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Clay County TXGenWeb Project Transcribed by Vicki W. Shaffer from the original newspaper which belonged to Wm. Thomas Wilson, Bellevue, Clay Co. TEXAS ====================================================================== THE GREAT FLOOD IN TEXAS FLOOD'S WATERS RAPIDLY RECEDING. Governor Sayers Says Texas is Not Asking Assistance, but Will Appreciate Any Aid Given. ====================================================================== Republic Special. Austin, Tex., July 10.--Reports from the flooded district to-day indicate that the waters are receding very rapidly. Everything is reported in as good condition as could be expected at Velasco, which is now considered the center of the high-water country, and reports from other sections of the flooded district show conditions to be more favorable than was at first supposed. The list of destitute sufferers and the communities from which they seem to spring is, however, daily growing greater in number, judging from the pleas for assistance which reached the Governor to-day. The number of contributions continue to pour in, and it is made evident that there will be enough money and food to supply the demand. To-day Governor Sayers dispatched State Health Officer Blunt to Velsco, where he is to begin and take the course of the flooded district in order that he may be better informed as to the sanitary condition the country is being left in, and the possibilities for an epidemic of disease, which is being greatly feared as a follower of the high waters. Governor Sayers received many telegrams to-day informing him of the distressing condition confronting the people, and in each case he promptly wired them relief. He stated to-day that from information he had received the condition was very serious and the list of destitutions seems to be growing instead of decreasing. This morning Governor Sayers received a telegram from Lewis R. Bryan of Velasco, reading as follows: "Water has reached its highest and Velasco is all right and able to take care of such of her people as may need assistance. Channel twenty-two feet deep, and we wish your aid in getting government engineers to let contract for work on jetties at very earliest moment, as it will serve the treble purpose of saving much dredging and will also give work to many people and have good moral effect on the people of this and adjoining counties by helping to revive and steady their hopes and spirits in this time of destruction and demoralization. Please communicate with Captain Riche at Galveston and Secretary of War." Hearne Asks for Help. The Governor also received a telegram from Mayor P.L. Brady of Hearne, Tex., stating that while that community had been attending to the wants of the sufferers thereabout since last Wednesday matters had reached such a crisis that it was necessary to call on the Governor for aid. The telegram states that "The vast number who have lost every vestige of crop, stock, food, bedding, clothing and even their homes, and who are out of employment, renders it impossible for the people here to meet their wants and unless we can get immediate aid from other sources they must suffer. There are hundreds of families who have lost everything in the world they possessed and are now destitute and suffering for life's necessities, and we need at least $5,000 to properly meet their wants, but of course will be glad to accept such aid as the State or public can furnish." The following telegram was also received from County Judge John P. Bell, at Belleville, Tex." "There are 1,200 flood sufferers in this county north of Mill Creek; 1,000 south of Mill Creek, including Ward's Bend, and 330 at Wallis. The people at Belleville have cared for those north of Mill Creek up to Saturday without aid from any other place. Sealey and San Felipe have received from you $500 and 1,500 rations. Belleville, for her 1,200 people, has received no aid yet, but bought $70 worth of meat and bacon, expecting to pay for it out of $1,000 to come from you. Wallis needs more food. Cannot tell when people may get homes or how they will live." The Governor also received a telegram from the Houston Relief Committee asking for best destinations to ship cottonseed for replanting. The government immediately gave a dozen localities on the river, and as soon as the seeds arrive the work of planting will begin. In addition to the cottonseed, blackeyed peas, sorghumseed and corn are being rushed to all points to be replanted at once. In reply to numerous inquiries as to whether assistance were wanted from without the State, Governor Sayers replied as follows: "Texas is not asking help, but will greatly appreciate any assistance rendered. The distress in the Brazos Valley is very great indeed. The average width of the flood for over 300 Miles is fully ten miles, sweeping everything before it." THE RISE IN THE BRAZOS. ------------------- Dispatches Indicate Terrible Loss and Suffering. Republic Special. Galveston, Tex., July 10.