New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-28
Ell PASO IN A PANIC.
THE RIO GRANDE AGAIN BREAKS INTO
THE CITY.
A LARGE PART OF THE POPULATION COMPELLED
TO FLEE-BIG FORCES TRYING TO CHECK
THE RUSH OF WATER.

TIE RUSH OF WATER.
Dallas. Tex. May 27-A dispatch to The
Ncws" from FL Paso SAYS: This morning the
river showed rise OF six inches over last night
and the water was sweeping down the river at a
terrific rate. Early this morning the headgate
OF the canal which is above the evee, began to
give way, and five hundred men, with logs,
sacks Of sand and willow bales. were put to work
to prevent break at the headgatc while about
one thousand men were stretched along the i'm
prorised levee at the other side of the city. where
the water continued to creep up
At o'clock this afternoon the head gate gave
way with rush. and the river poured into the
canal The fire alarm was sounded to warn
people in the lower districts, and in instant
the city was in such wild confusion that for
half an hour it was impossible to make any or
eanized effort to take another stand against the
waters, which were soon over the banks OF the
canal inundatiaG the territory or both sides.
The people living along tho banks of tho cana,
are poor laboring classes, and their homes were
soon under water Men and women had to wade
through the water from their homes, taking their
CHILDREN in their arms. The houses. being In
most cases built of adobe melted away at the
first touch Of the rushing torrents and furniture.
clothing. etc. were floating around in all direc-
waters from crossing the Santa Fe yards. where
they would nocd the passenger station and then
pour down on the gas AID electric light works
and numerous manufacturing plants and whole
sale houses located just north OF the yards.
The levce at the foot Of FL Paso-st. broke, and
in short time twent. little houses In that To-
cality were flooded BY this time the people FOR
three blocks north Of the flood were moving out
a I'd the streets were thronged with wagons.
carts ana whcolharrOws loaded with the belong
nSs of those who fleeing from the rising
waters. For three miles across the town ana
the river front everybody is moving up INT"
the business portion of the city and TO the more
elevated residence sections.
General Naoy. in charge AT old Fort Bliss
received a telegram from Department Quarter
master sampson. at san Antonio. authorzins
him 10 allow the homeless to move int" the
houses at old Font Bliss.
At O'Clock this afternoon the levee on SKIN
st. abandoned by the city. and Mayor Ma
coffin put several hundred men and teams al
work throwing up new levee on Fourth-st'
from the Santa Fd across eight blocks TO Tago-
st. The waters cannot reach the fashionable
residence poriio. of the city which lies north
and east OF the business centre The river Is
still rising. The break this afternoon resulted
in leaving at least one hundred poor families
homeless. The water at G:3D was threatening
the business portion One hundred feet OF leNee
on the Mexican side has been washed away. and
a number of houses are flooded. Men are hard
at work trying TO save the two street railway
bridges. If tho river rises ten inches more II
will flood tho business portion Of FL Paso.