New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-02
GREAT FLOOD IN TEXAS.
HUNDREDS or LIVES LOST.
THE WATER BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
FORCED UP BY AN EARTHQUAKE
ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY-THE SOUTH
ERN PACIFICs LOSS 81 700 OOO-TlIE LIST
Tile DROWNED liROWiNG

ERN PACIFICs LOSS 81. .2OOOO0-THE LIST
OF THE DROWNED GROWING.
San Antonio. Texas. Sept. 1.-The flood which
visited the country west OF this city. beginning
at point about fifty miles distant from here
and extending for nearly 200 miles. was one Of
the most terrible catastrophes the state has suf-
fered since the Indianola calamity, when all the
coast towns were swept into the Gulf Of Mexico.
The number Of deaths is not great, out the
damage TO property will probably exceed that at
Indianola. Among the bodies which have been
Identified are those of Miss Matte Edwards, Mrs.
Joseph Hatch. a child of MIR. Maley and two
Mexicans.
Yesterday more complete reports Of the de-
vastation Were brought here. and enough is
known to lead to the belief that several hundred
persons drowned Ii is definitely known
that al least six women in the town of Cvade
were drowned. as we'll three Mexican families.
numbering IN all about twelve persons. There
were a number of narrow escapes. AS soon as
those in the higher parts of the town learned Of
the disaster the work Of rescue began. and was
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. a dis
patch has been received here from Uvalde stating
that the list Of drowned will probably be greatly
Increased as soon as reports from the surround
ing country come in.
come from the clouds at first supposed,
but that II burst forth from the ground, az the
result Of an earthquake; as. under several places
along the Leona River. near Uvalde the cracks
In the earth. with the water pouring therefroM.
are still seen. The Leoha River, so-called. Is a
dry stream ten months Of the year. but II is
known that q suberranean basin and stream Of
water exist underneath the dry bed as flowing,
artesian wells obtained by boring few
hundred feet. II Is supposed that this artesian
basin OF water IS now es, aping through the
cracks caused by the earthquake. The shock Of
the earthquake was distinctly feat at Cvade and
at points for many miles around
About one-half Of the houses and other build
ngs in the town Of Uvalde. which has popu-
lation of about $500 persons, were swept away
and there is great destitution among those VINO
were made homeless The food came in the
night and about fifty families sough, refuge IN
trees The town of Dhans. fifty miles west OF
here is submerged TO depth Of several fee''
place from drowning. Thousands of head OF
cattle and horses were swept away. Inc extern
sive plant of the Litho-Carbon Rubber Conpdh!
near Cline was badly damaged by water
The great monetary loss is that OF the S'uih,
ern Pacific Railroad. Forty miles of track and
roadbed are washed away and four large bridges
and several smaller ones are gone one freight
train loaded with perishable fruit has been tied
IN lust east Of Uvade. for the las: thirty-siN
hours being cut off to the front ana rear T.?
N ranair All westbound freight arriving here
from New-OrleanG Is tied up All through
passenger traffic on the road is. OF course, sus-
nsnded Southern Pacific officials estimate tha'
i viii cost about 81 200 900 TO rebuild the forty
miles of track and replace the steel bridges
" Har,;ey Assistant General Traffic Manager OF
me Southern Pacific Company. says that the re-
oorts regarding the damage to the Southern Paoihc
Company's tracks in Texas on account or noods
are much exaggerated: Through trains VIII De run
without interruption this afternoon