--The critical point of the great overflow is in the fertile county of Brazoria. The following brief dispatches received from points in that county to-day best describe the situation: Columbia Station, July 10.--The United States tug Anna arrived here at 11 a.m. to- day. She rescued sixty people on her way up from Brazoria. The Brazos River is still rising here and is two feet higher than ever known. Every house in town except two is flooded, also every store. Many have had vacate their premises where they are safe. A sufficient quantity of supplies is on hand for present necessities. Crops are all ruined. It is reported that there is much suffering in the bottoms from the river. The Anna will leave here at 12 o'clock for down the river, where she will pick up 10 people and take them to Brazoria for safety. (Signed) "J.S. Rogers, Agent." Mr. Rogers is the oldest man in point of employment in the service of the International and Great Northern Railway. A dispatch from Dukes, signed by J.J. Fenn: "Distress beyond description in the bottoms of the Brazos in Brazoria County. We are blessed by the side of those people. Many lives lost." Mayor Jones received a dispatch from Sandy Point from the Galveston life savers, that the crews under Chase, Woolford and Hutchins had rescued 509 from the bottoms in that vicinity. That the water was receding, but they would continue their work south. The situation is most acute about Angleton, where the water of the overflow extends from the Caney River on the west to the Chocolate Bayou on the east, a distance of about forty miles and is causing complete destruction and desolation. Absolutely nothing will be left. Cattle by the hundreds have been drowned and all bridges in that section have been carried away. The lighthouse tender Pansy sailed this morning with relief supplies and will ascend the Brazos as far as Richmond, succoring those in distress. General Manger L.J. Polk of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe has just returned from the North, and from rough estimate of the cost of repairs and actual loss of business he places the total loss suffered by his road at $750,000. The Brazos is subsiding at Duke, Richmond and points north, and all railways that have suffered damages are rushing material to each and of the breaks on their respective lines, and as soon as the subsidence of the waters will permit the work of rebuilding and repairing will be pushed vigorously night and day until completed and through traffic established. Much sickness is expected to follow the flood due to the putrefaction of stock drowned. The stench from this cause is reported as horrible in many localities. This, coupled with impure water, may produce an epidemic, which the State health authorities are now actively engaged in trying to prevent. ------------------------------------ WANT FOOD AND CLOTHING. ---------------------- Dallas Again Called On to Relieve Flood Sufferers. REPUBLIC SPECIAL. Dallas, Tex., July 10. --Notwithstanding Dallas has furnished approximately $3,000 in cash to the Brazos flood relief fund, the pressure for assistance is still so heavy that Governor Sayers to-day called upon Mayor Trayor and County Judge Forel to try to raise contributions of food and clothing. The Mayor and the Judge at once started a systematic movement for a canvass of the city and county for aid. An effort is being made to get the numerous cotton seed oil mills in the State to donate seed by the carload for the purpose of replanting in the Brazos bottoms, the hope being that with a late fall in the southern part of the State, perhaps part of a crop may be grown. June corn and the Mexican variety may also be tried. News from the flood region to-day was not materially different in tone from that of several days past. Rescuing parties are getting down close to the month or the Brazos, where the stream broadens out into a low delta. The immense volume of water has reached that section in its fullness and terrible devastation is the result. J.J. Fenn telephoned from Duke that reported the distress as being indescribable. The loss of life was also reported to be much larger in that section than had been anticipated. The railroad situation has improved but little in the flood district. In fact, no regular train service has been renewed. Large forces of workingmen have been gotten together in spots, ready to start reconstruction work as soon as the waters subside sufficiently. ------------------------------ IN FORT BEND COUNTY. ------------------------------ Water Receding and Relief Boats Finish Their Work. REPUBLIC SPECIAL. Dallas, Tex., July 