flooding, esp. Brazos River, TX–284

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-17-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

Blanchard note: I show 284 lives lost as reported in the first three sources noted below, none of which cite a source, though I am skeptical. The earliest of the three, Bishop’s, was first written in 1952, more than half a century after the flooding. Our own search of Texas newspapers at the time, going through July, note that the loss of life would not be more than 100 (El Paso Daily Herald, 7-11-1899, 1.) Nonetheless, the specificity of 284 lives list gives us pause. If the number had been reported as 200 or 300, we would speculate that the number itself was a speculation. Thus, though we have searched the Internet, we find nothing to support 284 lives lost, or any other number other than we locate in newspapers at the time. Surely there is an original source for the number 284, which apparently has been picked up and repeated without citation or investigation, but we have not located this source.

— 284 Bishop. “Brazos Flood of 1899.” TX State Historical Assn. Handbook of Texas Online.[1]

— 284 LifeOnTheBrazosRiver.com. The Brazos River. “Floods of the Brazos River in Texas.”[2]

— 284 Texas State Library & Archives Commission. Portraits of Texas Governors.[3]

—<100 El Paso Daily Herald. “The Brazos Falling…Emptying Itself Into the Gulf.” 7-11-1899, 1.

— 45 Colac Herald, Victoria, Australia. “Awful Calamity in Texas. 6-13-1899, p. 3.

— 37 Galveston Daily News, TX. “Resume of the Flood.” 7-9-1899, p. 1.

— 0 Austin County [Reported next day that Robert Murphy, 20, drowned, CO river.[4]]

— 0 Bell County

— 0 Brazoria County

— 3 Brazos County

— 1 Burleson County

— 3 Falls County

— 0 Fort Bend County

— 4 Grimes County

— 0 McLennan County

— 0 Milam County

–24 Robertson County

— 1 Waller County

— 1 Washington County

Counties most effected, north to south, based on “Map of the Flooded District.” In the Houston Daily Post, 7-7-1899, p. 1:

McLennan

Bell

Falls

Roberson

Milam

Brazos

Burleson

Grimes

Washington

Walker

Austin

Fort Bend

Brazoria

Narrative Information

Bishop: “Between June 17 and June 28, 1899, rainfall averaging 8.9 inches fell over 66,000 square miles, causing the Brazos River to overflow its banks and inundate an estimated 12,000 square miles. Damage to property was estimated at more than $9 million and 284 persons were known to have perished in the floodwaters; thousands of others were left homeless. The flood’s highest recorded stage was at Hearne, where, as at many points, the waters rose above all available flood gauges.” (Bishop. “Brazos Flood of 1899.” TX State Historical Assn. Handbook of Texas Online.)

LifeOnTheBrazosRiver.com: “Between June 17 and June 28, 1899, rainfall averaging 8.9 inches fell over 66,000 square miles, causing the Brazos River to overflow its banks and inundate an estimated 12,000 square miles. Damage to property was estimated at more than $9 million and 284 persons were known to have perished in the floodwaters; thousands of others were left homeless. The flood’s highest recorded stage was at Hearne, where, as at many points, the waters rose above all available flood gauges.” (LifeOnTheBrazosRiver.com. The Brazos River. “Floods of the Brazos River in Texas.”)

Texas State Library & Archives Commission: “Jun 17-28 1899 Great Brazos Flood kills 284.” (Texas State Library & Archives Commission. Portraits of Texas Governors.)

Newspapers – Chronological

June 17: “Waco, Tex., June 17. – The Brazos river rose 6 feet 7 inches between 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon and noon to-day and is still rising slowly. A report reached here this afternoon that a 12-foot rise is coming down from the upper counties and will reach here to-morrow. If the present depth of the river, which is 11 feet 8 inches, is maintained and the report prove correct of a head of 12 feet coming, the flood point will be nearly reached when the freshet water from above reaches here. The situation is considered threatening enough to cause the people in the valley to keep well on their guard. If the figures given as to the flood water in the river above Waco are exactly correct the overflow will not, even when the upper flood arrives, be up to the disaster point. It is still raining in the counties northwest of Waco and the tributaries of the Brazos above Waco are pretty full. It is thought that the river can carry off all the water now in it unless the rains keep falling to-night and to-morrow. Observations are being made all along the course of the river and warnings will be sent as soon as the danger point is reached.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “The Brazos Rising.” 6-18-1899, p. 1, col. 4.)

June 21: “Waco, Tex., June 21. – The Brazos river began falling at 6 o’clock this morning, after having risen 21.8 feet. Nearly 16 feet of this was Red river rise, one of the largest of that character in years. Old settlers say had the local rains continued much damage would have resulted.” (San Antonio Daily Light, TX. 6-21-1899, p. 4, col. 6.)

June 23: “Brazos River. Falling at Navasota. Navasota, Grimes Co., Tex., June 23. – The Brazos river has been falling rapidly all day and all fear of high water is passed.

“Chappell Hill, Washington Co., Tex., June 23. – The Brazos river has risen about twenty feet and has run over its banks into the old river. This is at a place where the banks are low, and no danger of a general overflow is apprehended.” (Galveston News, TX. “Brazos River.” 6-24-1899, p. 3.)

June 24: “The Brazos river is higher at Glen Rose than it has been since 1894 and is still rising.” (El Paso Daily Herald, TX. “Neighborhood Notes. Texas.” 6-24-1899, p. 3, col. 4.)

