Evening journal., 1894-09-01
EARTHQUAKE AND FLOOD
a Texas Town Visited by a
Double Disaster.
MANY FAMILIES REPORTED LOST,
IN the Dead Of Night the Citizens Awake
TO Find Treacherous River Rushing
Through the Streets Earthquake Shocks
Added to Their Terrors.


UvALpE, Tex, Sept. IA terrible ca
tastropho befell this thriving town. and
there Is mourning in many households
Tho calamity WAS entirely unexpected.
Tho treacherous Lcona river, swollen to a
raging torrent by recent rains, rushed
without moments warning down upon
tho town, suhmnrging and wreoking many
houses and drowning a number Of people.
In this arid section such destruction by
tho elements has mover before been chron
icled. In the excitement Of the day II is
not definitely knewn hew many have
hecn drowned. Among the bodies that
have been identified are those OF Mrs. Jo-
seph Hatch, Miss Hattie Edwards, child OF
Mr. Maley and two Mexionns.
1t was about O'Clock in the morning
when the food came The weather had
boen threatening, and there were ominous
clouds 70 the north and east OF the town.
The atmosphere had been close during the
evening, and predictions Of storm were
freely made Tho citizens went 60 thoir
beds not with happy minds.
As the hours wore on and the people
continued their slumbers tho dark clouds
drew nearer and noarer. just as the storm
broke over tho city torrent ~ water
the banks of that stream and flooding the
lowlands on either side 20 a depth OF sew
eral feet. The cast side Of the city Is built
on low land and was directly in the path
of the winter
Fears For One Hundred Families
All the houses in this part OF the town
were submerged, and in the darkness and
| throughout the downpour OF rain could be
AZ 49, 4 ls..t
fated Inhabitants IN their wild efforts Il
save themselves and their families and
| loved ones There were number OF mi
raoulous escapes, and tho rescuers and the
/ rescued performed many heroic acts
| As soon rs those IN the higher part Of
tho town were aware Of she terrible flood
and diro consequences the work OF rescn
ing began and was carried on as rapidly
as possible In the darkness Of the night
Gruat apprehension IS felt far the fam
ilies living on the ditch south of hero
where 70 TO 100 families live, and, the lane
lying 10 feet lowar than here, 1t Is feared
they have been destroyed One Mexican
family living on the ranch Of Schwartz
lvo miles below town, Ia supposed d
have been lost, no yestige Of tho ranch be
ing left
An earthquake shock Of some seconds
duration was distinctly felt during sh
night. At one place near tho city Abou
a quarter Of mile Of heavy creeks ap
peared on each side Of the Leona river
having apparently no bottom.
| "A tracAwnlker of the Southern Pacific
after wadlng through water up 10 his neol
with bis lantern elevated above his head
succeeded IN fscling his way far enough
cast to intercept a west bound train an,
prevent It's plunging into the raging rive
whcro tho railroad bridge had beon.
News reached here TINT three fnmilie
living below town wero drowned. Tn
names have not yet beon learned. 40
c0rding TO reports received at the SoutherI
Pacific Office the terror OF The food wa
augmented By that OF the earthquake.
Tho loss to tho Southern Pacific com
pany Is enormous, 40 miles Of track an,
many bridges having been washed away
Over 100 carloads OF material and 400 Ia
borers left San Antonio for the scene o
tho wreck The damage 10 tho Southef
Pacific extends eastward about IS mile
from this city.
A rough estimate Of the loss to propert.
In gtnornl and TO ths railroad oompan.
will, as far as known, reach 81, 800, 600.