10 -- Walter Hinson telephones from Richmond, Fort Bend County, to-night: "All relief forces and boats finished their work of rescue in the vicinity this afternoon. The boats and tier lifesaving crews were taken back to Galveston, Houston, Eagle Lake and Columbus, where they came from, this evening, as no more persons were in danger of drowning. "There are 600 refugees left here, who will have to be fed and cared for , for an indefinite period. There are as many more at Thompson's Switch thirteen miles below here. We have ample food supplies here for several days. "A large number of boats are working below here, from Duke to Velasco, on a stretch of about sixty miles of river bottoms, in which the water will average at least ten miles in width. We consider that affairs are in comparatively good shape here at Richmond. The water fell 12 inches more here to-day, putting it below the danger point. But the conditions are reported to be very bad further south; worse than were at first believed. The loss of life is said to exceed former reports, particularly between Duke and Columbia. The water is so high and communication so difficult that circumstantial details cannot be obtained; but there is no doubt that the situation is a deplorable and critical one. There are an abundance of boats and life-savers there, however." ---------------------------------- FORT WORTH CALLED ON. ---------------------------------- Asked to Contribute Help to Austin Sufferers. REPUBLIC SPECIAL. Fort Worth, Tex., July 10.--To-day Mayor Paddock received this telegram: "Distress in Austin County very great. Will not the citizens of Tarrant County contribute cornmeal, flour and bacon for relief of flood sufferers in that county? If so, please undertake collection and ship quickly as possible to the Mayor, San Felix, Tex. Railroads will give transportation. (Signed) "JOS. D. SAYERS, Governor." Fort Worth has sent over $800 since Saturday, but Mayor Paddock started out to get that carload of provisions. ------------------------------- TEXANS ARE GRATEFUL. ------------------------------- Appreciate the Assistance Extended to Flood victims. REPUBLIC SPECIAL. Washington, July 11.--"The appeals that come in for help from the flood sufferers of the Brazos bottoms do not fall upon deaf ears because 96 per cent of those who send up the piteous cry are blacks," said J.N. Burnett of Dallas this evening. "Our people are going to take as good care of those unfortunates as the most humane could ask. It must be remembered, too, that the white planters have been heavy losers, but a considerable number of them were wealthy, and some will look after the needs of their own negro tenants. The situation in the overflowed region is simply appalling, and though the loss of life has not been so great as first reported, the property loss has not been exaggerated. It will reach far into the millions. "It may take several years, too, to get the land back to its normal fertile condition, for the floods have washed away a great deal of the soil of one of the richest agricultural sections of the United States. Think of an enormous area of country in which not a vestige of growing crop is left. Not only are the fields swept clean of every stalk of cotton and corn, but there is widespread destruction of kinds of livestock. Horses and mules, cows, sheep and swine, all were whirled away in the raging torrents, and but few were able to get out alive. ------------------------------- FIVE HUNDRED RESCUED. ------------------------------ Life Savers' Report of Work in the Flooded Districts. Washington, D.C., July 11.--The Life Saving Bureau has received the following telegram from Superintendent Hutchins at Galveston, Tex., who, with a force of lifesavers, has been operating in the flooded districts: "Have rescued 542 persons. Seven to fifteen feet of water over the cotton and cane plantations. Some drowned; many narrow escapes. Have surf boat and borrowed boat and seven men operating now under keepers. Water receding." -------------------------------- HEAT ADDS TO DISTRESS -------------------------------- Scorching Sun Raises the Thermometer to the 100 Mark. REPUBLIC SPECIAL. Austin, Tex., July 10--The heat wave sweeping over Central Texas to-day is very severe. As early as 10 o'clock this morning the thermometer registered to 90 in the shade, and by noon it had reached the 100 mark. There was little breeze stirring, and the heat was intense. The heat is of the moist nature that is very debilitating. ------------------------------- Copyright © 2009-2017 Vicki Shaffer, The TXGenWeb Project & Contributors. All Rights Reserved. USGenWeb Copyright Regulations Materials on this site are provided for the free use of persons who are researching their family history. 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