Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-09-01
EARTHQUAKE ANDF[00D
A Texas Town Visited by a
Double Disaster.
MANY FAMILIES REPORTED LOST.
In the Dead of Night the Citizens Awake
to Fird a Treachsrous River Rushing
Through the observation-disclosures Shocks
Added 60 Their Terrors.

In the Dead of Night the Citizens Awake
to Fird a Treachsrous River Rushing
Through the Earthquake shocks
Added TO Their Terrors-
UvALDE, Tex, Sept. IA terrible ca
tastrophe befell this thriving town, and
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 moments warning down upon
the town. submerging and wrecking many
houses and drowning n number of people
In this arid section such destruction by
the elements has never before been chron-
icled. In the excitement of the day il is
not definitely known how many have
been drowned. Among the bodies that
have been identified are those of Mrs Jo-
seph Hatch, Miss Hattie Edwards, child OF
Mr.. Maley and two Mexicans
1t was about . o'clock in the morning
when the flood came. The weather had
been threatening. and there wefe ominous
clouds to the north and east of the town
The atmosphere had been close during the
evening. and predictions of a storm were
freely made. The citizens won't to their
beds not with happy minds.
As the hours wore on and the people
continued their SAUNDERS the dark clouds
drew nearer and nearer. Just as the storm
broke over the city torrent OF water
rushed down the Leona river, OVERLOOKING
the banks of that stream and flooding the
lowlandS ON either side to a depth of sew
eral feet, The east side of the city is built
on low land and was directly in the path
= of the water.
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
heard the cries of distress from the i'll
| fated Inhabitants in their wild efforts to
save themselves and their families and
| loved ones There were n number of mi
raculuus escapes, and the rescuers and the
rescued performed many heroic acts
As sO"n rs those in the higher part Of
the town were aware OF the terrible nOod
and dire consequences tls, work OF rcscu-
ing began and was carried on rs rapidly
rs possible in the darkness of the night
Great apprehension i felt for the fam
lilies living en- the ditch south Of here,
1 where a. Ia loo families live, and. the land
/ lying Is re, lower than here, it IS fearcd
thoy havc been destroyed Ono Mexican
family living on the ranch of Schwartz.
five miles below town. IS supposed to
have boon lost, no yestige OF the ranch be
ing left
An earthquake shock of Some seconds
duration was distinctly felt during the
night. At one place near the city about
quarter OF n mile OF heavy cracks ap-
peared on each side of the Lcona river.
having apparently 70 bottom
i a trackwalker 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 plunginE into the raging river
where the railroad bridge a been
| News reached here that Three families
living below town Were d.hN ned The
names have not yet been learned Ac-
cording to reports received at the Southern
Pacific office the terror of the flood was
augmented by that of the earthquake
Tho loss to the southern Pacific com
pany is enormous. 10 miles Of track and
many bridge having been washed away
Over 100 carloads of material and 300 Ia
bOrcrs left San Antonio for the scene OF
the wreck. The damage to the southern
Pacific extends eastward about - miles
from this city.
a rough estimate Of the loss to pr ;srrty
in general and to the railroad COLI, ,rlny
will, a far rs Known, reach $1,000. 90 -