The morning call., 1894-09-01
FLOODS IN TEXAS.
Uvalde Overwhelmed by a
Torrent.
ANY PERSONS DROWNED.
High Water in the Treacherous
Leona River.
THIRTY MILES OF TRACK GONE.
The Loss to the Southern Pacific
viii Foot Up Something Over
a Million.

UVALDE, Tex. Aug. 31.-A terrible
catastrophe befell this thriving town last
night. and to-day there is mourning in
many households. The sreacherous Leona
River, swollen to raging torrent by re-
cent rains, rushed without a moments
warning down upon the town, submerging
and wrecking many houses and drowning
number of people. In this section such
destruction by the elements has never
before been chronicled. 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 MIR. Maley.
Two Mexicans.
1t was about 2 O'Clock in the morning
when the flood came. The weather had
been threatening and there were ominous
| clouds to the north and east of the town.
The atmosphere had been close early in
the evening and predictions of storm
were freely made. During the night the
dark clouds rose higher and higher
just as the storm broke over the CITY in
all its fury torrent of water rushed down
the Leona River. overhowing its banks
and ho oding the lowlands on either side to
depth Of several feet. The east side Of
the city is built on low ground, and was
directly in the path Of this water. All OF
the houses in that part of the town were
! submerged and in darkness, and through
out the downpOur of rain that was falling
could be heard the cries of distress from
the ill-fated inha abitantS in their wild eff
forts to save their lives and those of their
families.
There were a number of miraculous
escapes, and the rescuers and the rescued
performed many heroic acts. AS soon as
| those in tbs higher part of the town were
made aware of the terrible flood, the work
of rescue was begun and carried out as
rapidly as possible in the darkness. Great
apprehension is felt for the families living
on the ditch south of here. where 75 or 100
families live. One Mexican family of five
] living on The Schwartz ranch below
town are supposed to have been LOST, no
Vestige of the ranch being left.
News this evening reaches here that
three families living below town were
drowned, but their names have not yet
| been learned. According to reports re-
ceived at the Southern Pacific Office this
evening, the flood was augmented by an
earthquake, a shock of some seconds dura-
tion being distinctly felt during the night.
At one place near the cily heavy cracks
appear on either side Of the river, having
apparently no bottom.
The track walker of the Southern Pa
cifc, after wading through water up to his
| neck, succeeded in intercepting a west
bound train. The loss to the Southern Pa
cific is enormous, forty miles of its track
and many bridges having been washed
away. A thorough but safe estimate as to
the loss of property. including that OF the
railroad. will, as far as known. reach
million and half dollars.
Over 100 carloads of material and 300
laborers started from San Antonio for tue
scene of the flood this evening.
UVALDE, Tex, Sept 1.-While reports
are incomplete it is estimated no less than
twenty or twenty-five people have been
drowned, and the loss to property will ex-
ceed $2,00O 000.