the receding waters woul
leave the country in very sickl
condition. and it is evident from tn
Governors action to-day that he
? fearful of like results and wants
be prepared for them in case the
t arise.