The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05

UNALDE, Tex, Aug. Sl.-A terrible
catastrophe befell this thriving town last
night, and today there is mourning in
many households. The calamity was en-
! tireiy unexpected. The trecherous Leona
river, swollen 10 a raging torrent by re-
cent rains, rushed without a moments
warning down upon the town. submerg
ing and wreclSing many houses and
| drowning a number of people. In this
arid section such destructiveness by the
elements has never before been chron-
icled. In the excitement of the day it is
not definitely known how many have
been drowned. Among the bodies that
have been identified are:
Mrs. JOE HATCH.
Miss MATTE EDWARDS.
Child of Mrs. Maley
Two Mexicans.
1t was about o'clock in the morning
when the flood came. The weather had
been threa tening and there were omi-
nous clouds TO the north and east Of the
town. The atmosphere had been close
during the evening, and as predictions
of q storm were freely made, the
citizens went TO their beds not with
happy minds. As the hours wore on
and the people continued their slumber,
the dark clouds rose higher and higher.
Just as the storm broke over the city in
all its fury a torrent of water rushed
down the Leona river, overlooking the
banks of that stream and flooding the
| low lands on either side 10 a depth of
several feet. The east side Of the city
is built upon low ground and was d.
rectly i'm the path Of this water. All Of
the houses in that part Of the town were
submerged, and III The darkness and
throughout the down-pOur of rain that
was falling could be heard the cries of
distress from the Inflated inhabitants in
their wild efforts TO save their lives and
those Of their families and loved ones.
There were a number of miraculous
escapes and the rescuers and the res
cued performed many heroic acts. AS
soon as those in the higher part Of the
town were made aware Of the terrible
flood and dire consequences the work Of
rescuing was begun and carried out as
rapidly as possible in the darkness of the
night Great apprehension is felt for the
families living on the ditch south Of here,
where from seventy-five 10 one hundred
families live, and the land lying fifteen
feet lower than here, it is feared they
have been destroyed. One Mexican fam
lily living on the ranch Of l.. Schwarz.
five miles below town, are supposed 10
have been lost, no vestige Of ranch
buildings being left 1t is feared that
Indianola's history is repeated.
An earthquake shock Of some seconds
duration was distinctly felt during the
night. At one place near the city about
quarter Of mile Of heavy cracks appear
on each side Of the Leona river, having
apparently no bottom. A track walker
of the Southern Pacific, after wading
through water up to his neck, with his
lantern elevated above his head, succeed
ed in feeling his way far enough east to
intercept q west-bound train and prevent
it's plunging into the raging river, where
the railroad bridge had been destroyed.
News late this evening reaches here that
50, Hrrfae haln raTa
drowned. The names have not been
learned. According to reports received
at the Southern Pacific Office this even
ing the terrible food was augmented by
a most remarkable phenomena. which
was caused by the earthquake. The loss
to the Southern Pacific company is enor-
NOUS, forty miles of track and many
bridges having been washed away. over
one hundred carloads OF material and
500 laborers left San Antonio for the
scene of the wreckage this evening The
damage to the Southern Pacific extends
eastward about seventy-fve miles from
the city.
a rough but safe estimate as to the
loss TO property in general and the rail-
road company will, as far as known,
reach million and half dollars.
ST LOUIS, Sept IA special to
the Post-Dispatch from San Antonio.
Tex, says: 1.-THE scene of destruction and
desolation in the flooded district for a
distance of 100 miles east and west from
here and extending south from the South
ern Pacific railroad to the Rio Graude.
200 miles away, is simply terrible. Thou
sands upon thousands of pasturage and
farm land is under water. 1t is est-
mated that the damage to crops in the
valley of the Leona river alone viii
reach a half-million dollars, while In the
valleys of Saco and Sabinal rivers the
loss will be fully as much more. Many
thousand head Of cattle, horses and sheep
were swept away and drowned. Up TO
last midnight all kilograms received here
by the Southern Pacific railroad officials
and for the press came by the round
about way of El P3so, Pueblo and Kan
sas City, all direct connection with
Uvalde and other flooded towns being
cut off. The wires are now restored,
however, and information from the Leona
valley is now coming in. Reports re-
ceived this morning are more alarming
than the earlier ones. 1t is still a matter
of uncertainty as to the number Of lives
lost, but additions TO the list Of drowned
are constantly coming In. About one
half OF the houses OF Uvalde. a town OF
1890 population, were carried away and
there is much suffering there by home
less families, but no more fatalities are
reported there Nothing has Yet been
heard from the settlement of seventy
five families several miles below Uvalde,
but there are still grave fears that many,
If not all Of them. were swept down by
the torrent. The town of Batesville was
entirely inundated and there was heavy
loss Of property, but no lives are re-
ported lost There are several other
towns in the flooded district but they
are away from the railroad and tele-
graphic reach and nothing can be heard
from them until the waters subside All
construction officials of the Southern Pa
cihc railroad have gone TO the scene Of
the principal disaster and several train
n