Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-01
Tricky STREAMS IN TEXAS.
RIVER BEDS THAT HAVE BEN DRY
FOR YEARS SUDDENLY TRANSFORMED
rNro RAGING FLOODS.

Tho most treacherous streams 10 the
United States arc those Of Western
Texas. For the most part Of the year,
and occasionally for . period extending
over several years, these rivers and
creeks are merely dry beds. The older
Inhabitants, who have pro6ted by past
experienced, are acquainted with the
character OF the streAms and know that
at any moment . torrent Of water may
rush down the dry bed and overflow lie
banks, sweeping to destruction every
thing before Il. IL is for this reason
that one never sees 'tcow" and hunting
camps located near the creeks and rivers
Of the section referred TO. It's not only
Q wise policy TO pitch camp on high
ground, but II has also been proved that
cattle and sheep should be kept out OF
the low country when on the trzil. In
stances are known when herds Of thou
sands OF head OF cattle have been swept
away BY Q sudden food.
The recent high waters In the Nueces
and Hondo Rivers and Lbs Moros creek
washed away many thousands Of cattle,
horses and sheep. Los Moroa creek Ia
ordinarily q dry stream. For several
years no water whatever has flowed In
its bed on It's upper course. The new
settlers OF that locality looked upon Il
as q dry arroyo. What was the surprise
Of these unknowiug ones q few morn
ings ago when they awoke TO find In
place of the dry bed Of the Insignificant
creek raging river live to seven miles
wide, It's width varying according to the
character Of country through which the
stream passed. The terrible food came
down upon the unsuspecting people
without warning.
There are many dry beds west Of here
which mark the course Of former large
streams. Il Is related by old inhabitants
that during the period OF about 20 years,
1928 To lSiS, there were frequent and
terrific rains Ia western Texas, aud that
many OF the little wstercourses that are
now forgotten were large rivers then.
In lS45 there arrived In San Antonio
from Germany young man named G..
III. Quepther. He was q miller by trade,
and soon after reaching this state be-
gan 10 look about him for suitable
place 10 establish grlst mill. Tie went
10 what Is now Gillespie County. west OF
here, where a large colony Of Germans
hsd located but n few years before. On
his way TO that colony he came upon q
stream Of large volume, and he picked
out mill site on its bank and proceed
I'd To erect grist mill. He ran the mill
for three years, when the waters OF the
stream began 10 recede so rapidly that
the mill had to be closed down. and
finally abandoned. The ruins OF that
mill stand to-day, and there are absolute
ly no indications that there WAS ever any
water flowing In the bed Of that dry
arroyo. II has been dry for more than
80 years.
Many lives have been lost along the
course OF the Nueces and Hondo Rivers
In sudden foods, even within the pas,
Is years. About nine years ago party
OF Louisiana sportsmen came TO eastern
Texas with camping outfit. They To-
Gated their camp on the Nueces, not lar
from the town OF Uvslde.- There were
six men In the party, among them being
I. l.. Resseur, = wealthy sugar planter
The frat night they were In camp q
mountain Of water rolled down the
Nueces valley from the hills above and
swept everything before It. All the
members OF the hunting party were
drowned, the Southern Pacific railroad
bridge Was washed out and thousands
OF dollars damage was done TO farm and
ranch property.-Texss Letter In New
York Sun.