The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1885-05-01
"A TEXAS DELuGE.

70
ilcsvy Rains Swell. the Streams to Tor
rents, which Cause Sad Havoc In and
Around GAINESVILLE Buildings Washed
Away with Their Inmates and Many
Lives Lost-The Perilous Work of Secur-
ing the Sufferers-Turther Disaster Ex-
pected.
GAINESVILLE, TEX, April ga most
disastrous flood has prevailed in this city
all day. About three O'Clock yesterday
morning the citizens were awakened by
loud cries for 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 Creek,
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 lmpos-
sibleto wade through the torrents, and
the air was filled with the shrieks of
women and children. In several instances
mothers, with their babes In their arms,
remained clinging to limbs for hours, un-
til they were rescued, more dead than
alive. When day broke the banks for a
great distance were strewn with debris
of eveiy description. While this was
going ON the scene on Elm Creek, 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 aud
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 tx
trees. Several RATS and boats were pro
cured and launched, but were broken Il
pieces or sunk by the force of the cur
rent. In one instance negro sue
ceeded in getting woman ant
her two children into boat
when it upset and the fran
tic mother saw her children sink t.
rise no more. Several new boats wer
constructed, and after five or six hours
labor they succeeded In rcsculng the ma
iority of the sufferers. 1t is imposslbl
to estimate the damage which is done t,
property. 1t is rumored that many fam
! lilies above and below here are in grea
, distress and that many lives are LOST
Rescuing parties left here, but hav
not returned. A telephone mes
1 sage has been received fror
e St. Joe, above here, whic
stated that the force OF the flood had nc
!, reached there, and a repetition of to-day
! horrors is feared there tonight. Oh
residents say that this is the most disas
n trous food that has ever visited this POI
s tion of the State, and the water was tw
n feet higher than it was twenty-seye
: years ago, when there was great loss {
q life and property. All the bridges in tt
9 city were washed away and those in Il
s eastern portion are entirely CT
8 off from the business part. III
d railroad bridges in the corpora
n limits were considerably damaged, al
Q had to be repaired before the train lie
l. this morning. No mail was received he
g to-day. The rain has continued durir
/ the entire day, but up to the prese
time the water has risen very little. II
a. scene is the most heartrending and dl
i'd tressing ever witnessed in this city, al
E. the waters carry death and destruction
their reSistless currents.