The herald., 1897-05-29
Forced to Ask Govern
ment Assistance
A THOUSAND HOMES FLOODED
AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE
STARVING
More Water Is Coming From the
North and More Adobe Founda-
tions Will Crumble
Associated Press Special Wire.


Ell PAsO, Texas. May 2S-The food
situation here today Is deplorable, but
everything possible Is being done to aid
the sufferers. Tents are being secured
of money and provisions have been con-
tributed. No fatalities occurred. The
river dropped six inches last night. 1t
will be under control tonight and turn
ed back into the regular channel.
Over 500 homeless families or 1000
people, were on the streets of Ell Paso
this morning. searching for shelter.
Their furniture, clothing, ETC., were
of the city. Last night the waters con-
tinued to rise and before day dawned the
piled up on the principal thoroughfares
flood had reached that portion of the
city in and around San Antonio street,
where prominent business and profess
sional men reside After II o'clock last
night the flood swept over six more
blocks. The waters were full Of strug-
Cling teams, hauling out property from
the flooded houses The Texas and Pa
cif1c railroad had thrown up dyke to
protect its track near the round house.
and this backed the water UP over San
Antonio street, flooding a number Of
houses and threatening to cross the
street and flood hundreds of the pretti-
est residences Of the city. Several prom
inent citizens residing in the vicinity,
headed by Collector of Customs Captain
Davis, armed themselves with Winches'-
ters, and crossing over the railroad
levee, cut the dyke, letting the back
water out, and it began to recede from
San Antonio street.
A troop of the Fifth cavalry from
Fort Bliss came down to the city today
and offered their services to guard the
property of homeless people which il
piled in the streets
The city board Of health met thi.
morning and appointed a committee o.
six leading physicians to take charg,
of the relief hospital now being estab-
lished for the homeless and sick, anC
the physicians are taking such to the
improvised hospital. Col. Van Valzall
of Fort Bliss loaned the city fifty-three
tents. and citizens committees were out
today with wagons, gathering provis-
ions for distribution among the desti-
tute. At least 400 out of the $50 families
whose homes are under water are with
out the necessaries of life. This morn
ing the city council held meeting and
authorized the mayor to wire to the
Texas senator's and representatives ir
congress to secure an appropriation OF
$40. 900 for the relief Of the flood vic
Tins. The war department has also
been appealed to for more tents.
This he vix f..
standstill, but a rise of one foot Is re.
ported up the river in New Mexico The
flood waters at Ell Paso East cover ar
area averaging four miles long an6
three-quarters of a mile wide flooding
not less than 700 homes most of which
belonged to the poorer laboring classes
The houses. having been built close to.
gether on adobe fundations, were un.
dermined and have tumbled down
Many people are living in houses where
the water is up to the doors, and refuse
to move, and these people will have
trouble tonight, if the reported rise
reaches Ell Paso.
RIVERS RISING
DENVER, Col, May 2S.-A special te
the Republican from Santa Fe, N. NJ
says: Dispatches received here tonight
state that heavy rains have prevailed
on the Rio Grande watershed for dis.
tance of $50 miles above Santa Fe, an6
the river at Embudo. so miles. north o.
here, has risen - inches in the past q
hours. The swollen streams south o.
Espanola will double this rise before il
passes Socorro, rendering the prospect.
three days hence at Ell Paso and Juare;
extremely gloomy. All the low land.
in the Rio Grande valley above Espa
nola are inundated.
At Atrisca, opposite Albuquerque, tn,
river cut through the bank this after
noon and inundated a large portion O.
the town. A large force Of men was pu
to work, however, and before dark tn,
levee had been repaired.