The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-13
The BRACES Flood.


(From the st. Louis Globe DemCcr II }
Rain is descending as if the heavens
were dissolving. The BFazos. though
IL is flowing over the roofs Of buildings
that were supposed u stand upon
ground never reached by the greatest
floods, is still rising, and its shores are
lined with thousands Of vet, hungry
and naked negroes who have recently
been rescued from treetops, gin houses
aud floating cabins
The latest news from every section
along the river is distressing All Of
the domestic animals. thousands Of fine
mules, the COWS and all Of tho hogs and
fowls in the bottoms have certainly
perished No railroad trains have pass.
ed for IA whole week, the wires are all
down, and we have not seen neWspa-
per for ak or nine days Food and
clothing have been collected at Cald-
| well. to be forwarded to the suffering
people on the shores OF the Braz1s, II II
is possible to get there through the mud
aud the awful downpour of tain.
Some very remarkable incidents have
occurred in connection with the food.
| A whole family was rescued from a
| substantial frame structure that had
floated at least 10 miles The family
was aroused just before day light by the
noise of the waters and the motion OF
the building. They were, Of course
terribly frightened. but it was pitch
dark, " as the man said. and they could
do nothing more than stick 10 the
ship" When it grew light enough for
them to see, they were frightened al
most out Of their senses to discover that
their house was floating down wide
river The father OF the family made
every effort to effect landing without
success. lie finally attracted the atten'
tion Of some young men on the shore
near Old Washington. and the whole
family was rescued and their house
lodged against body Of heavy timber
| They had made narrow escape, and
when the father, ia transport Of JOY,
was moving around and thanking the
people for their assistance. he was very
much surprised to meet a brother, whom
he had not seen for several years His
brother was a wealthy planter, who
lived in 3 big, roomy house only a
short distance away. II is presumed
that the unfortunate people were made
comfortable in a short time.
A cradle was noticed floating rapidly
down the river, and when it was over
hauled by a party of rescuers, they
were surprised to flnd that 1t contained
a perfectly contented little negro baby.
The bereaved mother came after her
child later in the day, and from her the
boys learned that the cradle had tioated
about six miles. One house passed that
was covered with chickens, while a
calf and a young colt anxiously gazed
from one Of the windows. young
girl was rescued from large tree which
che had been clinging to for several
hours. Shs said that the house occu-
pied by her people had floated for sorhe
distance in the darkness, and that 1t
had turned over. and she supposed that
her fa,h and mother and two children
persisted. A courageous father carried
his wife and two little girls up into a
large elm tree and tied them securely
to the branches with rope, where they
remained until daylight He then de
scended and swan TO his house and
made a raft and took his little family
and some Of his household effects safely
ashore.
One man, by the name Of Sartain
who certainly must be good swimmer.
carried his wife and baby on his back
and travelled no less than five miles OF
the submerged district wading in wa
ter above his waist part Of the time.
and forced to swim wide bayous where
the water was very deep II was easy
to see that the woman was neryy and
very proud of her husband Rescuing
parties are still bringing people from
the overlooked bottoms IL Is now
known that great number of people
| have been drowned.