June 29: “Special to the Daily Light. Waco, Tex., June 29. – The Brazos river is on a tremendous rise and only lacks six feet of being the highest known and is rising ten inches an hour. It is feared that damage will result in East Waco, and water has already encroached somewhat on that section. The river is now twenty-seven feet above the low wat4r mark. Great quantities of hay and grain which had been shocked in the low lands passed by this morning. Every stream in this section is bank full and the same report comes from some distance above. If the river gets much higher great damage will result to the bottom farms. The basement of the Provident building, on Franklin street, was flooded last night and considerable damage was done. Some bridges are gone in the county. Over four inches of rain have fallen in the last thirty-six hours.

“Special to the Daily Light. Victoria Light. Victoria, Tex., June 29. – The excessive rains for the past four days caused the stoppage of east bound trains yesterday and on their arrival at Victoria, there was a detention until 1 o’clock this morning. The washouts were between Wharton and Edna.

Special to the Daily Light. Houston, Tex., June 29. – The Buffalo bayou is higher than for years and is still rising.

“Special to the Daily Light. Austin Tex., June 29. – The morning trains over the International and Great Northern and the Houston and Texas Central were seriously delayed by the heavy rain storms and washouts. The south bound International and Great Northern train is seven hours late. The rain has been heavy in this vicinity but no damage was done. The crops are fine.

“Special to the Daily Light. Dallas, Texas, June 29. – It has been raining here for two days and is still raining. Farmers say it is damaging corn….” (San Antonio Daily Light, TX. “Big Rains. Brazos River on a Tremendous Boom.” 6-29-1899, p. 4.)

June 30: “Special to the Daily Light. Waco, Tex., June 30. – 8 a.m. – The Brazos river is higher here than ever known. A number of bridges have been washed away. The water is all over East Waco. There is great damage to property, but so far no lives have been reported lost.” (San Antonio Daily Light. “Brazos On A Boom!” 6-30-1899, p. 1.)

June 30: “Austin, Tex., June 30. – (Special) – The terrific rains in Central Texas continue unabated and the floods in the creeks and rivers are devastating growing crops and other property with increased voraciousness. Railroad traffic on almost every trunk line in the State is paralyzed and the damage to the International & Great Northern, the Houston & Texas Central; the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, the San Antonio & Aransas Pass and the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe roads by the washing away of bridges and many miles of track will aggregate over a half million dollars. This section of the State has been completely cut off from railway communication with the North and East for the past two days and no mail from St. Louis, Chicago, New York and other Northern and Eastern points has been received since the traffic was first interrupted.

“The Brazos river is the largest of the flooded streams. At points its width is ten miles and it continues to rise slowly below Hearne. Its tributaries are all out of their banks and scores of costly country bridges have been washed away. The Brazos river bottom lands from Hearne to Velasco are known as the most productive cotton region in the South. It is really the cotton belt of Texas. The present unprecedented high waters have swept 100,000 prospective bales of cotton out of existence. This is a conservative estimate of the extent of the loss of cotton yield. In addition to the cotton crop loss the sugar planters in the lower counties along the course of the Brazos are suffering great damage to their sugar cane crop.

“H. M. Troxow, a prominent planter of Washington county, who arrived here today from the scene of the flood in that section estimates that the total losses to crops in the bottoms of the Brazos and tributaries will be fully $2,000,000 and if the rise becomes a few feet greater the loss will reach an additional million dollars. In Washington and adjoining counties there are many well to do negro planters whose possessions are entirely swept away, leaving them without the course of the river the negroes are heavy sufferers from the flood.

“In Sell county Leon and Nolan creeks are raging torrents of water and have washed away many houses and household effects besides destroying all crops in the course. A telephone message was received this evening from Belton stating a number of small residences there had been swept away by Nolan creek, but no loss of life is reported. The flood has also done considerable damage at Bryan….

“The Colorado river is also on another big rise below here and in Fayette county it is out of its banks and doing much damage. State Senator A. B. Davidson of Cureo arrived here this evening. He stated that the Guadalupe and Colorado rivers in that section are flooding the low country. The rains in that locality during the past few days have been terrific. The fall was eight and eight-tenths inches in eighteen hours. The Gulf, West Texas & Pacific and the New York, Texas and Mexican railroads are literally washed to pieces. The track of the latter road from Victoria to Richmond, a distance of eighty miles, is nearly all under water. The San Antonio & Aransas Pass road from Cuero to Wallace, a distance of 100 miles is also badly washed out.

At Waco.

“The Brazon Within Two Inches of the 1883 Record – Damage to Bridges.

“Waco, Tex., June 30. – (Special) – The Brazos river reached a point at 6 o’clock, this morning just two inches below the high water mark of 1885, the highest ever known. The river began falling about 7 o’clock and had fallen three feet in twelve hours. It is going down faster at 10 o’clock. The rain ceased at 2 o’clock this morning, having fallen incessantly, save for two or three intermissions of a few minutes each, just 43 hours. The damage to crops will be slight, but the damage to improvements is heavy. Fences have been blown down and washed away. The destruction of country bridges is quite heavy and the loss will be something like $50,0000.

