Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-10-05
3-F00T FALL
IN R. GRANDE
At H|DALGO IS
HOPEFUL SIGN
OF RECESSION

A telephone report TO The Herald from
the United States customs house at Hi
dalgo, sixty-five miles up the river. al
noon, said that the Rio Grande had fallen
three feet since yesterday and the fall was
continuing. Reports from Rio Grande
City deny the rumor that has been current
here that a second heavy rise i following
the present one, although rains are report
ed on the San Juan watershed.
Although the river rose four inches dur
ing last night and continued 10 come up
slowly this morning, the report from Hi
dalgo indicates that the rise will be of
short duration and that the water should
commence to fall perceptibly at Browns
willie by tonight. A little anxiety i being
felt over reports of heavy rains IN the
Monterrey section several days ago.
Although this Is by no means the high
est rise ever experienced in Brownsville.
it Is the most unusual in that ii l. the first
heavy rise To be experienced here when
the water is falling above. This condition.
no doubt, is due 10 the dammlng of the
Arroyo Colorado and number of resacas
that have in former years carried off the
flood waters.
During last night the river broke over
the banks on the Mexican side of the river
and today the road between the interna
tional bridge Is sheet of water. II i not
likely, however, that the river will reach
the city proper.
Since the levee started crGmbIlny 500
feet Of the protecting wall on the Young
and McAllen properties. adjoining the
river have crumbled. The inroads of the
river can be estimated when it j. recalled
that when this levee was built, some five
wears ago, il was several hundred feet
back Of the river bank and was then con
sidered far enough back to hold the larg-
est rise in check. Subsequent changes of
bed in the river, however, caused the tull
force of the rise 10 strike against the
levee.
In order to let the water flow back into
the river as much "a possible $50 feet of
the road connecting Twelfth street with
the international bridge has been dyna
mted and further blasts will be made dur
ing the day.
The passenger depot, the express com
pany and the Brown News Company lunch
stand have been flooded out. Trains are
being diverted to the quarterma>ter depot
spur. where the passengers and shipments
are being received. The express company
has moved its offices into the building on
Elizabeth street recently vacated by Paur~
cafe.
Fort Brown last night furnished a
watch of fifty-three men for levee pro-
lection and placed guards around mercan-
tile establishments that had been abandon
ed because of the high water.
At ii o'clock last night Mr.. Kate
Leahy. chairman of the canteen commit
tee of the Red Cross. served sandwiches
and coffee to men on the river guard. Mrs.
Leahy made and served the refreshments
unassisted. Eighteen or twenty men were
served, dozen of whom were soldiers.
Mrs Leahy went IA far out a she could
go.
In order To keep the flood waters from
his cotton seed house. $. G. Tucker. man
ager of the Peoples lee & Manufacturing
Company. today installed an outside pump
which is keeping the water below the level
Of the floor of the seed house.
Last night many families living IN the
= inundated section were forced 10 sleep IN
downtown hotels A. access 10 their homes
was possible only by boat. Boats today
are in use on Twelfth street between the
ferry landing and near the corner of Levee
stret and upon ST. Charles street betv cen
the San Carlos apartments and the pas
senger depot
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