Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-28

(By Telegraph to Nlrgnian-P ilot.)
Waco, Texas, April 27.-An electric
storm, accompanied by rain in torrents,
fell here to-day flooding half of the
city and doing great damage to pro-
perty. The bodies OF two known and
one unknown dead have been recovered
and three other persons are known to
have persisted.
The dead--Mrs. Nancy Caudle. Miss
Emma Candle, her daughter; an I'M
known negro.
The business streets were converted
into rivers. Such Hood was never be-
fore seen here. The rain resembled Il
succession of cloudbursts. Easements
were Hooded on Franklin and Wash
ington streets and on Austin avenue.
Waco creek on the south side of the
city, and Barrons Branch on the north
side, poured their surplus water to-
ward the center of the city and form
cd n sea in the business district. At
present the exact number of persons
drowned cannot be ascertained. Mrs.
Nancy Caudlc and her daughter. who
resided with Mrs. Norton at the corner
of Jackson and Seventeenth streets, are
among the dead recovered from the
flood. The house was in the Waco
NIech oNeiloW anu tne iiuiCS III spite
of efforts at rescue. were swept away.
MIR. and Mrs Norton were saved.
Their house. was destroyed.
William Walker. Il negro. was drown
ed i'll the Barron branch overflow and
his body was recovered.
STRONG BRIDGE SWEPT AWAY.
At the corner of North Second and
Barron stretes, an arched brick bridge,
which had withstood floods for thirty
years gave way and three negroes dis
appeared With the bridge. Their bodies
have not been recovered.
The storm commenced at 4 o'clock this
afternoon and the water fell, in vast
sheets. one cloud-burst following the
other. the water courses rising above
the divides and uniting into Il foamng
and raging sea. The people in the por-
ton OF the city suffering most fled from
their houses. The Hfrcmen and police
and hundreds OF citizens rushed TO the
rescue but the Mater was too swift for
their lives hy drowning in less than five
minutes
The main Bosque and Its tributaries
are overlooking large district and
running valuable crops. The Brazos
river is ten fee; above the danger mark
and is still rising. The property loss in
Waco will be fully $4,000
AS the CITY Is divided into sections by
the high water and communication cut
off between the various divisions. a COM
plete list of the dead at this hour can
not be given An organized relief move
ment is already under way.
TORNADO AT BLUM
Blum. Texas. April 27.-A tornado
passed through tn eastern part of this
place ut noon to-day. destroying sew
eral residences and IL two-story school
building. Fortunately but two people
We're seriously hurt. one of whom, Eu-
nice Hanks. Will die. She was caught
between TWO timebrs and eceived in
ternal Injuries fifteen others
wers slightly hurt Robert McCIus-
Keys business house and the Baptist
church are among the badly wrecked
buildings. l.. Robcrtson's residence
was demolished and Robertson probably
fatally injured. Mrs. Robertson was
hurt about the head. The storm started
about three miles south of the town
and was nearly 200 yards wide. The
gram crop in the path of the storm is
badly damaged and fruit trees are bro
Ken ana stripped of fruit.