“Several bridges in the city were destroyed and much damage has been done to the streets. The loss from the floods by the city will reach perhaps $10,000 or $13,000. The damage to private property cannot be estimated, but it will go up to six figures in the county and city. The damage to merchandise in East Waco will not reach over $10,000, the merchants having put most of their goods up above the water. The railroads do not pretend to run their trains on time and the Houston & Texas Central has not run a train out since Wednesday. Washouts are reported at Reagan on the Waco branch and the train which went down Wednesday has not yet returned. The San Antonio & Aransas Pass lost almost 200 yards of its track on Castleman creek, twelve miles south. The Cotton Belt is running trains over the Katy to Hillsboro, taking their own track there. The Katy can only run as far south as Elgin. The Texas Central in unobstructed and is making very good time.

At Brenham.

“Thousands of Acres Inundated – The Celebration For July 4 Postponed.

“Brenham, Tex., June 30. – (Special) – At 6:30 o’clock this morning the record showed that since Tuesday morning 20.08 inches of rain has fallen here. It is hard to estimate the damage to the crops. Up to the time the rain commenced the prospects were good for cotton and corn. Now it is problematical. The greater part of the crop is made in the bottom land. The Brazos river is now over thousands of acres of land, every creek in this section has overflowed and is standing on the crops and there are estimates of 50 per cent of damage to cotton with a greater damage to corn. The upland will not suffer as have the lowlands, but when it is considered that the biggest part of the crop is along the bottoms it can be seen that this estimate o the whole crop is not far off.

“Some of the largest farms in this county are under water, Ni trains are running through Brenham except those on the branch between Hempstead and Austin. The damage to the Santa Fe Railway in this vicinity is very heavy. Two miles of the Houston & Texas Central tracks east of here are under water….” (San Antonio Daily Express, TX. “The Floods’ Ravages. The Terrific Rains in Central Texas Continue Unabated.” 7-1-1899, p. 1.)

July 1: “Navasota, Tex., July 1. – The almost interminable rise in the waters of the Brazos and Navasota rivers continue unabated, though by to-morrow evening it is hoped the worst will be over. Still no more damage can be done by the rivers unless there are still left cabins covered by water and they be taken away, as many have by the water….The water is said to be four feet higher than in 1885….The News correspondent launched a boat on Chase street and rowed over streets covered with fifteen feet of water and two or three hundred feet wide for a mile. Every one living in the lower end of town is moving as fast as possible….

Brenham Shut In.

“Brenham, Tex., July 1. – Brenham is still almost completely shut in. No trains or mail for four days. The only news comes from Austin…..One mile of track and two bridges are gone near Somerville. The Yegua is three miles wide. The Brazos rose four feet since 6 o’clock this morning. Bridge Master Rogers passed through yesterday and says the Central track in the Brazos bottom is 34 inches under water. In both the Brazos and Yegua bottoms much stock huddled on high knolls will be drowned…Mayor Wilkins has every available man and team pressed into service repairing washouts in the streets. Men are assembled in knots and groups with serious faces discussing the disaster. Many farmers in the county are absolutely ruined. Business is almost completely paralyzed. No Galveston News since last Tuesday.

Calvert Rumors

“Houston, Tex., July 1. Most alarming rumors obtained circulation here to-night to the effect that Calvert had been inundated, part of it swept away and fifty or sixty people known to have been drowned. Persons here who have friends or relatives there are desperately seeking every morsel of news from there. They fear that many more are drowned that are not known of. The idea prevails here that it amounts to an unparalleled calamity for Texas…

High Water At Mexia.

“Mexia, Tex., July 1. – Another heavy shower to-day and a thunder storm is now raging west of here. Several hundred feet of track is washed away at the end of the Navassa bridge and the highest point of the water has not yet been reached, as the rain west of here to-day is yet to come down. All bridges in the county are damaged and some are entirely gone. The loss to this county is bridges alone will be several thousand dollars….

The River At Waco.

“Waco, Tex., July 1. – The Brazos river lost twenty feet in twelve hours and began to rise at 7 o’clock this morning. By sunset it had regained nearly all it lost and was in eight inches of the highest mark of the present flood. The Busque, which is a fork of the Brazos, emptying into the latter three miles above Waco, drains the western portion of McLennan, all of Bosque and all of Erath counties and has a large system of tributaries, is largely responsible for to-day’s rampage in the Brazos. In addition, the Brazos got heavy contributions from the Aquilla and other Hill county streams and the result was the biggest local head of water ever seen. The wires are down and news comes only by horsemen, who reach here drenched and tired….The railroad lines parallel with the Brazos river are under water….

“The rain to-day beat anything recorded in the history of the country. There were several cloud-bursts, and the water in the main Bosque went up about forty feet in a few hours. Among the towns on the Bosque and its branches are Iredell, Clifton, Valley Mills, Stephenville, Meridian and China Springs. The towns named are the centers of wealthy communities of farmers. It is a splendid grain region, and flouring mills are numerous….The wreckage swept into the Brazos by the Bosque floods consisted of trees, fences, parts of houses and drowned stock. The main Bosque descends from a mountainous region and possesses many cascades along its course. It roared to-day as it rushed along, its mighty torrents constantly augmented by the numerous confluents, and when it struck costly steel bridges it knocked them winding and beat them double with its gigantic force…..

Heavy Rains at Belton.

