The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-18
ALONG THE COLUMBIA TAP.
EYEWITNESS TELLS OF THE FLOOD
SITUATION THERE.
Food. hut Medicine IL Need
cd--At Brookshire.

Colonel Joe Bonney returned yesterday
from points In tho flooded districts ira
versed by the Columbia Tap, where for
several days past he has been assisting In
the distribution OF supplies among the suf-
ferers OF that section He made the trip
from Velasco to Galveston on the Hygeia.
In conversation with representative of
The Post, Mr. Bonney stated that the Tap
train would probably get to Chenango
junction today. THE water in the bot
toms is falling slowly" he said having
gone down only two feet in seven days.
The International and Great Northern
track is covered with water for distance
or ten miles north of Columbia from two
to eight feet deep. If the management sue
leeds in getting train through to Col
umbia In two weeks they will be doing
well.
'All OF the relief agents are supplied
with food at present. but they can use
clothing and medicine. DR.. Blunt, who
was In Columbia today with the Hygeia,
gives 1t as his opinion that very little
sickness will prevail after the water goes
down. He says the land will be washed
clean In most OF the flooded places.
DR.. Blunt has been in the Brazos river
with his boat distributing supplies for over
week, and by his untiring energy and
cheerful manner has made many friends
and given, perhaps. more substantial SER
vice than anyone who volunteered for the
work He now has all points on the river
supplied for ten or twelve days. The
Hygeia. under his charge. has delivered
portions OF the provisions and other stuff
received by the people on the river. and
but for his efforts many man would
have gone hungry.
The doctor says that the Galveston
revenue cutter did good service and rem
dered him valuable assistance.
The Hygeia left for Galveston this
morning The Pansy will go tomorrow.
but the revenue cutter will remain in We
lasco for n while
An old negro woman who boarded the
Hygeia for Galveston told Dr.. Blunt that
the present rise was larger than the one
In 1888, and upon being asked what she
Judged by. said; In dat odder rise was
little gal, and de watah cum up to my
knee. but dis time hit cum clean up to my
waist
MIR. John Adriance, who is now SO years
OF age, went to Brazoria country in 1885.
two years after the big overflow. He says
that the present flood is at least ten inches
higher than was that of 49, he having
seen the water mark when he went there.
Colonel NJ. >. Munson and Joel w. ana
Guy NJ Bryan are the only persons living
now who were there in 1888.
Mr.. Adriance and Morgan L. Smith
We're in business together in Columbia
when people came to trade and ship cot
ton from as far north as Washington coun-
ty, and even higher up In those days
COW and calf were legal tender and before
Houston and Galveston We're started the
firm of Smith g. Adrance did 5000. 900
worth OF business year In the town of
Columbia. Mr. Adriance made regular
trips to New York every year on sahooners.
He has all the books of the old firm and
Texas with Austin's colony on orders for
goods"
Brookshire, who was in town yesterday on
business, told a representative of The
Post that tho food situation at his home
was practically in statu quo. Preparations
for replantlng are being pushed as rapidly
as possible and all the seed on hand, in
Guiding a carload OF cotton seed contri-
buted by Mr.. d. s. Cage, Will be put in as
soon as the ground is dry enough TO re-
ceive it. A large number of negroes are
being supplied with rations at the Brook
shire commissary and the local committee
is doing all in its power to relieve the
prevailing distress.
In this connection Mr. Quincy wishes to
60 on record as stating, other reports 10
tho contrary notwithstanding, that supplies
were sent from Brookshire to the refugees
on the mound" several days ago He
does not desire to detract from the credit
due others, but wishes Brookshire 10 get
its share.