Albuquerque morning journal., 1913-12-06
OVER FIFTY DEATHS
AND MILLIONS Of
PROPERTY Loss
Flood in Central Texas Takes
Heavy Toll and Fear Is Felt
for Lives of Hundreds of
MarOoned People,

Ihf MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LuksHu wtHrl
Bryan, Tex. Dee 5.--A death toll
of more than fifty persons, and pos
siblB a Thousand others mailooned
and suffering from prolonged hunger
land cold, was indicated by tonights
reports from the flooded Brazos river
bottoms In this section of south cen-
l tral Texas For over fifty miles the
Brazos was three to FIVE miles wide
iand running with mill race speed
Scores OF flood refugees are believed
I TO be in peril.
The known dead In Texas floods
numbered thirty-three before reports
from the inundated territory In this
district began coming in late today
The late reports were brought by men
on horseback and indicated at least
twenty more persons had been
drowned. About two-thirds Of the
dead were negroes.
The couriers' reports indicated that
the property loss would total four or
five million dollars when losses along
the Bra2os are added TO the already
heavy damage in other portions Of
the state.
Henry Martin, vice president and
general manager of the International
& Great Northern railroad was
drowned at Valley Junction, near here
late today while attempting TO rescue
marooned flood victims
Mr., Martin went to Valley Junction
where the confluence of the Little and
Big Bra2os rivers made a swirling
lake, six miles across, 10 direct per-
sonally the relief forces. he was at
tempting to navigate a boat alone
when the frail craft was upset His
body had not been recovered late to-
night
Six members of the life saving
crew stationed at Galveston and
train load of motor boats from lOus-
ton. which started for Bryan late to-
day, were stopped by high water at
Navasota The boats were launched
at that point shortly before dark and
started up stream tonight over the
flooded bottoms 10 rescue persons re-
ported clinging 10 trees house tops
or occasionally standing i'm shallow
water, cut off from shore Bryan had
twenty boats out all day which
brought 10 high ground several hun
dred persons the majority terrified
and half-clad negroes
train load of provisions and
blankets was sent from here tonight
to Kosarek on the edge of the bot
toms where 100 of the refugees were
Throughout the bottoms
even where the water did not endan-
ger life It ruined provisions in stores
destroying the food supply.
Anxiety was felt tonight for scores
Of negroes whom boat men reported /
to trees. These negroes wet, /
chilled and hungry already had been I
in the trees for tWenty-four hours /
Last night. eight miles from Bryan, I
Michael Cortmellis. an Italian was
heard calling for help from his half F
cabin This morning the I
'abin had disappeared. as had Cort +
nellis, his wife ana several children. I
Several planters in the bottoms [
lave sent ont their wives and chill .
lren. but remained behind themselves,
hoping by imprOylsing platforms to
ave their stock. AnSiety is felt for
heir safety
Mudvale, hamlet near Browns
lille. was flooded from a depth Of
rom ten to twenty feet No deaths
we're reported from there
San Antonio today reported its first
lood death, when John Gonsho q /
armer, was drowned in the Leon
liver. At High Bank, 1t was learned
hat six negroes lost their lives in
tead Of two. as formerly reported
shen tho rise struck there Wednes
ay night.
AT Hearne only seven boats We're
lvailable 20 cover the miles of land
looded by the Brazos The marooned {
number several white people and nu- J
nerous negroes Tonight two OF the
,oats had been swamped. The fate
l.