New-York tribune., 1900-04-08


eight workmen. The following is list of the
known dead, including those killed in the power
house:
THE DEAD.
BURCHARD. CHARLES.
BLOSSMAN. WALTER.
FITZGERALD FRANK.
FLOWER. WALTER.
JOHNSON ALFRED.
JOHNSON. WALTER.
KINNEY FRANK
NEWMAN, JOSEPH.
NORRIS. RICHARD (coored).
PINCETT FRANK
PROES. JOHN.
There were also six more negroes lost whose
names unknown. On Wednesday night it
began to rain hard at this place the storm ex-
tending north of here along the watersheds of
the Colorado River. The precipitation continued
| until this morning. the downfall aggregating
six inches. All this vast quantity of water along
the watersheds of the Colorado River rapidly
swelled the current until S o'clock this morn
ing the river, which had been steadily rising
since last evening, was raging torrent hav-
ing risen forty feet within ten hours.
After daylight this morning it became evident
that the situation was serious. The river be-
gan to rise rapidly that it evident
the immense dam and all the power houses and
contents costing 81, 100000, were in imminent
DANGER 10 aQd 10 the terror or the situation,
small frame houses, trees and debris of every
description in varying quantities began de-
scentlng the ri4er and pHfng up against the
upper face of the dam This weight was aug
mented every moment, until by 10 o'clock there
was mass of debris lodged against the dam
which threatened the safety of the structure.
In addition. millions of gallons of muddy water
were whirling and plunging to the sixty-foot
fall and it was evident that no wall could
Withstand the immense pressure.
The crisis came shortly after II o'clock when
suddenly, with a sound like the roar of the
ocean. the great wedge. twenty-five feet high,
five hundred feet wide and about eight feet
thick, rolled out of the centre section of the
dam, down the face of the sixty foot depth into
the river below. This left a yawning gap in the
very middle of the dam. through which the
debris and water fiercely poured while the flood.
already raging, was threatening everything in
its path, this sudden breaking of the dam only
serving to add to the horror of the catastrophe.
POWER HOUSE FLOODED.
The released water poured into the power
house, catching eight employees at work there
drowning all of them instantly. The breaking OF
the dam caused wild excitement in the city. The
telegraph companies al once sent word to places
below here to look out for the great wave and
runners We're dispatched on horses to inform
those living in the valleys below the city The
Geographic messages served as a timely warning
to many. but the rushing waters outstripped the
horsemen, and many houses We're picked up and
swept away before the occupants could get to-
gether their valuabes. Whiting a short time all
the valleys to the south and west of Austin were
filed to overfowing with water and the south
ern part of the city tributary to the river was
inundated. Large crowds collected on the river
o,1 tpto fba
river when the dam broke. but all saved
by boatmen.
A crowd of white people, numbering about
thirty living Just below the dam. In tents, We're
seen at their habitatons just before the dam
broke, and have not accounted for since.
1t is generally believed that all Of them were
swept away. One man, attempting TO cross the
roadway leading to the bridge across the river
Just as the big rolled down. caught
and he and his horse and buggy went down
with the torrent and were heard of no more.
A family of six negroes living in the valley
south Of the city, are known to have been
drowned 1t is estimateH that more than one
| hundred houses have been destroyed, and the
loss to property will be great. as the light and
power plant cost $1,500.OO0. The breaking of
the dam engulfed the old water company's plant
below the city. and it is tonight lying fifteen
feet under water. while the city is in darkness
ana without water
WIDESPREAD DAMAGE.
Reports from points below here to the
| effect that the flood has been most disastrous
and that the breaking of the dam has oc-
casioned many thousands of dollars worth of
| loss TO property. The surface of the river
| throughout the day has been dotted by small
houses fragments of houses and drowned
| animals, along with trees and debris, all of
! which bear testimony to the ravages OF the
| food in the mountainous region above Austin.
In addition to the losses here. the International
| and Great Northern Railroad and the Austin and
Northwestern Railway. both entering this city.
have suffered severely. the first named having a
| serious wreck by reason of the floods this
morning.
| The southbound cannon-ba train from ST.
| Louis the International and Great Northern.
! due at a. m, was wrecked at Mcneil. nine
miles above here. as result OF washout. The
| engine and cars plunged into cuvert. demol-
| ishing the engine, the mail car. baggage car,
! two day coaches and one sleeper. The ears left
! the track and rolled on their sides in four
! feet of water but fortunately no lives were lost
THE EXPRESS TRAIN SERVICE
| to accommodate business men with homes at Park