The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-06
11E A1lA6:l IEzAS
Alarming Reports Cons From the
Brasos River Bottoms.
A MOST CRITICAL SITUATION.


Death From Hunger and Exposure.
The Railroads Destroyed For Miles.
Galveston, July 6.-The Texas food
situation 10 the result Of four days
steady rain. beginning June 26, which
at some points partook of the nature Of
cloudbursts. In some cases the rain
fall was 20 inches. These heavy rain
falls caused rivers to overflow. In some
cases reaching the highest points
known. In the central part of the
state the food reached its height Sat-
urday and Sunday. The Brasos river
at Waco flooded part of the town, but
there was no loss of life. At Hearne
and Navasota the same was true. The
Brasos valley at Calvert, Robertson
county, was flooded SO suddenly that
plantation hands could not reach high
ground. Reports were circulated that
80 people were drowned. As the
waters recede near Calvert the facts
are found to be that II lives were lost.
All of the victims were negroes ex-
cept one. Many head Of cattle were
drowned.
All railroads were resuming through
traffic when. on Tuesday. the foods
reached the southern part Of the state.
This morning the food condition in the
lower Brasos valley at Brookshire,
Wallis, Richmond, Rosenberg, Thomp-
son. Duke, Arcola, Fulshear. Chenango
and Columbia IL very bad. Wallis re-
ports that the Brasos Ii ton feet higher
than in 1886. and back water within
one and quarter miles Of town 10 ten
feet deep The San Antonio and Ar
kansas Pass bridge at Wallis 10 two
feet under water. The Southern Pa
cifc road west Of Houston is washed
out near Roseberg and Richmond. Tho
Santa Fe Is washed out near Thomp-
son. 1t is feared when the rise now
at Wallis gets to Rosenberg and
Thompson the consequences will be
serious.
Yesterday afternoon Deputy Sheriff
Swearingen, of Austin county, made
the following statement over the long
distance telephone at Sealy:
Relief has not reached the food
victims In this section. Thirteen dead
bodies have been recovered near the
town of Brookshire. 10 miles from
here. Forty-Ave persons above Sealy
are reported missing and given up for
dead. Seven were drowned today in a
boat seven miles below Sealy.
About 400 persons are isolated on a
small piece of land In the Brasos bot
toms, three miles from Brookshire.
Several hundred more are similarly
surrounded at San Philippe, three
miles from Sealy. Unless relief can
soon reach these two places the 800
lives will probably be lost Many will
die, as 1t is. from hunger, exposure
and exhaustion.
1.-THE water Is running through the
town of Brookshire, something never
before known. The 85 lives reported
lost here today were in radius Of 20
miles north and south Of Sealy. We
are completely isolated at Sealy, but
this town is not In danger. Cannot
estimate the situation beyond the
limits I mention. The whole face of
the country here is a sea. The chan
mel of the Brasos river has shifted
about three miles and the water here
Is Ii miles wide. Logs, houses, lum-
Der and railroad material, merchandise,
live stock and other floating objects
make it worth the life of rescuers to
go to the relief of the endangered peo-
pie, most of whom are negroes. The
railroads are destroyed for miles. An
immense washout occurred on the
Santa Fe. south of Sealy this
morning. This cuts off our last strand
Of railroad communication. The Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas. the Gulf,
Colorado and Santa Fe and the South
eru Pacific are all completely stopped"
A telephone message from Deputy
Sheriff Swerengin late last night says
that fully 200 lives have been lost by
the flood within radius of 80 miles
of Sealy. Tuesday night and yester-
day nearly 100 were drowned in the
vicinity of "The Mound" small piece
of highland near Old Sanphilipi, to
which hundreds Of negroes fled from
the Brasos bottoms. taking their horses
and cattle The waters have gradually
encroached upon them until only about
half an acre Of space remains, and on
this three negroes are huddled, with
death staring them in the face. Drown
ing is almost sure, while starvation Is
certain. The nearest point Of land is
three miles away.