The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-28

children. Many were cub of ana were
cooped up In their houses in water from
two TO flve feet deep and in somo instances
too deep to allow them to stand. and they
were hanging to house tops trees aud
telephone poles.
Rescue corps were organized by the po-
llco and fire departments, and the county
authordties before the rain had ceased and
Il is due TO the prompt work OF these peo-
pie that many lives were not lost. They
rushed through the streets In the wooden
mills districts reecuing all those who had
been cut of aud in several cases the par
tios were taken from the water more dead
than alive.
From the wooden mills district the water
cut across the Ross valley, now thlokly
settled, and for tho hrst time IN history
hundreds Of handsome cottages wers food
cd. Fences we're washed away from lots
never before touched by Waco creek.
Families peacefully contemplating the
falling rain suddenly we're surrounded with
roaring waters. Tho scene was in a min
ute transformed from quietude TO hodlam.
They saw thor fences and all loose prop-
orty swept away aud their houses threat
Nned The water did not get high enough
in Ross valley, however. TO wash away
any houses.
Lower down on Waco creek the oondi-
lions were different. Tho current was con-
fined 10 narrow space and It's volume aud
force we're correspondingly Increased From
Sixth street TO the mouth, tho creek was
a quarter OF milo wide, Every house
was flooded, and every fence was wrecked.
Hundreds OF small houses, in most cases
belonging to negroes. were either washed
away. wrecked or taken OH their blocks
The occupants. however made their es-
cape; that Is, none arc missing so far az
known.
Barrons branch, a small stream entering
the city from the northwest and emptying
into tho Brazos river just above tho sus-
pension bridge, was converted from a rip
pllng brook Into raging torrent Bill
Walker, negro living near the branch on
North Seventh street. tried 10 save some
pigs which were threatened by the floods:
be lost his footing. fell into tho current OF
tho stream and was dashed against .
bridge and killed.
r. f. wingo. who runs small store
noar Walkers house, ran to Walkers res
cue and fell into the creek himself. His
wife, who had accompanied him, ran across
bend of the branch extended a limb
which no caught and was thus saved from
drowning.
Five people we're standing on the Second
otrset bridge across Barrons branch when
tho water swept over It, and Tom Caps.
Rose Chapman and Emma Decker, thrse
Of the party Call eolorod). were carried
down stream and drowned, Their bodies
were carried into the Brazos river and
werc not recovered
There arc many rumors tonight OF par
ties missing, but tbs elk persons named
two white women and four negroes--are
believed TO be the only persons drowned.
The business portion OF the city suffered
great damage. The storm sewers were IN
adequate 10 carry of the great volume OF
water that swept down from the hills and
every store on Austin avenue, between
Third and seventh streets. and on Fourth,
between Austin avenue and Mary street.
and on Franklin. between Third and sixth
streets, wero flooded. The water rushed
into tho buildings so suddenly that ihs oc-
cupants had no time to save anything Ia