12 Dec 1913
Page 1
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Newspaper
Hearne Democrat
Location
Hearne, Texas, United States of America
Date
Dec 12, 1913
Page
1
The Brazos near Hearne is a water world where a prior dry landscape lay. Bridges and plantations are submerged, with livestock and horses swept away or saved by improvised boats. Rescue boats reach areas like Paley Reed, Westbrook, and Goodland as locals risk lives to save people and animals amid rising waters.
Mr. H. L. Lewis reports all residents at the Adams place and Westbrook place are safe after an inundated district rescue. He and Fred L. Wood checked on parties yesterday, then returned to Reed place to aid Dr. Mateer and others. A boat carrying Mrs. Hannah, children, Dr. Alexander, and Contractor Schmidt reportedly turned over but the family has since been rescued and is safe.
Dallas December 4 Texas flood center shifted south toward the Gulf centering Hearne to Richmond as the Brazos River crest kept damaging and costing lives. Relief arrived as three days of rain eased across the state and creeks in North and West Texas began to fall.
The total death toll reached 24 with $1 to $2 million in property damage. San Antonio suffered about $250,000 and Waco faced similar losses. Militia guarded abandoned homes in East Waco as floodwaters receded and two men, J. W. Ray and C. McDaniel, drowned after falling from a railroad bridge into the Brazos.
Residents from Valley Junction flee toward Hearne as floodwaters rise and cotton bales drift. The Brazos levee near Bryan holds, water within three to four feet of the top. College Station reports miles of farmland flooded as area loses power. Richmond issues urgent evacuation warnings for Brazos lowlands.
Flood conditions are serious at Cameron Texas with the Little River area flooded past 1852 levels. Santa Fe bridge approaches washed away and trains halted northbound since Wednesday afternoon. San Antonio and Aransas Pass line discontinued. trestle submerged yet standing with ten houses lodged against it. Many bridges and houses washed away. river two and a half miles wide.
Four men Fred L Wood, Hubert L Lewis, W N Mateer and Jackson Willard brought into Hearne after discovering seven enslaved Black individuals hidden in a corn crib on the Paley Reed place. The captives were found up on a lot of corn, waterlogged but alive.
Mr James C Glenn and Mr J J D Hurley returned from a morning boat trip to find the Hannah residence flooded. They helped Mrs Hannah and three boys to safety while others remained in danger. Rescue attempts continued for Mr Hannah and remaining children as boats searched and doctors aided the stranded.
Early morning the Grogan party and associates set out from Hearne in a boat to reach Westbrook McQueen and Adams properties to evacuate willing residents. McQueen family saved yesterday evening from their roof and moved to Adams place. Several others are reported safe at respective homes, with W T Hannah and family still unaccounted for as floodwaters subside.
A Houston Post report describes rapid mobilization to Hearne to rescue 500 people marooned by the Brazos flood. Mayor Campbell gathered boats, sent crews to Harrisburg for more craft, and prepared wagons to reach the valley above Hearne where planters and thousands of acres of plantation land faced vast losses. Many tenants were enslaved, with crops and mules devastated and possible loss of life.
Mrs. R B Collier and her two children with Mrs Trynce’s sister arrived Hearne about 11:80 this morning and are staying at the Oriental Hotel. Mr. R B Collier remained to render assistance. About 80 negroes on the place are reported safe. Mr Collier will return this afternoon.
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