The San Francisco call., 1897-05-29
Five Thousand People Driven
From Their Homes and
Half Are ShelterlesS.
MUCH MISERY RESULTS FROM
BREAKING OF LEVEES.
Adobe Dive IIlngs of the Poorer
Classes Crumble Amid the
SWlrllng Waters.

Ell PASO, TEX. May 2S.-EI Paso is to-
night another Venice. Its streets are
transformed by the swollen waters OF the
Rio Grande into surging rivers whose
floods are destroying everything in their
path One-third of the city is submerged,
not less than a thousand buildings have
been destroyed or badly damaged and
nearly 5000 persons have been driven from
their homes. Tonight it is estimated
that $500 men, women and children are.
absolutely shelterless, depending upon
charity for food.
For three weeks the food has been
gradually eneroaehing upon the city,
despite the constant efforts of the rail-
roads, the city authorit les and private in
divlduals to stem the tide. Hundreds Of
houses had already been destroyed, when
yesterday afternoon came the grand catas-
trophe At O'Clock the levee gave way
at the head of the irrigating canal which
taps the Rio Grande one mile north
OF the city The waters poured through
in relentless torrent which swept every
thing before it, and in few hours con-
verted that portion of the city east OF El
Paso street and south OF Overland into
vast lake uotted with the crum bling homes
OF the poor.
When The back-water reached the al
ready overtaxed embankments opposite
. tsas osty they 80 collapsed, and the tor
rent poured without hlndra nee into the
city antil clock this morning, when the
level OF the river was reached. At the
same hour the city authorities cut the
embankment which protected the Texas
and Pacific tracks, giving the waters an
49, - h. l<vr Il
lying east of the city. Then the tide be-
gan to recede slowly, and at midnight had
fallen ten inches below the highest point
OF the day. 1t is the worst flood in Ell
Paso's history. The Rio Grande. which
few weeks ago was a puny rivulet scarcely
covering a span OF fifteen feet. is now a
mighty stream more than mile wide.
The suffering and large portion of the
financial loss, which already amounts to a
quarter OF million, falls upon the poorer
portion of the community, although some
OF the best residences of the city are in
cluded in the flooded district.
Almost the entire Mexican population
have lost their homes, their adobe houses
offering no resistance. to the rush Of the
torrent. When the ringing OF the fire
bells gave warning that the levee had
broken, all the inha bitants of the lower
portion OF the town made grand rush for
the hills. taking with them what few val
uab!es they could carry. AS The Mexican's
first thought is for his oogs and his Sec
ond tor his goat, his pig or his fighting
COCK, the procession presented many
Iaughabie as well as pitiable aspects.
Every avaia Bile team in The city was
promptly pressed into service hauling
away the household effects of such homes
as could be reached. and the work was
kept I'D all through last night and to-day
The thousands of refugees spent the night
on the hills in the northern portion of the
city, without shelter and almost without
food.
Early this morning hastily organized
relief committee set to work. and nearly
half the homeless have been provided for
in such vacant structures as were avail
able, or given shelter by their friends.
Forty Government tents were sent by the
commaRdant at Fort Bliss, and the build
ings of the abandoned post north of the
city have been placed at the disposal of the
relief com mittee by the military authori-
ties Charitable citizens distributed pro-
visions among the food victims to-day,
but the suffering was only partly miti-
gated and it has been decided to ask the
Texas LEGISLATURE for aid.
The future is not without forebodings
of worse to come. While the river is fall
ing here and at points above tonight, it is
higher than ever at Santa Fe and is still
rising. Every effort will be ma Q to
shield the city against further disaster be-
fore the next rush of water reaches here
A large force is at work attem pting to
close the crevasses at the head of the canal
and atI the levees protecting the city will
be strengthened as rapidly as possible. The
Santa Fe road has been washed out for
several days at Selden, thirty miles north,
md its trains are running over the tracks
Of the Southern Pacific. The latter road
pnIy able to resume traffic by building a
temporary line around the submerged dis
trict.
There is rumor tonight that some of
the flood victims, believing their misfor-
tunes to be due to lack of energy on the
part OF the city officials, are threatening to
rut the EN- bankment which protects the
home of Mayor Magoffin. Preparations
have been made to Illustrate any attempt
of the kind. should il be made.
The Texas Pacific Railway had thrown
ND dyke to protect its track near the
roundhouse. This backed the water up
pver San Antonio street, flooding num-
ber of houses and threatening to cross the