The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-04
FLOOD SITUATION
IN TEXAS SERIOUS
5000 People Are Driven
From Homes
SCORES ARE RESCUED
Many Sections Practically Inundated
While Train Service Is Cut Off.
Death Toll Believed
to Be Light

Dallas, Tex, December 3-With three
rivers, the Trinity, Brazos and Colorado
and innumerable small streams out oil
their banks as a result of torrential rains
unue, the flood situation in central Texas
has assumed serious proportions. Within
a territory 200 miles in length and ler
miles in width practically all of the low
lands are under water; approximately 15,-
900 persons have been driven from their
homes; scores have been rescued from
tree tops and floating wreckage; several
railroads have been forced to suspend op-
erations and incalculabe damage has
been done to property.
Seven persons are known to have lost
their lives. Yesterday five members of
the family of w. c. Polk, a farmer, were
drowned at Bolton and B. f. Lacy and a
man named Manley met a similar fate
near Dallas late today. Lacy was driv-
ing stock from an overflowed field when
ne and his horse became entangled in
a wire fence and drowned Manley lost
his life while attempting to rescue
marooned victims at the village of Grand
Prairie.
Waco, on the Brazos river and In the
center of the flooded area, reported the
most serious situation today. Sections OF
that city, known as South and East Waco
are under water and 1t is estimated that
more than 10000 residents were made
homeless In that city property damage
is estimated in excess of $4,000. The mill
tary companies stationed there have been
ordered on duty by Governor CoIquitt
and ball cartridges have been issued to
the guardsmen for use in the event OF
looting. So far there has been no disor-
der.
Train Service Cut Off
Train service out of Waco was practl-
cally cut off by washouts. train which
started west on the Cotton Belt line wa $
stopped II miles out of that city. where
a railway station was lying on its side and
bridge swept away. Officials of the
Texas Midland a line 100 miles long
which operates between EMS and Paris
reported the entire system tied up, with
water ONti the tidthS ioi many miles
Near Elgin Houston and Texas Central
passenger train ran into soft stretch oi
roadbed late today and the engine and
baggage car overturned. No one was
seriously hurt Weatherford and BAIRD
report trains running many hours behind
schedule and Calvert has been without
train service since yesterday
In the Leon river bottoms, near Temple
number of men, women and children
still were marooned late today aftel
spending "a hours in the trees, and to.
night it was uncertain when improvisec
boats could be navigated through tn,
swift waters. Near Dallas this Afternoon
boatmen rescued a dozen persons fron
trees in the Trinity river bottoms ant
earlier In the day boats took refugee:
from trees near Waxahachie and at othei
points.
Marlin Surrounded
Marlin, the training sight of ssevera
major lea que baseball teams Is PRACTICAL,
surrounded by water and the town o
Hetty on the Texas Midland railroad. /
inundated to a depth of from one to thro
feet most of the inhabitants havin,
moved with such of their effects as the,
could hurriedly gather. to Terrell.
In Waco and other large towns in tn
flooded district charitable organization
are caring for those made homeless, whii
in the smaller villages more fortunat
neighbors are providing shelter for thos
driven from their homes. As a result
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