Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-11
SOLDIERS ON GUARD
TO PREVENT LOOTING
Hundreds Swept to Death
When Flood-Crest Strikes
Texas City.
VICTIMS STRUGGLE IN DARKNESS
thousands Homeless In Wnke of Dis
nster. nut No Appeal Made
for Aid.
IBy Associated pre.s1

SAN ANTONIO. TEN, Sent 10
WIN the known list OF dead stand.
ing at forty early tonight. police
officials still believe an estimate OF
100 lives lost as result of the
d'Sastcrous Hood which struck this
city early Saturday. to bessconser-
va'ive No attempt has been made
10 estimate the property damage, bur
1t is certain TO run into millions ~
dollars
fecanse Of the continued swoilcn
condition OF the three streams ,ich
caused the Hood the work of rc
covering bodies is progressing slow
~. Great piles OF driftwood, which
have lodged in trees and agains,
bridges, when removed, it is feared.
VIII reveal additional dead. Many
bodies also are believed to have
Heated downstream and NAV never
he accounted for.
Relief Work Well Under Why.
Relief work and sanitary preca,I-
tons are we'll under way. 4 thor
ouShly organized relief commits.
las begun caring FOR flood victims.
and health officers are engaged in
a rigid cleanup OF the city.
Reports coming from outlayins
sections confirm the fear that the
mood is the worst in the city's his
tory streets in some Instances lave
been swept cican---almost their en-
tire length. Houses in the south
ern part OF the city were lifted from
their foundations and piled one upon
another, or in some cases driven en-
tireiy through adjoining buildings
Dead animals line the banks OF the
streams.
The Hood waters from the san
Antonio River and from Alazan
Creek and small tributaries inun-
dated in area approximately two
miles long by one-half mile wide.
including the heart of the business
section and part Of the residence
section along River Avenue and adj
iaccnt streets as well as the thick
" populated west side where today
thousands of MeNicans are. home
less and the dead not yet counted.
Notable Structures Wrecked.
such structures. as the Brady
building. wolf-Marx Department.
stores. 81. Mary's Church and school
buildings. the ST. Anthony Hotel. the
Elks' club, formerly the Travis Club,
several Offices OF the telephone ex-
change the City Hail and the police
and fire headquarters and countless
other structures along the low-lying
river valley were in the pathway OF
the Hood.
These were the things visible to
the eye when day dawned. cloudy,
gloomy ana threatening" Bnt what
occurred in the blackness of the night
when scores of men, women and chill
drcn met death in the oii-coatcd wa
crs Of the Hood, as houses collapsed.
bridges were swept ont. trtes and
electric light and telephone poles
crashed. is something that will never
De known in detail, Tales OF count
less acts az hcroism were current IS
civilians and soldiers brayed the cur
rent aud noatjng debris TO carry wo-
men ana children to places Of safety.
Thousands Itescued before Dawn.
Thousands OF families along the
river were rescued before .daybreak
by men who worked long hours often
neck deep in water .Nts
And in keeping with such heroir
acts were the tragedies. Babies were
swept f.om mother arms and lost.
mothers we're carried away and chit
drrn rescued and fathers were lost
saving litu> ones.
san Antonio was caught without
warning. The rain which caused the
Hood fell after 3 o'clock Friday eveu-t
Ing in the hills along the olinos
Creek. st. &.
Tho electric display accompanying
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