“Belton, Tex., July 1. – One of the heaviest rains that has ever fallen fell here yesterday evening late. The Leon river is some three feet higher than known in years and is still rising. The approaches to the wagon bridge are gone. The Santa Fe bridge is still safe, but a small bridge east of the river is gone and all trains are delayed….The bridge near Nolanville is gone, and the big iron wagon bridge across the Leon river, three miles above here, is completely gone. Reports from Salado say that several houses in that section have been washed away. The loss is incalculable.

Report From Sealy.

“Denison, Tex., July 1. – At 3 o’clock this morning the Brazos river was reported as still rising at Sealy, and fears are expressed that the bridge there will be washed away. The water at that point is above the telegraph poles….

Heavy Rains in Lee County.

“Tanglewood, Lee Co., Tex., June 30. – Rain now for three days and nights, overflowing the creeks and washing out dams and water gaps….” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Results of the Flood…Property Loss Is Enormous.” 7-2-1899, p. 1.)

July 1: “Calvert, Texas, July 1. – This town and vicinity was visited by a veritable Johnstown flood Friday night [June 30]. The heavy rains which have been descending for several days had swollen the creeks, running into the northern and southern portions of the city, which, with the cloudburst of Thursday night have overflowed the embankments, causing widespread devastation. Destruction to property and crops in this section can not be at this time estimated. The damage to property in this city is very great.

“The negro settlement suffered the most loss. Five bodies of negroes have been recovered. The names are Dave White, Tom Hyson, Rosana Brown and her infant and an unknown negro. Some twelve negro houses were washed from their blocks and were distributed to a distance of some 150 yards away. Besides this thirty negro houses were flooded with water and the entire contents soaked and ruined. The rain has rendered 150 persons homeless. Prompt action was taken by Mayor Meredith in providing shelter and food for the suffering….” (Victoria Daily Advocate, TX. “Rains and Floods.” 7-7-1899, p. 2, col. 1.)

July 2: “The Trains. The railroad situation was visibly worse yesterday morning owing to rising water on the Navasota river below. At 10 a.m. Train Master Bisbee told the reporter that the Navasota river rose four feet Friday night and was seven feet over the track in the Navasota bottom, and the track covered for more than a mile….

“The Eagle reporter learned from Mr. Miller that the Austin branch of his line is under water from the big Brazos from two to seven feet for about a mile, twelve or fifteen miles west of Hempstead.

“Train Master Bisbee told the reporter the main line is under water from the big Brazos both north and south of Courtney, considerably over a mile at each place, the track being washed off a quarter of a mile at one place and some distance at the other…

“Prof. Harrington phoned Waco yesterday morning and learned they had rain there Friday night and the flood was all over East Waco. The water was over two feet deep in the Central depot there Friday night. Jule Chapman, a well known negro, was drowned in the little Brazos at the Sandy Point road crossing on Thursday, while trying to get to his family.

“Manager McCrea, from Judge Moore’s plantation, came in yesterday with the plantation mules which he had been holding in a lane this side of the river. He reported the water all over Judge Moore’s place and said that every foot of land in the Brazos bottom was under water except two knolls he knew of, one above and one further down. Mr. McCrea says the heavy rains flooded the bottom with water which met the overflow of the river, making it that much higher. He estimateds the rise at fifty feet above the low water and says the river was five miles side and about six feet higher than it was in 1885. Mr. McCrea lost about 100 head of hogs from the Moore farm….Mr. McCrea reported the water had fallen six inches…

“It was reported here yesterday that J. T. Smith, a white man living on the little Brazos at the Mumford crossing, was drowned…

“We…believe the backbone of the flood is broken, and conditions in the bottom will improve every hour from this on.” (Bryan Morning Eagle, TX. “The Flood.” 7-2-1899, p. 1.)

July 2: “News From Calvert. Reports of Great Loss of Life Seem to be Confirmed.

“Austin, Tex., July 2. – There is no improvement in the distressing situation in the extensive flooded districts in central and south Texas. On the contrary, the inundation is growing worst. There has been another twenty-four hours of heavy, continuous rains which have added to the already unprecedented volumes of water in the rivers and creeks of the richest agricultural region in the state. There seems to be no end to the rainfall. The sea of water now extends from the north central part of the state to the gulf, a distance of 300 miles and more, and with an average width of probably 75 miles. The great flood began nearly a week ago, and the suffering of the people in the inaccessible localities that are surrounded and completely cut off from communication with the outside world must be severe. Every possible effort is being made to rescue the unfortunate men, women and children thus situated, and all to-day rescuers plied the turbulent waters in improvised boats and rafts picking up the stranded water-bound people and conveying them to higher land.

“Railroad officials can do nothing to improve the situation with their damaged properties. More costly bridges are reported to have been swept away to-day, among them being that of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas road over Little river. All traffic over that division was suspended last night….

“Arrivals from Chappell Hill to-day state that scores of houses have passed down the Brazos river near there during the twenty-four hours. The dead bodies of hundreds of cattle, horses and other stock have also passed there, Judging from the number of residences in the river there must have been much destruction of property at points above there, It is still impossible to verify at this time the numerous reports of loss of life in the bottoms of the Brazos and its tributaries.

“The earlier reports of heavy loss of life in Robertson county, caused by a meeting of the waters of the Brazos and Little Brazos rivers, have been confirmed. The information received here to-day from Calvert, which is in the midst of the scene of destruction, Is meager, but is to the effect that over seventy people are missing. Nine bodies have been recovered. The floods of the two rivers came up so rapidly that the negroes living in between the water courses had no opportunity of escaping. They were caught in a trap and drowned….

