The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-07-12
MANY LIVES ARE LOST.
Disaster by Floods in Texas Is So
Appalling as to Make Descrip-
tion Impossible.
FAlRESI PART OF STATE DEVASTATED.
The One Hupdred or More Victims
Are Nearly All Negroes-The Loss
of Property Is Enormous = Gov.
sayers sends an Appeal tn the Sec
rotary of War for Help.

Rotary OF war Tor Help.
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
Another Estimate OF Deaths.
Additional authentic reports of
dated region were received here.
conservative estimate of the number
of persons drowned is as follows. Wal
Ter county, IT; Grimes county, 3; A~s-
tin county, 2; BraZos county, z; Rob-
ertson county, AZ; Bell county, 1; Wash
ington county, a; Matagorda county, B;
Burleson county, 6; Fort Bend county,
/; Brazoria county, 81 total, 80.
victims Nearly All Negroes.
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 unconfirmed rumor that 1875 negroes
had been drowned in Waller county
reached here Wednesday evening. 1t is
thought the loss of life will exceed the
foregoing estimate when the real stu
alton is revealed after the waters have
subsidized.
Asks foc Ala.
Gov. Savers sent the following
Wednesday night:
Austin. Tex, July 5.--To the Secretary
OF War, War Department. Washington, ~.
c.: Please Immediately order by wire
boats at Galveston 10 ascend rivers, using
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
TO place at my disposal for immediate dis
tribution 10000 rations. | Will recommend
TO legislature TO refund to the United States
their value when II 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 d. SAVERS. Governor"
Calamity Is 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. Ii 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
ent over the long-distance telephone
from Sealy: 81 am so dumfounded by
the extent of the disaster that hardly
know how TO talk about it. Fully 20
lives have been lost within radius of
25 miles of Sealy. Last night and to-
day nearly 100 have been drowned in
the vicinity of what is now locally
known as THE Mound.
Supplies for the Destitute.
Austin, Tex, July THE entire val
ley of the Brazos, from Brennan on
the north 20 its mouth at Quintana, is
flooded. and its current is filled with
the debris of wrecked houses. stock
and farming implements. Secretary of
War Alger has placed at the disposal of
the governor 10000 rations to be sup
piled to the destitute and furnishing
sufferers.
No Material Change.
Houston, Tex, July s.-The flood sit
uation is not materially changed. While
the wateris falilngin the lower portions
of the state. the flood in the lower part
of the Brazos valley continues TO rise,
and people below Richmond, Fort Bend
county, on the Southern Pacific rail
road, being forwarned of the damage
above, are making for high ground.
Hungry Thousands.
ST. Louis, July 10.-A special to the
Post-Dispatcb from Dallas, Tex, says:
Gov. Sayers, in a talk over the long dis
lance telephone from Austin request
ed the press TO state that i'm addition |
to money all character of clothing and |
provisions are needed in the flood dis
trict. He suggests that parties con-
tributing such articles communicate |
with him before shipments are made in |
order that intelligent distribution may |
be had. There are from $4,000 10 1OO,- |
600 persons needing relief. About |
100000 in money and supplies have
been contributed, but many times that |
much is needed.
A Fatal Quarrel.