The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-04-12
PERISHEO IN FLOOD.
HUNDREDS REPORTED DROWNED IN
TEXAS CLoUDBURsT.
MILLIONS OF DAM AGE
Large Dam burst and Lower Part of Austin
was Inundated Force of Water was Like
the Johnstown Flood and Carried Death
aud Destruction III Its Conrse-Whoie
Families Gone.

Austin, Tex, Especial. JAS tho result OF
a food that has never been paralleled In this
country except by tho Johnstown disaster,
Austin, the capital city Of Texas, lost ~ 400,
900 worth of municipal property. Tho lower
portion Of the city was inundated, fully 100
houses along the river have been swept away
and 10 lives are known to have beon lost,
and messages from up and down the river
report the drowing OF 80 persons in all.
The food Is one without parallel In tho
history OF the State exceeding In point OF
danger and In sectional losses the great
Brazoz Bottom flood OF last spring.
1t began raining on tho watersheds OF tho
Colorado River as far north rs the Concha
River, some 1876 miles north OF here, on We'd
nesday night, and never eeased until Satur-
day morning. From midnight until day
light so terrific was tho downpour that
creeks were transformed into surging tor
rents, and rivers were swollen to II width OF
mile. II Ia estimated that within an hour
four inches ot rain foil In this immediate
vicinity. By daylight it became evident that
the situation was serious. Tho river begun
rising three feet m hour, and by 10 o'clock
it had increased to four feet.
The situation at the city's powor station,
above the city, became serious from the very
first.
The Immense dam spinning the river ], 200
feet lcng and 60 feet high, with tho power
house and three-quartcrs of q million OF
dollars worth Of machinery located along
side was threatened from the very lrst. The
water rose 80 rapidly that the power-housc
would be inundated within a short time.
The surgiug torrent bore on its crest tons
and tons OF trees houses and debris by the
wagon lond. All this immense mass was
piled upon the dam. very rapidly forming II
solid mass 20 feet high and 900 feet thick,
over which thu water surged and fretted be
fore taking Its 60-foot plunge.
So terrific WAS the strain that II was eSi-
dent thnt Tho dam must give way.
AT ll.15 exactly the crash came, and
slice OF granite s feet thick, % feet In depth
and 500 feet long rolled out OF tho middle Of
Ehe dam and Into tho river below ns though
1t had been priced out with a crowbar This
released tho immense quantity OF debris
trees and houses und the vast volume OF
water, and within thrice Il was believing
on its way down the river, carrying death
and destruction In its wake.
just below the dam were located eight
families OF poor people, numbering some
i've and SIX apiece, who camped and tshed
for their living. All OF these disappeared
with the breaking OF the dam and have mo-
been heard Of since.
Eight men standing on the edge OF the
river when the dam broke were caught ant
swept into the torrent, but were rescued
quarter OF IL mile down the rlver more dead
than alive. In addition to this list ther
were eight of the employees cnught in th,
power-houso and drowned ike SO many Jal
In hole.
Reports from beow, along the river valley
Is that the waters have engulfod everything
and houses, live stock aud human lives hay'
been forfeited No accurate reports eau b'
had, as the excitement is so intense that NJ
names can be secured. 1t is feared, how
ever, that hundreds Of lives have been loot