Report From Hearne…Whole County Under Water.

“Hearne, Tex., July 2. – The News correspondent has spent the entire day trying to run down the many stories regarding the flood which are in circulation. The task is a great one, and so meager are the means of communication much of the real news is lost through want of authenticity. The stubborn fact, however, still remains that the events and conditions of the past few days have never had a precedent in the remembrance of living man. For more than sixty hours the clouds emptied themselves upon the earth until Thursday afternoon, when the sun for a time dispelled them and the worst was thought to be reached. During the afternoon a strong east wind blew and by nightfall the heavens had resumed their leaden hue and the rain began in earnest. From 7 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. there was not an instant’s lull, and such a rain it was that but few people in Hearne or within the scope of the downpour closed their eyes in sleep.

“Water poured through the tightest roofs, and from the hills came the overflowed creeks and sloughs which only halted to tear away the Houston and Texas Central railroad embankments and rush through the town on its way to the Brazos. The small amount of track left the Houston and Texas Central railroad was buried several feet in the sand. Already more than seventy cars have been shoved away and much remains. Fences and bridges were carried hundreds of yards and piled up indiscriminately; holes were washed in level streets to the depth of six and seven feet. Between this place and Bryan the Houston and Texas Central has lost five iron bridges and six or seven miles of track and embankment. Can not hear definitely, but believe the same is true between this place and Mexia on the north. The most serious damage to the International and Great Northern is four miles west of here, between the Little and Big Brazos rivers, where all of their track and embankment are gone….

“The Brazos valley territory contiguous to this place extends from the Anderson plantation opposite Calvert to Stone City, in Brazos county, and three-fourths of this vast valley has been under [smudged-out words] in depth from eighteen inches…feet. All of this land is under cultivation and worked by negroes whose little cabins are scattered over the plantations frequently on the banks of the river, and are insecure structures at best. Around these the water has risen, and from them the negroes have fled, seeking safety often at the risk of their lives. Reports place the number of lives lost between this place and Mumford at twenty-three, but not more than six or seven have been verified….” (Galveston Daily News. Latest Details From The Flood…More Rumors Received From Calvert.” 7-3-1899, p. 1.)

July 3: “From Dallas News, July 4.

“Calvert, Texas, July 3. – The greatest floods in the Brazos history slowly receded today and tonight the fall has amounted to about four feet. There is still from one to fifteen feet of water over the rich Brazos bottom plantations and it proved that all crops will be a total loss.

“The first train to reach Calvert for five days pulled in this afternoon at 7 o’clock. It was an engine and caboose bearing three passengers and a few sacks of mail. Early this morning wire connection with the outside world was restored and it was heard from the first time in four days.

“The loss of life so far as known here is fourteen. Four of these were drowned in the city of Calvert, all colored. Tom Tyson and Dave White, negroes, were drowned in the overflow of Tidwell creek, north of town. The water broke over the railroad embankment and came down upon their houses in a solid wall. The negros attempted to leave the houses for higher land and were drowned.

“Rosina Brown and child, colored, lived in a house close to the bank of the creek. The flood caught the house and carried it down stream about 200 yards, here it lodged between two trees. Rescuers visited the house and found that both mother and child were drowned.

“T. S. Dawson, a white man, ran a store at Port Sullivan, near where the Little Brazos empties into the main stream. The flood came upon him with such suddenness that he evidently did not realize the danger and ran out to try and save his stock. He was slightly lame and was unequal to battle with the raging torrents.

“Hundreds of negroes who have been driven out of the bottom lands by the floods are homeless and destitute along the edge of the water.

“Will A. Waters of Dallas and a party of six others arrived here this afternoon from Hearne. They came across by boats, all bridges being washed away. He reported that the bodies of a white man and seven negroes had been found lodged against the Port Sullivan bridge and that it was told him in Hearne that a white convict and two negroes had been drowned there. He said he saw a house floating down the Little Brazos whirling around in the current with a man sitting on top of it utterly unable to help himself. The water in the main street ran over the sidewalks, which are over two feet high, into the business houses….

“Brenham, Tex., July 3….The number of persons drowned can not now and perhaps will never be ascertained….

“Richmond, Tex., July 3 – More rain fell today and the river is still rising and the waters are rapidly spreading over the country. Reports from the western part of the county are to the effect that the Bernard river is up higher than it has been for over fifty years and large numbers of cattle have been lost. John Sims, a young man, was drowned in Snake creek, about eighteen miles from town yesterday afternoon, and at last accounts the body had not been recovered…

“Caldwell, Tex., July 3 – The streams in this county, after passing all high-water marks, have subsided….one negro boy was drowned in Davidson creek near here last night…” (Bryan Morning Eagle, TX. “Over The State. The Flood Situation and Resume of General News from Texas and Elsewhere.” 7-6-1899, p. 1.)

July 4: “Brookshire, Texas, July 4. – Conditions here are appalling; complete inundation of the whole country and crops entirely destroyed. Hundreds of people were caught in the flood; rescuing parties have been out during the entire night and boats are hurriedly built and manned. Many people are in trees and calls of distress are heard throughout the bottoms. Everything possible is being done to relieve the situation….thirteen drowned…

“Austin, Texas, July 4. – The governor today received a telegram from Brookshire asking for aid for hundreds of flood sufferers who are reported as being without food or shelter in that vicinity. Having no State funds at his disposal with which to respond to such appeals, he wired the mayors of San Antonio, Houston and Galveston to call upon the people to render such assistance as they can….

