The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-12
Is AGAIN IN TROUBLE.
Southern Pacific Loses q BridEc--snp
Is Badly Crippled.

The hoods In the Colorado river valley
destroyed the main pier of the Southern
Pacific bridge at Columbus at 8 o'clock
last night, only very short time after the
hnal touches were put on the work OF
strengthening the approaches there and Of
repairing the break in the line at Thurs
ton, between San Antonio and Sanderson.
The immense volume of water watch has
been pouring down the river tor i've days
past at last mad the effect of running the
pier supporting the bridge on the east SIDE
q the river proper, with the result that
Tie entire structure settled and was rem
deied useless The bridge is very valu-
sple, one and the damage done TO 1t will
entaN the expenditure OF large amount
OF money.
New. of the beginning of the break
reachedthe general OFFICES of the company
mere shGtly before o'clock yesterday
afternoon. only about two hours after Man
ager Van Week mad been advised OF the
completion u the work at Thurston. other
lines We're Immediately communicated
with and arrangements were soon made
for the handling of Southern Pacific trains
around the damaged bridge. The road
VIII use its own,tracks from here to Ros-
enoers and VIII aen proceed to sealy over
the Santa Fe. FROM Sealy to West Point
over the Missouri. Kansas and Texas, and
thence to Flatonia, where the main line
of the Southern Pacific is again epcoun-
tered. over the San Antonio and Arkansas
Pass. 1t is intended. however, TO run only
train 0. leaving here at Il 10 D. M, west
bound. and No. 10, arriving here in the
morning at 1886, eastbouna, around this
route the morning westbouhd train out OF
Houston, No. Z, being sent K, as near Co.
lunbus as possible, while eastboupd train
No. 3, due here at 1905 p. n. will be
operated between Columbus and San An
tonic. transfers between the Two trains
being made at the former place II Is
probable that this arrangement wiliremain
in effect for some four or FIVE days, as that
length of time will necessarily be, con-
sumed in repairing the damage to, the
bridge.
The Southern Pacific is not the osly
sufferer. however. Although the worst or
the damage all over the State was though
to have been passed, some of the linss are
still in trouble at various points. On ac-
count OF the dangerous condition of it's
bridge across the Colorado river at Affair,
the San Antonio and Arkansas Pass has dis
continued the operation of trains between
Houston and Yoakum on the Waco branch.
but is running passenger trains from Yoa-
KUN to West Point on it's own line; from
West Point to Elgin over the Missouri,
tA"tSoo "hh iNAoS II avn llOm blElu W
Giddirgs over the Houston and Texas Cen
trail track. and from Giddings to Waco
over its own line. Affair is small sta
ton en- the Sap near Eagle Lake. but on
the opposite side OF the river. II is Just
below Colum bus. +,ae
Santa Fe branch trains are still being
handled by the Central between Navasota
and Brennan. Otherwise all of the Texas
lines are in fairly good condition.
The News at San Antonio.
San Antonio, Texas, April 11--News was
received here tonight that the Southern
Pacific railway bridge over the Colorado
river at Columbus is ten feet out of line
and three feat down on one side, creating
a serious gap between this city and New
Orleans The hrst through westbound
passenger train. which left New ORLEANS
Tuesday morning for California, passed
over the bridge few hours before It was
carried away. 1t was the first train in
several days, and was loaded down with
passengers fer the West. Two California
trains followed in its wake and
also succeeded in passing over the bridge.
The structure thsn was slightly out of
line, but after that rapidly gave way and
is now on the verge Of topping over. Tbs
trains which reached here this afternoon
r sported serious trials in the flooded dis
trict. Three and one-half hours We're con-
sumed in getting through the backwater
of the Colorado rivers at Columbus. A
house had become lodged on the track
and had to be removed by the train crew
and the trunks Of three giant trees which
had lodged across the track at various
places had 10 be sawed through. West
of here the track has been repaired and Is
open for traffic.