Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-04-30
A TEXAS DELuGE.

Heavy Rains Swell the Streams to Tor.
rents Which Cause Sad Havoc In and
around Gainsvi'ie = Buildings Washed
away, with Their Inmates and Many
Lives Lost-The Perilous Work of Secur-
ing the Suherers-Further Disaster Ex-
pected.
GAINESVILLE, TEX, April ga most
disastrous food has prevailed in this city
all day. About three O'Clock yesterday
morning the citizens were awakened by
loud cries fore help, the shrill sound Of
the alarm whistle and the sound of rush.
Ing waters. The rain had been falling in
torrents all night, and Pecan Greek.
which runs through the eastern portion of
the town, had risen to an alarming ex-
tent. Many families living in that vicinity
were awakened to find themselves sur
rounded by water and many houses were
overthrown and washed down the stream.
Help was promptly on hand. Ropes
were thrown out, and every possible
means used to assist the sufferers, but
the intense darkness retarded the labor
ers. Many persons had taken refuge in
trees when they found that it was impos-
slDie to wade through the torrents, and
the air was filed with the shrieks of
women and children. In several instances
mothers, with their babes in their arms,
remained clingng to limbs for hours, I'M
I'll they were rescued, more dead than
alive. When day broke the banks for
great distance were strewn with debris
OF every description. While this was
going on the scene on Elm Greek, west
of the city, was equally horrible
This morning word was brought
that several families had been caught by
the water, were lodged in trees and
would be drowned, unless assistance
was rendered. Several responded to the
call, and when they reached the scene
the spectacle was truly appalling. Men,
women and children were discovered,
some swimming and some clinging to
trees. Several RATS and boats were pro-
cured and launched, but were broken to
pieces or sunk by the force of the cur
rent. In one instance negro sue
ceeded in getting a woman and
her two children into a boat,
when it upset and the fran
tic mother saw her children sink to
rise no more. Several new boats were
constructed, and after five or six hours
labor they succeeded in rescuing the ma
jority OF the sufferers. 1t is impossible
to estimate the damage which is done to
property. 1t is rurlored that many fam
lilies above and below here are in great
distress and that many lives are lost.
not returned. A telephone mes
sage has been received from
St. Joe, above here, which
stated that the force of the food had not
reached there, and a repetition of to-day's
horrors is feared there tonight. Old
residents say that this is the most disaS-
trouS food that has ever visited this por-
ton of the State, and the water was two
feet higher than it was twenty-seven
years ago, when there was great loss of
life and property. All the bridges in the
city were washed away and those in the
eastern portion are entirely cut
off from the business part. The
railroad bridges in the corporate
limits were considerably damaged, and
had to be repaired before the train left
this morning. No mail was received here
to-day. The rain has continued during
the entire day, but up to the present
TING the water has risen very little. The
scene is the most heartrending and dis
tressing ever witnessed in this city, and
the waters carry death and destruction in
their reSiStless currents.