Big Rise At Wallis.

“Wallis, Texas, July 4. – The Post correspondent went down the river today. The flood has carried water over the San Antonio and Aransas Pass track and it has been washed off the roadbed for ten miles; much of it is lodged against trees and telegraph poles; the river at this point has risen seven inches from noon to 7 p.m. today and four feet in the last twenty-four hours. It is now six feet above the high water mark of 1885. The crops are all gone and an immense number of cattle have ben drowned. Many houses and household furniture is floating y, but the people have escaped in boats. The big San Antonio and Aransas Pass bridge will go soon, it is feared, though it is weighted down with loaded box cars….

“Calvert, Texas, July 4. – The river continues to fall. It is estimated that the water of the Little Brazos has fallen six to seven feet. As the flood recedes it discloses the fact that the raging water has plowed deep ravines through the plantations. The fields are strewn with lumber and household utensils and dead domestic animals. The negro tenants have lost their all….The loss of life will reach thirty or forty…

Improvement At Hearne.

“Hearne, Texas, July 4. – Justice W. C. Bishop was called to the Dunn place this afternoon to hold an inquest over the remains of another victim of the flood caused by the overflow of the Brazos river. In some portions of the bottom for a large area the water is still standing, making it still impossible to get an estimate of the damage in that immediate locality….

“Bryan, Texas, July 4. – E. Havron, who lives on the Brazos river, was in the city today and reports seeing five dead people go down the river. The bodies were closely followed by trunks, bedding and other household goods. The river has fallen but a few inches here, and everything is still covered with water….

“Velasco, Texas, July 4. – The backwater from the river has overflowed the greater portion of the town and the town between the Velasco Terminal railroad and within one block of the Velasco hotel is a solid sheet of water. If the water does not begin to recede in the next twenty-four hours the town will all be under water. A great many families have had to leave their houses and move into houses on the two streets not under water. No loss of life…as yet, but good prospects for considerable damage and sickness….

“A Young Girl’s Body Borne to the Gulf by the Colorado.

“Wharton, Texas, July 4. – This morning The Post correspondent was informed by a reliable citizen that Mr. Hudspeth, an aged gentleman living several miles below town, while fishing Sunday morning, discovered the body of a young white girl of about 13 or 14 years of age floating on the swollen waters…” (Houston Daily Post, TX. “Thirteen Drowned.” 7-5-1899, p. 5.)

July 4: “Calvert, Tex., July 4. – There were no unexpected developments in the flooded region yesterday other than an occasional report of the discovery of other missing bodies, the last being that of T. S. Dawson, a well known and highly respected grocery merchant, who lived near the Port Sullivan bridge, between the Little and Big Brazos rivers. It seems that while he was trying to save some livestock he was carried away in a current, and his remains have not yet been recovered. This makes the fourteenth body that has been accounted for as being drowned….” (Groesbeck Journal, TX. “Fourteen Bodies.” 7-6-1899, p. 4.)

July 5: “Caldwell, Tex., July 5. – Water in the Brazos bottom, this county, receded nearly six inches today, but there are about 200 negroes isolated without rations near Parker’s upper shore. A relief party left here this evening with provisions and boats for their rescue. There are several negroes unaccounted for. In a large mass of drift passing down yesterday could be heard the voices of children, but there were no boats available to approach it and rescue them….” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Voices of Children.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 1.)

July 5: “Calvert, Tex., July 5. – The mutilated, decomposed bodies of the two children of John Dallas, colored, were found to-day in Little Brazos, a short distance from where they fell from the boat several days ago when the water was at its highest. Little Brazos is still out of its banks, though the Brazos is nearing its normal state.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Two Bodies Recovered.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 2.)

July 5: “Hearne, Tex., July 5. – Two more bodies were recovered to-day from the water. One was a girl, drowned on the Cramer place; the other that of Steve Block, who was drowned on the Elm Grove farm. The body of T. S. Dawson has not been found.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “More Bodies Recovered.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 1.)

July 6: “Austin, Texas, July 6. – In reply to the call made last night upon Secretary of War Alger for the loan of 10,000 rations for the flood sufferers of the Brazos valley, Governor Sayers today received a telegram from that official informing him that the officer in command at Fort Sam Houston had been instructed to place said rations at his disposal and, further, that the chief of engineers would order all boats available at Galveston to proceed to the overflowed district and render such assistance as they could. Subsequently, upon the receipt of further reports of destitution and destruction from the stricken territory, the governor wired for a second supply of 10,000 rations and late this evening notification was received from General Alger that they will be forthcoming….

“The following telegram was received here his afternoon from P. L. Brady, mayor of Hearne: ‘Five lives lost near Hearne….” (Houston Daily Post, TX. “The Governments Aid.” 7-7-1899, p. 1.)

July 6: “….The Brazos river spread out Tuesday all over the lower bottom and inflicted great damage to property….Yesterday the bodies of a gray-bearded white man, two women and two negroes floated past Bryan. Four bodies in a drift were seen at Calvert….” (Colorado Citizen, Columbus, TX. “Summary of the Latest News.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 2..)

