The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-01
BIG FLOOD In TEXAS.
Whole Communities Said TO
Have Been Swept Away.
RAILROAD TRACK WASHED OUT
Damage Mere Than n MfIIIsa Dollars
Southern Pacific Heavy Loser
Some Corpses Foand.

UvAnpE Tex. Aug SL-A terrible catas-
iropbe befeli this thriving town last night.
and today there IS mourning IN many
households. The treacherous Leona river.
Swollen 20 3 raging torrent by recent rains,
rushed down upon the town without
moments warning. submerging and
greckIng many houses and drowning >
number Of PEOPLE. In this section such
destruction by the elements has never be-
fore been chronicled. In the excitement
OF the day Il is not definitely known how
many have been drowned. Among the
bodies that have been iden titled are those
OF Mrs. Joe Hatch. Miss Matte Edwards,
= child Of Mr.. Maiey and two Mexicsns
Ii wns about o'clock IN the mornin <
when the food came. The weather had
been threatening, and there were ominous
clouds 10 the north and east of town. The
atmosphere had been close early in the
evening. and predictions OF q storm were
freely made. During the night the dark
clouds rose higher and higher. Just rs
the storm broke over the city in all its
fury q torrent Of water rushed down the
Leona. river, overlooking ats banks and
flooding the iowiands on either side TO O
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 Nre submerged, and in the dark
ness and throughout the downpour Of rain
that was falling could be heard the
cries Of distress from the Inflated inhab-
itants. in their Wild efforts 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 the
higher part of the town were made aware
of the terrible flood the work of rescue was
begun and carried out as rapidly as pos
sible In the darkness Great apprehension
is felt for the families living in the ditch
south of here, where fifty or 100 families
live. One Mexican family living on the
ranch of II. Schwartz, below town, Is sup
posed TO have been lost, no vestige of the
ranch being left. News reaches here this
evening that three families living below
town were drowned Their names have
not yet been learned.
According 10 reports received at the
Southern Pacific Office this evening the
terrible food vas augmented by an earth
quake. A shock OF some SECONDS duration
was distinctly felt during the night At
one place near the city heavy cracks APP
pear on either side OF the river having
apparently no bottom. The trackwalker
of the Southern Pacific, after wading
through water up TO his neck, succeeded
in intercepting west-bound train.
The loss 10 the Southern Pacific Is enor-
nous, forty miles of Its track and many
bridges having been washed away. A
thorough but safe estimate IS to the loss of
property, including that of the railroad.
will. as far as known. reach 81, 500. coo.
over 100 car loads OF material and 800 la
borers left San Antonio for the scene of
the wreck this evening.
Is Is estimated late tonight that twenty
FIVE lives were lost. and that the damage to
property will reach 81. 100000.