Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-25
BRIDGE COLLAPSES:
SIX FALL TO DEATH
Catastrophe at Dallas, Tex,
Follows Flood.
THREE STATES AFFLICTED
Many Lives Lost and Heavy Prop
erty Damage.
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THREE STATES AFFLICTED
THOUSANDS MADE HOMELESS
Oklahoma and Iowa Stormswept
Railroads Out of Commission.
Wires Down

Three states have suffered
severely by tornado and record
breaking fl~ols since Saturday
night. the most grevious damage
having been done in Texas, and
Oklahoma and Iowa reporting
narrowing conditions. Estimates
OF loss OF life are vague. Seven
are known to be dead at Dallas
and seven fatalities are reported
from Fort Worth. Tex. The
damage to crops is immense
Railroads in Texas and Okla
homa have suspended operations
in many sections and will suffer
much financially. At Dallas. with
the collapse OF a railroad bridge
this morning, six men were
drowned.
DALLAS. Tex, May pa section OF
the Texas and Pacific railroad bridge has
just gone down. washed away by food
Fifteen men were thrown into the river.
six being drowned
The worst flood conditions in years pre-
walls in Dallas. Trinity river rose from
IS feet at 10 pm. Sunday. to :1.5 feet
at O'Clock this morning, and is still
rising.
One other man is known to have been
drowned. The dwelling of one family was
washed away.
The village of West Dallas. across Tr:ni-
ty river. is partially inundated Hundreds
Of families are forced to seek higher
places
The Commerce street bridge that spans
Trinity river has been partially washed
away. There is no travel between the
city proper and suburbs on the west bank
OF the stream.
Street car bridges are under water and
trafiic over these lines has been sus-
pended.
Poor Families Homeless.
The section of the city known as the
Eagle Ford is inundated. many families
being driven from their homes. The
power plant of the Dallas Street Railway
Company is under water to the first floor
cutting off all light and electrical cur
rent.
The flooded section is along stretches OF
lowlands. The main residence and busi-
ness sections of the city will in all proba-
Reports of persons missing and loss Of
lives are being brought to the attention
OF the authorities Because of the at
tendant confusion it is impossible to
promptly confirm them.
The property loss will be heavy Those
who We're driven from their homes were
forced to leave all their possessions, many
of them escaping barely with their lives
Household goods in many instances were
piled high. their owners climbing to the
n IL
encroacning waters.
Traffic on the interurban lines between
this city and Fort Worth has been dis
continued With the washing away o,
the Texas and Pacific railroad bridge
service to the west has been abandoned.
Distress Is Expected.
In the city proper there is likely to be
much distress. The water and light com
panies have been closed down. their plants
having been flooded
A section of the Santa Fe railroad
bridge has gone down. Traffic over this
line has been temporarily discontinued
People living along the river below the
city were not prepared for the sudden
rise. II came without warning. During
the early hours of the morning there were
many narrow escapes from drowning.
Owners OF live stock were forced to re-
move their animals from the river bot
tom. Many COWS and horses were swept
city is peopled by the poor classes. There
is already much distress among them.
The Nellie Maurine. river steamer
caught under the Commerce street
bridge about = o'clock today and lost hel
pilot house.
Seven Dead at Fort Worth.
FORT WORTH. Texas. May 25.-sever
people are known to be dead, 5000 are
homeless and dozen or more are reported
to have been killed in Fort Worth anc
North Fort Worth a result of the
greatest rise in the history of the Trinity
river Beginning at 7:30 Saturday even
ing. the rise reached a climax at
o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Five deaths occurred yesterday and tive
Saturday night.
Following the torrential rains of Sat
urday and today. volume Of sever
inches, the river went three inches above
tn" record-break!ng flood of lSsa.
Stock valued at many thousands of dol
lars including 2.:IO sheep penned up il
the stock Yards IN North Fort Worth
was washed down stream and destroyed
TIL, property loss cannot be estimated
The paralysis of railroad services Ii
almost total. The 1nterurban has dis
continued service between Fort Worth
and Dallas. The Rock Island made n,
attempt to operate trains. neither did th'
Fort Worth and Denver. The Frisc'
Cetoured. IN faCt. not road ESCAPED
more less damage.
Rowboats from Handley. White Cit,
ana Lake Coamo. hauled TO the scene o
overfows on street ears. trucks and il
patrol wagons figured prominently in tn
worh of rescue.
Body Of Drowned Woman.
The dead body of woman f1oated pas
the foot of East 4th street about day
light yesterday. and created pani,
among negro refugees.
4 negro child was washed from it.
mothers arms in the Rock Island yards
and has not been seen since.
An unknown white man was drowned
cne-quarter of a mile from the Ion,
bridge His coat. containing a note o
farewell was found lodged in a tree top
negro attempting TO pilot two men i,
a buggy through deep water opposite tn,
City Park gate was thrown from hi
horse His body has not been recovered
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