July 6: “Sealy, Austin Co., Tex., July 6. – The News correspondent returned from the Brazo river at 8 o’clock this evening. The water is on a stand. Four hundred destitute negroes are on a mound about seven miles from San Felipe….Almost one hundred people have thus far been taken from the mound, but there are still 400 there. Their homes are gone and are floating down the river…One negro has been drowned, due to his recklessness in attempting to swim a horse from the shore out.”

(Galveston Daily News, TX. “Four Hundred in Danger.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 1.)

July 9: “Dead negroes continue to show up and ask for rations. That is, negroes supposed to have been drowned are found and want to be fed. The relief work has been systematized. Supplies are going forward from Houston, Galveston, San Antonio and several smaller towns. Relief trains leave each of the three cities each day, Probably 20,000 negroes are now being fed and will need to be fed for some time to come.

“The water is now falling at all points except in Brazoria county, which county borders on the gulf. The county if flat and the Brazos can find all the elbow room it wants without covering the plantations to a great depth….

“Owing to the greatly exaggerated reports sent broadcast as to the loss of life in the recent floods, The News has made a special effort to secure the facts from each county. Reports from the thirteen counties show a loss of thirty-seven lives from drowning.

“Robert Reed, one of the rescuing party from Galveston, died near Richmond from sunstroke and over-exertion.

“Bell, Brazoria, Milam, McLennan, Austin and Fort Bend counties report no loss of life.

Grimes County.

“Berry Smith.

“Three negroes – Will Norris, Will Leans and Gus Clay – while working a railroad track.

“Total – 4.

Washington County.

“A Mexican, whose name has not been ascertained.

Falls County.

“Three children of Robert Brockington, colored.

Burleson County.

“Tom Harris, colored.

Brazoria County.

“No loss of life up to date. The eight bodies found on the beach at Quintana were victims caught in counties above and carried down the river.

Waller County.

“Henry Johnson, colored.

Brazos County.

“Jule Chapman, colored.

“A negro man and a negro boy.

“The three bodies were recovered.

Robertson County.

The greatest loss of life was in Robertson county. The following is as complete a list as can be obtained of the drowned in that county, gotten from the various officers in the different towns.

S. Dawson, white; body not recovered.

Joe White, white;

Joe White’s two sons, white; bodies not recovered.

Mart Turner, colored; body recovered.

Dave White, colored; body recovered.

Tom Tyson, colored; body recovered.

Rosaia Brown, colored; body recovered.

Rosaia Brown’s child, colored; body recovered.

Lulia Chop, Chinese; body recovered.

Two children of Tom Dallas, colored; bodies recovered.

Four men on Tom Anderson’s farm, colored; bodies not recovered.

Five men below Hearne, colored; bodies not recovered.

Roy Northcross, colored; Body recovered.

Total – 24.

(Galveston Daily News, TX. “Resume of the Flood.” 7-9-1899, p. 1.)

July 9: “Austin, Tex., July 9. – Robert Murphy, aged 20 years, who was employed in a real estate office here, met his death by drowning in the Colorado river this afternoon. He was attempting to cross the river near Montopolis bridge when he was caught in the current and swept away. His body has not been recovered.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Drowned in the Colorado.” 7-10-1899, p. 1.)

July 9: “Sealy, Austin Co., Tex., July 9 – The following was sent this morning:….

“Mrs. Fox, a white lady, and a negro woman named Ballinger succumbed to the heat and exposure this morning….

“The report to-day is that the river is thirty-six inches below high water mark, and yet fully fifty feet above its average banks. The fall is very slow.

“Adolph Jordan dropped to the sidewalk this morning, overcome by heat and exertion. He is resting easy this evening and expects to be at his office to-morrow.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Condition Is Critical. Two Deaths From Exposure.” 7-10-1899, p. 1.)

July 9: “Bellville, Austin Co., Tex., July 9. The greatest flood, perhaps, of the nineteenth century in the Brazos river has about completed its work of destruction, and at a late hour last night, after there was no longer a living sprig of farm vegetation to be swept in by the raging torrent, the water began to recede, and a fall of seven inches is reported at this hour – 4:50 p.m. – by Mr. Thomas Bethany of Bellville, who has just returned from the flooded district. He brought in the wife and children of Mr. R. W. Thompson, who had been driven from their home by the hight water and whose place is now in ruins.

“Hundreds of people along the river here who have lost everything are so dazed and confused that they have not yet awakened to a full realization of their awful calamity. Great crowds of negroes can be seen wandering aimlessly about in the vicinity of the flooded district, some bearing little children upon their backs, and a few carrying little bundles that they succeeded in saving as they made their hasty retreat from submerged houses.

“Nearly all the people, both white and black, that have been driven out of the river bottom are poor renters. Many are totally without means of any kind and some have nothing in the world left but the tattered clothes on their backs, many even being in their bare feet.

“The citizens of Bellville met in mass meeting yesterday at 10 a.m. to devise ways and means to relieve the immediate suffering. One hundred dollars was subscribed in a short while, and provisions were dispatched this morning to several different localities adjacent to this point where scores of people are actually hungry. Owing to the great number of people in want and distress, home charity will be entirely inadequate to meet the present emergency, and without government or other outside assistance hundreds of people must stare or suffer greatly. Your correspondent spent the whole of the day yesterday in the midst of wreck and ruin. Small houses could be seen floating about and lodged up against trees and other obstructions. Large barns partly filled with corn and hay have been the means whereby hundreds of cows, calves, hogs and horses have been saved. They are thrown in without regard to kind or species, and seem to grasp the situation and live in perfect harmony….” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Too Much for Local Charity.” 7-10-1899, p. 1.)

