The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-01
UvaIde, Texas, Submerged by .
Sudden Rush of Water.
At 2 O'clock in the Morning
the Flood Came.
HOUSES ARE WRECKED
Many People Drowned and
Property Washed Away.

UvALDE, Texas, Sept. IA terri6 Q
catastrophe befe1l this thriving town
Thursday night, ana to-day there is
mourning in many households. The
calamity was entirely unexpected.
The treacherous Leona river, swollen
to a raging torrent by recent rains,
rushed without a moments warning
down upon the town. submerging
and wrecking many houses and
drowning q number Of people. In
this section such destructiveness by
the elements has never before been
chronic1ed. In the excitement Of the
day, il is not definitely known how
many have been drowned
Among those who have been iden-
tilted are:
Mrs. Joe Hatch, Miss Matte Ed
wards child of Mr. Maley and two
Mexicans-
It was about 2 o'clock in the morn
ing when the flood came. The
weather had been threatening and
there were ominous clouds to the
north and east of the town. The at
mosphere had been close early in the
evening and predictions Of storm
were freely made The citizens went
to their beds not with happy minds
AS the hours wore on and the peO-
pie continued their slum bers, 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, over
flowing the banks of that stream and
flooding the lowlands on either side
to a depth of several feet. The east
side Of the city is built upon low
ground and was directly in the path
of this water.
All Of the houses in that part OF
town were submerged, and IN the
darkness and through out the down
pour of rain that was falling could
be heard the cries of distress from
the i'll fated inhabitants in their wild
efforts to save their lives and those of
their families and loved ones Great
apprehension is felt for those living
on the ditch south of here, where
seventy i've to 100 families live, and
the land lying fifteen feet lower than
here, it is feared they have been de-
stroyed. An earthquake shock of
some seconds duration was distinctly
felt during the night At one place
near the city. about a quarter of a mile
distant, heavy cracks appeared on
each side of the river, having
apparently no bottom A track walk
er of the Southern Pacific, after
wading through water up to his neck.
with his lantern elevated above his
head, succeeded in feeling his way
far enough east to intercept a west
bound train and prevent its plunging
into the raging river, where the rail-
road bridge had been destroyed.
News reac hes here that three families
living below town have been drowned.
The names have not yet been learned.
According to reports received at the
Southern PScific Office, the terrible
flood was augmented by most re-
marka bic phenomenon, which was
caused by the earthquake. The loss
to the Southern Pacific is enormous,
forty miles of track and many bridges
having been washed away. The dam
age to the Southern Pacific extends
eastward about seventeen miles from
this city.
A thorough but safe estimate as to
the loss of property, including that Of
the railroad, will, as far as known,
reach 81, 500. OOO