Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-06
LOSS OF LIFE NOT GREAT
ONLY TWO PERSONS KNOWN TO BE
DEAD AT BROOKsHIRE.
Galveston News Says Crops Have Been
Benefited More Than They Have
Been Damaged-Rai1roads
Have Been Greatest
Sufferers.

flood situation results from four days
steady rain, beginning June 26, which at
some points partook of the nature of cloud
bursts. In some cases the rainfall was
twenty inches, and at several places it
was reported as eight inches. These heavy
rainfall caused rivers to overflow, in
some cases reaching the highest points
known. In the central part of the state. the
flood reached its height Saturday and Sum
day. The Brazos river, at Waco, flooded
part of the town, but there was no loss
| of life. AT Hearne and Navasota the same
was true. The Brazos valley at Calvert.
Robertson county, was flooded so suddenly
that plantation hands could not reach high
grounds. Reports were circulated that
| fifty people We're drowned. AS the waters
receded near Calvert, the facts were found
| to be that fourteen lives were lost. All of
| the victims were negroes except one. Many
head of cattle were drowned. Monday the
railroads in the central part of the state
| were in fair condition. All roads were re-
| suming through traffic when, on Tuesday
| the floods reached the southern part of the
state.
Tonight the flood condition In the lower
Brazos valley, at Brookshire, Wallis, Rich
mond, Rosenberg, Thompson, Duke Arcola,
| Fulshear, Chenango and Columbia is very
bad. Wallis reports the Brazos is ten feet
higher than in 1885. Backwater within one
and a quarter miles of town is ten feet
| deep. The San Antonio & Aranas Pass
bridge at Wallis is two feet under water.
The Southern Pacific road west of Houston
is washed out near Rosenberg and Rich
mond The Santa Fe is washed out near
Thompson. 1t is feared when the rise now
| at Wallis gets to Rosenberg and Thompson
the consequences will be serious. AT 8
| o'clock tonight the river is rapidly rising
at Thompson.
The Columbia tap road Is washed out.
The International Great Northern Is
omen north and will be open to San Antonio
| tomorrow morning.
All communication from Galveston and
Houston via the Santa Fe. Galveston,
Houston & San Antonio. San Antonio q
Aransas Pass and the Missouri, Kansas d
Texas railroads is cut off. The only lines
omen are the Texas G. New Orleans. Hous-
| ton. East & West Texas, International
Great Northern and Kansas City, Pittsburg
& Gulf.
The little town of Brookshire, in Waller
county, where the Missouri, Kansas &
Texas railroad crosses the Brazos river. Is
| surrounded by water. Those driven out OF
the valley fiocked to the town, and are
being fed The citizens of Brookshire ap-
pealed to Governor Sayers for help. Gov
ernor Sayers appealed to the citizens of
/ Houston, Galveston and San Antonio. The
first carload of provisions was sent from
Houston this morning. Two carloads OF
provisions were sent from Galveston. Many
contributions were sent freely. Rumors
were afloat that many lives were lost at
Brookshire, but the News only has posi-
tive information that two lives have peen
|lost Congressman Hawley has wired Gov
| 20 pcl-
for authority to send boats from Galveston
Il up the Brazos river to rescue people caught
in the flood Boats have already been sent
from Houston. Others have been made
on the scene of the flood.
:. One fact which tends to discredit stories
of heavy loss of life in the lower Brazos
valley is that the planters knew the flood
was coming, and had time to warn their
: hands.
Outside of the disasters at Calvert and
Brookshire, there have been about six
, drownngs, during the past week at differ
| ent points in Central and Southern Texas
due to the floods.
The News will not attempt to give an
estimate as to the crop damage, but be-
lieves the rains have done more good than
harm Crops outside the flooded districts
are in fine condition. The waters recede
rapidly and the crops Will not De tota
loss in the flooded districts. Many local
tiles will replant cotton and have time tc
, make a crop. The railroads are heavy suf-
ferers, as many miles of track have beer
washed out and numerous bridges either
demolished or badly damaged. Not sin
| gle big iron railway bridge is down. The
, News correspondent at Sealey has just re-
. turned from the BraZos river. He report:
. 400 negroes destitute and homeless, hud
! died on a mound. The people of San Felipe
, , | have reached the limit of their ability Ii
! assisting them, and appeal for outside aid
:, Bacon and meat are needed. negro whit
= recklessly attempted to swim his horse
i across the river was drowned. The Gulf
Colorado & Santa Fe railroad sent relic
l train to Thompson this afternoon to res
cue a party sent out on work train t.
sandbag the bridge. The people of Thomp
} son were also invited to come that way
1 The train returned to the city to-nigh
I after accomplishing its mission.