Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-09-07
The Town Of Uvalde, Tex, Visited
by a Destructive Flood---Great
Loss of Life.
~LEONA RIVER,
Swollen to a Raging Torrent, Rushes
Down Upon the Unfortunate
Town.

during the night and there is mourning
in many households. The calamity
happened unexpectedly. The treacher-
GUS 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 a number Of peo-
pie. 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
Mr.. Maley, two Mexicans.
It was about 2 o'clock in the morning
when the flood came. The weather had
been threatening and there were omin-
Gus clouds to the north and east of
town. The atmosphere had been close
during the evening and
Predictions of a Storm
were freely made. AS the hours wore
on and the people continued their slum-
bers the dark clouds rose higher and
higher. just as the storm broke over
the city in all its fury a torrento Of water
rushed down the Leona river, overflow
ing the banks Of that stream and flood
ing the lowlands on either side to a
depth of several feet. The east side of
the city is built on low land and was
directly in the path of this water. All
the houses in the heart Of the town
were submerged, and throughout the
downpour 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. There were a
number Of miraculous escapes and the
rescuers and rescued
Performed Many Heroic Acts.
AS soon as those in the higher part Of
town were made aware of the terrible
flood and direct consequences the work
of rescue 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 rs to 100 families
live, and the land lying 10 feet lower
than here it is feared they have been
destroyed. 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
Of heavy cracks appear on each side of
the Leona river, having apparently no
bottom. y
Southern Pacific Loses Heavily.
News reaches here that three fami.
lies living below town were drowned.
According TO reports received at the
Southern Pacific offices the terrible
flood was augmented by a most re.
markable phenomena, whichwa caused
by the earthquake.
The loss to the Southern Pacific com
pany is enormous, 40 miles Of track and
many bridges having been washed
away. Over 100 carloads of material
and 300 laborers left San Antonio fol
the scene Of the wreck. The damage te
the Southern Pacific extends eastward
65 miles east Of this city. A rough es.
innate Of the loss Of property in general
and to the railroad company will, as
far as known, reach ST., 500, 1000.
While reports are incomplete regard.
ing the loss Of life, it is estimated that
no less than 20 or rs people have been
drowned and the losses to property Of
all kinds will exceed 50, 900, 900.