Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-12
FLOODS IN TEXAS.
Crowds View the Ruins Of the
Power House Near Austin.
BRIDGES DESTROYED, CATTLE LOST.
Many People Reported Drowned and the
Cropa Damaged Over q Wide Arena
Passenger Train Wrecked on the
International b Great Southern.

Austin, Tex, April Gully 10000
people gathered at the dam and
power house stationed north of this
city to witness the ruins of the plant
which cost this city $l,75O,Ooo few
years ago. The waters of the Colo
RADIO river were still plunging and
foaming around the wreck, eating
away the big pile of granite which
once formed the dam, as though it
was nothing more than chalk rock.
So fierce was the current that great
powders were carried half a mile
from the dam, being rolled over and
over by the turbulent tide. The power
house, which succumbed to the ter
rifle wash of the water at two o'clock
yesterday morning, lies a mass of
wreckage on the edge of the river, all
the valuable machinery either hav-
ing been thrown into the river or
badly damaged by the falling timbers
of the power house. The wreck of the
plant is complete. The situation in
the city last night was most serious.
The wreckage of the plant means
that it will take several weeks to Sc
cure even temporary water and
light system, II it can be made posi-
BILE even then. In the meantime the
city will be in bad sanitary condition.
All the hotels, private residences,
stores and the like are without water
Churches were unable to hold services
last night for want Of light and all
public meetings were abandoned.
Reports from the neighboring coun-
try are to the effect that everything
is under water. In Williamson coun-
ty, north of here, railroad bridges
and trackage have been laid waste and
all trains have stopped running. Hun
dreds of head of cattle have been
drowned and miles of fencing torn
down and washed away. In Bastrop
county and in the southern portion
of this county similar conditions pre-
vail, everything being water, and
much loss of property is reported.
The country tributary to the Colo
RADIO river all the way down Its course
is being inundated, and while it is
believed the worst is over, the loss
is estimated to exceed some $3,O0O,-
900, counting Austin as the largest
loser. Fortunately the list of drowned,
according to reports up to last night,
is limited to those reported in the As
ISOLATED press. dispatches Saturday
night-about 32--as it seems the only
drownings reported were here, when
the dam broke and caught the victims
unawares.
Reports from several sections of
central and southern Texas are to the
effect that a large acreage is under
water and much damage has been
suffered IN property ana live STOCK.
The Rivers Reported Falling.
Houston, Tex, April GAS rule
the Texas rivers are now falling and
there is not much danger of general
food. The crops have been damaged
over a wide area but there is still
time for farmers to replant If they
can get the seed. Corn has been
planted over once and will. 1ave TO
be planted the third time. 'FA farm
ers, as rule, have not planted much
cotton because the heavy rains have
kept them out of the fields. The
railroads have lost many small
bridges and it will be week before
traffic resumes its normal condition.
Smithville reports tremendous rains
have fallen throughout that section