The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-04-23
Horrors al Gninesynle.

GAINEsvILLE, April 22,-lSpeci.l,l-
A most disastrous flood has prevailed
in this city all day. About 8 o'clock
this morning the citizens were awak-
ened by loud cries for help, by the
shrin sound of the alarm whistle aud |
the roar of rushing waters. The rain |
had been falling in torrents all night, |
and Pecan creek, which runs through
the eastern portion of town, had risen
TO an alarming extent. Many families
living in that vicinity were awakened
to find themselves
SURROUNDED ny 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 in
tense darkness retarded the laborers.
Many persons had taken refuge in trees,
when they found that IL was impossible
to wade through the torrents, and the
air was filled with the shrleks of women
and children. In several instances
mothers, with their babes in their arms,
remained clinglng to boughs for hours
until 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 creek, west OF the
city, was equally horrible. Soon this
morning word was brought that severa
families had been caught by the watel
and were lodged IN trees aud would bI
drowned unless assistance was rem
dered. Several responded TO the cal
r and when they reached the s'one tn
4 spectacle was
TRULY APPALLING,
Men, women and children were di
1 covered, some swimming, some cling
ing TO trees. Several RATS aud boat
were procured and launched, bat wer
broken TO pieces or sunk by 30 fore
: Of tho current. In one ilstanc
a "a negro man succeeded ia gvttini
+ a woman and her two children in
Y boat, when IL upset and the f.anti
I mother saw her children sink TO 20 n
! more. Several new boats War5 con
/ structed, and after five or six hours la
1 bor they succeeded In rascuing inc ms
0 jority OF the sufferers. IL Ia imposslbl
\ TO estimate the damage which Us don
, TO property. II Is rumored that man
l families above and below hero are Il
| great distress and that many livOs ar
!, lost. Rescuing parties LETT hert
4 but have not returned
o telephone message has beeu r,
v ceived from ST. Joe, above her,
. which stated that the force OF the loo
s had not reached there, aud n repetitio
a of to-day's horrors Is feared to.nigh
o Old residents say that 1t IL the most al
i astrous food that has ever visited tn
B, portion Of tho state, aud the water wa
,, two feet higher than IL was q years ag
q when there was great loss OF life an
|. property. All the bridges in tho cit
+ were washed away, and those in Il
10 eastern portion are entirely cut off fro
70 the business part. The railroad bridg
* in the corporate limits were consider
II bly, damaged and had TO be repairC
IS before the train lett this morning. \
Q. mail was received to-day. The rain h
x continued during the entire day, b
10 up 10 the present time the waters ha'
~ risen very little, The scene Is Il
" most heartrending and distressing ev
II witnessed in this city, and the wate
at carry death and destruction in their
d. sistless currents.