San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-14
THE FLOODS OF LAST WEEK.
Destruction OF Life and Property.


The late fearful floods in the Northwes
part of the State came near being duplicat
ed in this and adjoining counties last week
II had been showery for good while, but
on Wednesday night the 9th inst. the rail
descended in torrents most Of the night, &c
companied by violent winds, reminding one
of eauinoctial storms. The next morning
the San Marcos and Purgatory were found
Unexpectedly high. The bath houses were
swept away, and the railroad trestle worl
over Purgatory partially undermined. Mr.
Pesues had number of sheep drowned.
As the news came in from other places,
the damages were found to be much more
serious. The Blanco was found to be
booming" and fears were entertain
ed that it might reach the devastating high
water mark" of former period. A consid-
cradle portion of the trestle-work to the
railroad bridge was washed away, and the
cars were stopped at that point. The
same trouble, only worse, occurred ut both
bridges at New Braunfels and at others be-
yond that place. The consequence was that
we had no trains or mails till Monday of
this week, and up to this writing, (Tuesday)
there have been no trains from further west
than New Braunfels, but our western mail
has at last reached us by way of Luling.
This is the first test in the way of high wa
ter that the International has experienced
this side of Austin, and it has been found
wanting as we have stated. We learn there
was but little rain on the upper waters of
the Blanco and Guadalupe; if there had
been as much above as there was below,
it would perhaps have undermined the main
bridges, mills etc. Apropos, we learn
that the bridge over the Guadalupe at Sc
gum, which cost $50, 900, is SO damaged as
to be impossible, and will have to be to
large extent rebuilt The devastation of
crops, fences, etc., in the valley of the
Blanco, Guadalupe, etc., has also been very
great. Many farmers have lost all or most OF
the results of the seasons labor, besides the
loss of fences and other movable property.
In the mountains, we learn that the while
the destruction of property was even more
there was added the infinitely more
serious feature of the loss of human life.
Five members of the family of Ben Taylor:
residing ON Onion Creek, consisting of him
self, his wife. and two children, were
drowned the remaining members of the
family, two little, boys, escaped by cling
ing to the branches of trees. The house was
on rather low ground, and before Mr.. Tay-
lor was aware the water had risen inside of
it. He then went to get his horse, which
was tied near by, but it was very dark and
he could not find him. Returning he assist
ed the rest of the family to get on top of
the house, but it soon drifted with the cur
rent, and went to pieces, with the result
above stated. This occurred about one
o'clock. If they had taken warning earlier,
the family might easily have saved them
selves as it was but a short distance to high
er ground.
Capt. McClenden, of Dripping Springs,
who keeps record of such matters, informs
us that IA inches of water fell in twenty
four hours, nearly all of which was on
Wednesday night He says he never knew
Of more than twelve inches for that time be-
fore. Of course much damage was inevita-
BILE on all the mountain streams, large and
small. Squire Richardson, informs us that
crops and fences on Cypress creek are near
ly all gone from Jacobs well down. Mr..
Mr.. Bridges and Mrs. Rags
dale are among the heaviest sufferers,
though there were many others who were
heavy losers. Mr.. Bridges loss is estimat-
ed at $500. The damage to Wimberly's
mill race about the same, Billy Townsend
lost all he had. MIR. Wren lost 1000 rails
besides those around his pasture. Mr..
Leath, about the same, and many others
largely as we have said.
We trust some of the first reports of da-
mage done, may turn out to have been ex-
But the effects are bad enough,
and this flood will long be remembered in