July 11: “Austin, Tex., July 11. – The great flood of the Brazos river is empty9i9ng itself into the gulf at a terrific rate, and the river will be back in its banks by the end of the week. No further deaths by drowning have been reported. The total number of persons drowned by the flood will not exceed 100. There has been no exaggeration of property loss in any of the rivers.”
(El Paso Daily Herald, TX. “The Brazos Falling. The Flood is Emptying Itself Into the Gulf.” 7-11-1899, p. 1.)

July 11: “Mouth of the Brazos. Fifteen Hundred Destitute People in Need of Food and Clothing.” (Galveston Daily News, 7-12-1899, p. 2.)

Sources

Bishop, Curtis. “Brazos Flood of 1899.” Texas State Historical Association. Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed 3-15-2024 at: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/brazos-flood-of-1899

Bryan Morning Eagle, TX. “Over The State. The Flood Situation and Resume of General News from Texas and Elsewhere.” 7-6-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bryan-morning-eagle-jul-06-1899-p-1/

Bryan Morning Eagle, TX. “The Flood.” 7-2-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bryan-morning-eagle-jul-02-1899-p-1/

Colorado Citizen, Columbus, TX. “Summary of the Latest News.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-citizen-jul-06-1899-p-2/

El Paso Daily Herald, TX. “Neighborhood Notes. Texas.” 6-24-1899, p. 3, col. 4. Accessed 3-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-daily-herald-jun-24-1899-p-3/

El Paso Daily Herald, TX. “The Brazos Falling. The Flood is Emptying Itself Into the Gulf.” 7-11-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-17-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-daily-herald-jul-11-1899-p-1/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Brazos River.” 6-24-1899, p. 3. Accessed 3-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jun-24-1899-p-3/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Condition Is Critical. Two Deaths From Exposure.” 7-10-1899, p1. Accessed 3-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-10-1899-p-1/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Drowned in the Colorado.” 7-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-10-1899-p-1/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Four Hundred in Danger.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-06-1899-p-2/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Latest Details From The Flood…More Rumors Received From Calvert.” 7-3-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-03-1899-p-1/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “More Bodies Recovered.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-06-1899-p-2/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Mouth of the Brazos. Fifteen Hundred Destitute People in Need of Food and Clothing.”, 7-12-1899, p. 2. Accessed 3-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-12-1899-p-2/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Results of the Flood…Property Loss Is Enormous.” 7-2-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-02-1899-p-1/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Resume of the Flood.” 7-9-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-09-1899-p-1/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “The Brazos Rising.” 6-18-1899, p. 1, col. 4. Accessed 3-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jun-18-1899-p-1/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Too Much for Local Charity.” 7-10-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-10-1899-p-1/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Two Bodies Recovered.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-06-1899-p-2/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Voices of Children.” 7-6-1899, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-jul-06-1899-p-2/

Groesbeck Journal, TX. “Fourteen Bodies.” 7-6-1899, p. 4. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/groesbeck-journal-jul-06-1899-p-4/

Houston Daily Post, TX. “Map of the Flooded District.” 7-7-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/houston-daily-post-jul-07-1899-p-1/

Houston Daily Post, TX. “The Governments Aid.” 7-7-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/houston-daily-post-jul-07-1899-p-1/

Houston Daily Post, TX. “Thirteen Drowned.” 7-5-1899, p. 5. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/houston-daily-post-jul-05-1899-p-5/

LifeOnTheBrazosRiver.com. The Brazos River. “Floods of the Brazos River in Texas.” Accessed at: http://lifeonthebrazosriver.com/Floods.htm

San Antonio Daily Express, TX. “The Floods’ Ravages. The Terrific Rains in Central Texas Continue Unabated.” 7-1-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-15-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-daily-express-jul-01-1899-p-1/

San Antonio Daily Light, TX. 6-21-1899, p. 4, col. 6. Accessed 3-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-daily-light-jun-21-1899-p-4/

San Antonio Daily Light, TX. “Big Rains. Brazos River on a Tremendous Boom.” 6-29-1899, p. 4. Accessed 3-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-daily-light-jun-29-1899-p-4/

San Antonio Daily Light. “Brazos On A Boom!” 6-30-1899, p. 1. Accessed 3-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-daily-light-jun-30-1899-p-1/

Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Portraits of Texas Governors. Accessed at: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors/rising/index.html

Victoria Daily Advocate, TX. “Rains and Floods.” 7-7-1899, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 3-16-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/victoria-daily-advocate-jul-07-1899-p-2/

Additional Reading

Clay County TXGenWeb Project. The Great Flood in Texas. Accessed 3-17-2024 at: https://www.txgenwebcounties.org/clay/newspapers/flood.html

United States Life Saving Service, Galveston, Texas. Report on Life Saving Service operations in relation to the 1899 Texas flooding. Accessed 3-16-2024 at:

lifeonthebrazosriver.com/FloodDuke,TexasJuly1899.htm

[1] Published in 1952, updated 11-1-1994. There is no source citation.

[2] No source citation.

[3] No source citation.

[4] Galveston Daily News, TX. “Drowned in the Colorado.” 7-10-1899, p. 1.