Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-07-13
THE TEXAS FLOODS.
The Situation in the Brazos Valley
Rapidly Improving.
MANY NEGROES LOSE EVERYTHING.
business Practically Suspended In Rich
mOnd- Many Thousands Of People Will
Have to lie Fed-Unf0rtunates Sur
rounded by Reptiles and Skunks.

Galveston. Tex, July s.-The situa-
ton in the Brazos valley is rapidly i'm
proving. The river is falling. There
is an unconfirmed rumor that five lives
were lost near Sartartia, in Fort Bend
county. The report sent out Wednes-
day from Brookshire, Waller county,
that two lives were lost there now up
pears to be an error. Those supposed
to have been drowned persist in maxi
ing their reappearapce. Relief COM
mittees are now well organized. At
Brookshire the relief committee has
opened commissary and issue half
ration per capita 1t has taken pre-
cautions so that only the deserving
shall get these rations and therefore it
issues to the planter for all the tenants
he had when the food can't. Those
who owned their own farms and lost
everything, as is the case with most of
them, are allowed to draw their rations
direct.
D. s. Cage, prominent citizen of
Brookshire, has ordered car load of
cottonseed which he proposes to give
to all who will plant and undertake to
cultivate the crop. He says, moreover,
that crops of cotton, sorghum. Kaffir
corn, June corn and potatoes can be
raised now if these people had the
seed, but they have neither seed nor
money and he suggests that contribu-
tons Of seed would help them. These
crops would enable them to live until
the beginning of next year, when they
would be able to draw supplies from
the merchants on the prospective crop.
There are rations enough at Brook
Shire to last for a week or more. Along
the Brazos alone. it is estimated that
more than 10000 negroes have lost
everything. The loss by drowned
horses, mules and cattle is something
enormous.
THOUSANDS WILL HAVE TO BE FED.
Richmond Tex, July S.-Business is
practically suspended on account OF
the flood from the Brazos river. Many
plantations are under water All
trains except those upon the Southern
Pacific west have been abandoned.
Provisions are running low and
it is believed there will be from
5000 to 5000 persons to feed from this
place within a week. Stories of drown
ing and disasters are coming in con-
stantly hut they cannot be verified.
The water has reached the river bridge |
and is dashing between the iron guy
rods under it; for the first time the rail
road company has stopped all traffic
over it.
SURROUNDED BY REPTILES.
st. Louis July s..-A special to the
Post-Dispatch from Austin, Tex, says.
Gov. Savers Friday received message
from Sealey over the long distance
telephone, saying that 1000 persons,
who had taken refuge on mound
three miles below there, are slowly per-
ishing for want of food. To add to the
horror, the unfortunates are surround
ed by poisonous reptiles and sknnks.
Huddled together with the human be-
ings are several hundred head Of live
stock. A number of those on the
mound have received bites from the
reptiles and skunks and are in dying
condition.
THANKS FOR PROMPT RELIEF.
Washington, July S.-Aid rendered
the Texas sufferers by the war depart
ment called out the following telegram
from r. B. Hawley of the Tenth dis
trict ia his nrivata serratarv in This |