The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-07-08
AN AWFUL CALAMITY.
Floods Continue to Spread Death
and Ruin in Texas.
The Number of Persons Drowned In
Estimated I'm the Hundreds
Thousands Are I'm "A stnrv-
Ing Condition.


Austin, Tex, July 6.--The devasta-
ton in Waller, Washington, Fort Bend,
Grimes and other counties along the
lower courses of the Brazos river and
the Colorado river is much greater than
indicated by the earlier reports. The
restitution of the people is startling,
Appeals for aid in the way of clothing
and food reached here from several
points Wednesday. The larger Texas
cities are responding generously TO
these calls for assistance, and the neces-
sites asked for will be sent to the suf-
fering people as soon as transportation
facilities can be secured. In the re-
mote districts of the Brazos bottoms,
where were numerous small settle
ments of from so TO 100 inhabitants
each, the small clusters of houses were
occupied almost exclusively by negroes,
and IL is feared that most Of them have
been swept away by the flood and many
of them drowned
Additional authentic reports of
drowning M many points in the mum
dated region were received here. A
conservative estimate of the number
of persons drowned is as follows. Wal
Ter county, II: Grimes county, 3; Aus
tin county. 2; Brazos county, z; Rob-
ertson county, AZ; Bell county, /; Wash
ington county. 4; Matagorda county 3;
Burleson county, 6; Fort Bend county,
i; Brazoria county, 3; total, 50.
Nearly all of the persons known to
have been drowned are negroes. In sew
eral instances negro families warned of
the impending rise refused to desert
their cabins and continued to occupy
them until swept away by the torrent.
An unconfrmed rumor that 1875 negroes
had been drowned in Waller county
reached here Wednesday evening. II is
thought the loss of life will exceed the
foregoing estimate when the real stu
alton is revealed after the waters have
subsidized.
In all of the towns located near the
flood rescuing parties have been organ
lied and every nook of the flooded re-
gion is being searched for refugees. At
one point i'm Burleson county n party
of22 people, comprising four negro fam
lilies. was rescued. The people were
found in the branches of trees, where
they had been for two days without
food or shelter. The children, of whom
there were large number, were in such
feeble condition that they may not re-
cover.
The water has been running over the
growing cotton. corn and sugar cane so
long that il is now certain the loss OF
the crop is complete and that 1t will be
too late in the season to replant.
Asks for Aid.
Gov. Savers sent the following
Wednesday night:
Austin, Tex, July 5--To the Secretary
OF War. War Department. Washington. ID.
c.: Please Immediately order by wire
boats at Galveston TO ascend rivers, usin x
launches and yawls to rescue people from
the waters which are widespread over the
lands OF the Lower BraZos. Please also
order commanding officer at San Antonio
10 place at my disposal for immediate dis
tribution TO- 900 rations. VIII recommend
TO legislature to refund to the United States
their value when Il n ext meets. and do not
doubt that Il will be promptly done De-
vastation great Immense loss Of life prob
able. Prompt action very important.
JOSEPH ID. SAVERS. Governor"
Calamity In Appalling.
ST. Louis, July GA special to the
Republic from Dallas. Tex, says: All
former flood disasters in Texas river
districts have been eclipsed by the APP
palling calamity now central in the vi
cinity of Sealy and Brookshire. 1t is
estimated that 200 lives have been lost
and the number may be much larger.
The property loss will reach so far into
the millions as TO make the Calvert flood
appear insignificant by comparison.
Deputy Sheriff Swearington made this
statement to the Republic correspond
cnt over the long-distance telephone
from Sealy: 81 am so dumfounded by
the extent Of the disaster that hardly
know how To talk about il. Fully 20
lives have been lost within radius of
% miles Of SeaIy. Last night and to-
day nearly 100 have been drowned in
the vicinity of what is now locally
known as THE Mound"
In Awful Peril.
This Is q small piece OF high land
three miles from Sealy. near old San
Felipe. AZ first when the flood rushed
down upon the negro cabins, in the bot
toms of the Brazos, three days ago, the
alarmed black population ran for this
point of high land for safety, driving
their live stock with them. The rush
of the waters was so sudden that they
could not get 20 Sealy or San Felipe.
Gradually the waters rose and en-
croached upon their place OF refuge UNI
ill now not more than half an acre of
the ground Is out of water, and that not
more than one foot above the raging
torrent surrounding il for miles. On
this half acre mound are huddled to-
gether raving. surging. gesticulating
screaming and praying assemblage OF
800 negroes. death staring them In the
face in various forms. Drowning seems
certain. but starvation, exposure and
exhaustion also are doing fatal work.