The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-09
TWENTY-FIVE DROWNED.
Details of the Catastrophe Which Has
Overtaken Austin. Texas.


Austin April 9.-Twenty-five persons
drowned and five others missing as the
result Of the flood. Besides these, re-
ports are coming in of death and de-
struction throughout this section.
The great dam across the Colorado
river, which was constructed seven
years ago at a cost of an even million
dollars, was swept away by an un-
precedented food The break caused an
instant rise of fully 50 feet in the river
below the dam. This torrent of water
swept down on the broad valley below
with terrific force. The power house
of the municipal water, electric light
and power plant, situated Immediately
below the dam was flooded instantly
and eight persons-men and boys
were caught in the power room and all
except one were drowned like rats in
Those who drowned in the power
room We're; John Baize, Walter Bios
som, Frank Pinget. Thomas Kirkpat-
rick, odd Dan" (colOred), all employees,
and three boys who We're watching the
flood from the power house windows.
Frank Jones. an engineer, escaped by
grabbing a belt and hauling himself
out, hand over hand, through an open
ing in the roof of the building before
the water reached him. When the ma
sonry work of the dam gave way there
was a crowd of probably 500 persons
gathered near the east end Of the struc-
Ture. watching the flood pour OFT over
the crest to a height of ten feet. Sud
denly. and without warning, a break
occurred near the center of the dam,
and a stretch of the masonry work,
about 500 feet long, swung around to
the left. The great bank of water in
Lake Mcdonald, formed by the dam.
instantly leaped into this wide opening
and with roar that was heard for sew
eral miles, the flood tore down into the
valley below.
A few hundred yards below the dam
a point of land extended about 200 feet
into the river. There were on this point
at the time the break occurred a num-
her of people, including a woman and
two children, several photographers and
a party Of university students. Before
these persons could gain a position of
safety the water reached the prOjec-
ton, covering it instantly. The woman
and two children. six unknown men and
one university student are known to
have been swept into the torrent and
drowned. Some of the others were
caught in the stream, but they man
aged to escape from the main current
ard gain the shore after desperate
struggle.
The bodies of seven of these drowned
in the power house were recovered
The several hundred spectators were
panicstricken and powerless to render
any aid to the unfortunates.
The instant the dam gave way Harry
RObell, a laborer, who was one of the
spectators. mounted a horse and rode
at top speed toward the city, giving tne
alarm that the dam had been swept
away. It was another Paul Revere's
ride.
The people along the route took III
the cry and the news of the catastrophe
was known in the city probably tire.
minutes before the flood reached tht
lower part of the town.
Several hundred persons were at thu
foot of the wagon road bridge across
the Colorado river at the foot of Con
Fyress avenue when the cry reached
them that the dam had broken loose
"A minute later. and before many o
the panic-stricken spectators could flee
a wall of water so feet high swept dow
the valley and struck the bridge witt
terrific force.
flood spread over the valley for a dis
lance of one mile in width. Scores o
residences and barns and hundreds 0
head OF live stock were caught in tn
torrent and washed away. Many mer
women and children abandoned thei
homes when they heard the roar of tn
water coming down on them, and save
themselves by flight. There are man
reports of death from drowning a
along the lOWlands, but so far but fe'
Of these reports have been confirmed.
One colored family of four persons, Ii
drowned, and it is known that sewers
other colOred families in the river DO
toms south of there were in the path
the flood. 1t is feared that all Of the
Claude Franklin. of South Austin, W.
driving along the river road in a bugs
on the south side of the bridge when Z
flood struck him. He contrtved to cate
hold of telegraph pole. He climbed
into the cross arms to posluOn OF a
parent security, when a large iran
house came down the stream and strA