The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-06
The Scenes in the Bottoms Near
BroOkshirs IndescribahIs.
The Country for Miles Around Perfect
Sea Of Water.
Sixty-Five Lives Lost Within a
Radius Of Twenty Miles and
Hundreds Of People Isolated on
Small Pieces Of Land, Who, I'M
less Relief Soon Arrives, Will
All BE Drowned.

Small Pieces Of Land, Who, I'm
less Relief Soon Arrives, Will
All BE Drowned.
ST. LOUIS, July "a special to the
st-Dispatch'' from Dallas, Texas,
says:
At 10:45 to-day Deputy Sheriff
following statement over the long dis
lance telephone at Sealey:
Relief has not yet reached the flood
victims in this section. Thirteen dead
bodies have been recovered near the
town of Brookshire, thirteen miles
from here. Forty-five persons above
Sealey are reported missing, and
given up for dead. Seven were drowned
to-day in a boat seven miles below
Sealey.
about 400 persons are isolated on a
small piece of land in the BraZos bot
toms, three miles from Brookshire.
Several hundred more are surrounded
at San Philippe, three miles from Sea-
ley. Unless relief can soon reach these
isolated places 500 lives will be lost.
Many will die, it is expected, from
hunger, exposure and exhaustion.
1.-The water to-day is running
through the town of Brookshire, some
thing never known before. The sixty-
five lives reported lost here to-day
were in a radius of twenty miles north
and south of Sealey. We are COM
pletely isolated at Sealey, but this town
is notsin danger.
1--WE cannot estimate the situation
beyond the limits I mention. The
whole face of the country here is a
sea. The channel of the Brazos River
has shifted about three miles. and the
water here is fifteen miles wide. Logs,
houses. lumber, railroad material, mer-
chandise and livestock and other
floating objects make it worth the life
of rescuers to go to the relief of the
endangered people, most of whom are
negroes.
1.-The railroads are destroyed Tor
miles. An immense washout occurred
on the Santa Fe south of Sealey. This
cuts off our last strand of railroad
communication. The Missouri. Kansas
and Texas, the Gulf and Santa Fe and
the Southern Pacific are all completely
stopped.
1.-The frame work of the big Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas bridge at
Dewey is all that is left of that struc-
ture, which if not swept bodily away
will have to be rebuilt.
1.-The scene at San Philippe and in the
bottoms near Brookshire are indescrib-
able
THE weather is cloudy, and we fear
more rain will fall tonight"
APPEAL FOR RELIEF.
ST. LOUIS. July ga special to the
Republic" from Austin, Texas, says
The following was received here to-
night:
Galveston, Texas, July 81. D.
Sayers, Governor, Austin: My infor-
nation this afternoon shows appalling
conditions from flood, with continued
rise and spread of waters until prob
ably $4,000 square miles are under
water south of Calvert. Relief should
be Immediate and 1 fear on a more
extensive scale than private subscrip-
ton, no matter how generous, can
provide. Under the circumstances l
deem it expedient to make the situa-
ton known to the Secretary of War,
and ask that relief boats now in Gal
weston be permitted to ascend the
rivers and at a point inaccessible to
them to use their launches and yawl
boats, and at the same time provide for
the distribution of 10000 rations. II
YOU concur, / have the honor to sug-
gest that you wire the Secretary OF
War accordingly. Meantime Galveston
and doubtless other committees Will
continue with the work of relief to the
full extent of their means. I await
your action and will join if desired in
any course you take.
.R B. HAWLEY."
The following was Immediately sent
in reply:
Austin, Texas, July 5.--R. B. Haw-
ley, Galveston: I have wired Secretary
of War as suggested. Will be glad to
have your cooperation.
JOSEPH d. SAVERS
Subsequently the following was
wired:
"Austin, Texas, July 5.-The Secre-
tary of War, Washington: Please inn
mediately order by wire boats at Gal
weston to ascend rivers, using launches
and yawls to rescue people from the
waters which are widespread over the
lOWlandS. Fl6dSG dloc OidSh
ing officer at San Antonio to place al
INV disposal for immediate distribu-
ton LOCO rations Will recommend to
Legislature to refund to United States
its value when it next meets, ana &c
not doubt that it will be promptly done
Devastation great; immense loss OF lie
probable. Prompt action very impor-
tant Answer.
JOSEPH D. SAVERS, Governor.
THOUSANDS STARVING.
ST. LOUIS, July ga special to the
.sRepublic" from Austin, Tex, says:
News received here to-day by Gov
ernor Sayers from the flooded territory
along the Brazos River indicates dis
tressing condition of affairs. In addi-
ton to appeals already received for
aid. one came from Fulshear, Texas,
to-day reading as follows:
thousands starving. Immediate
aid wanted.
From other sections of the flooded
district south of Hearne and between
there and the mouth of the Brazos APP
oeals for aid are coming in. Every
report is that the people are entirely
bereft of their homes, food and cloth
Ing.
The larger cities of the State are re-
spending literally to the call for aid,
and are confident that they can look
after the afflicted district.