The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-29
o., WAS STRICKEN
BY A SAD CALAMITY DURING
LAST NIGHT.
MANY PEOPLE MUST HAVE Persisted
Voices Crying for Help Could he
Heard in the Darkness ns Houses
Were Swept By-Mnny PeO-
pie Were Rescued.


last night a terrible cloudburst struck this
town, flooding the entire valley and caus-
ing great damage to property, both in
the city and along the railway lines.
Many people are supposed to be drowned.
The entire county east and west for
twenty miles was flooded and the dam
age will be enormous the railroads being
the heaviest losers. The Erie Railway
west of Warren, fourteen miles from
ders were issued to discontinue all trains.
Many residences were flooded and the
occupants were taken away by the pc
lice and fire departments.
The Mahoning valley electric lines were
flooded and all the bridges washed out.
The Catholic church at Niles was
struck by lightning at the same hour and
nearly destroyed by fire, while business
houses and manufacturing concerns were
flooded out
Henry Meyers, tailor, while standing
in front of his residence, was struck by
lightning and killed instantly.
The excursion trains which left here
this morning for Lake Erie are all side
tracked thirty miles out, and will prob
ably not reach the city tonight.
From everywhere comes reports of eX-
tensive washouts and bridges swept
away, and reports say losses will be
heavy.
At 1870 tonight came the first tangi-
BILE information of the damage done by
the storm. Along Crab creek, running
into the city along the Erie and Lake
Shore Railroads, and emptying into the
Mahoning river near the Lake Shore de-
pot, a cloudburst occurred about ten
miles out and the water did not begin to
rise much in the city until after 8 o'clock.
About 10 o'clock the water came down
the valley into the city and formed into
a flood, sweeping everything that was
not fastened down before it. The bed of
the creek was not more than twenty feet
wide, and the flood spread out to a width
of about 1000 feet. 1t rose quickly, and
in less than thirty minutes the water was
up to the second story of all the dwell
ings in the flooded district, and was still
rising. 1t is certainty at II o'clock
that none of the people escaped from the
houses. The whole district was covered
with darkness, except one small place,
where a lone electric light shone.
Firemen. police and others were on
hand quickly, but were pOwerless to res
cue any one, as not boat of any kind
was to be had in that portion of the city.
The cries of the people in the houses
were heart-rending to those who stood
at the waters edge and were forced to
retreat slowly on account of the grad
ually rising water.
1t is almost certainty that many peo-
pie were drowned. One whole family
were heard crying for help from up
stairs windows, when suddenly there was
grinding noise as if the house was be-
ing moved from its foundation and soon
the cries from that place ceased. The
intense darkness made it impossible to
see what was going on. but it is sup
posed the house and its occupants went
down in the flood.
People at the waters edge heard man
crying for help who was apparently be-
ing carried down in the flood. The
voice grew fainter and it is supposed the
unfortunate man persisted. Pitiful cries
for help were heard continually, but
those on the shore could do nothing. Po-
lice and firemen went at once to another
part of the city after boats. 1t was after
midnight before boats were gotten to
the flooded Crab creek district. and the
work of rescue could be started. The
boats were manned by firemen who went
to work with a will. but could not make
rapid progress on account of the swift
and dangerous current. Nine of the
families were taken out of second story
people were picked up clinging to debris
Nothing definite will be known as to
the loss of life until morning, or even the
names of the people that are in the food
and perhaps not then. as there were
several thoroughfares through the flood
ed district on which there are many peo-
pie at all hours of the night.
At midnight the water commenced to
reccde rapidly. and the creek will likely
he back in its natural course by morning.
The Erie and Lake Shore trains includ-
ing passenger and excursion trains were
stopped where they were caught and will
not likely he moved before day break as
the officials refuse to take chances of
loss of life.
Loaded ears have been placed on
bridges with Tie fope of keeping them
mp. as the Maliunilg river is high and ris-
ing rapidly.