The New York herald., 1921-09-11
ESQ DIE, THOUSANDS
HOMELESS, AS FLOOD
SWEEPS SAN ANTONIO
Property Damage Estima-
ted at Millions Of Dollars
in Business Section.
C1TY'S WORST DISASTER
Houses Torn From FOunda-
tions, Bridges Wrecked in
Area Two Miles Long.
BODIES YET UNCOUNTED
Thrilling Acts of Heroism Fol-
low Tragedy That Came
Without Warning.
BODIES YET UNCOUNTED

hhoWn nst OF oead standing at forty
this afternoon, police officials still be-
ieve an estimate of $50 lives lost as
result of the disastrous flood which
struck this city early Saturday morn
ing to be a conservative one. No at
tempt has been made to estimate the
property damage, but 1t is certain to
run into millions of dollars.
Because of the continued swollen
condition Of the three streams which
caused the flood, the work of recover
Ing bodies is progressing slowly. Great
piles of driftwood which have lodged
in trees and against bridges, when re-
moved. 1t is feared, will reveal addi-
uonal dead. Many bodies also are be-
lieved to have fioated down stream
and may never be accounted for.
Relief work and sanitary precau-
tons are we'll under way. A thor
oughly organized relief committee has
begun caring for flood victims, and
health officers are engaged in a rigid
cleanup OF the city.
Reports coming from outlying SCI
tions confirm tho fear that the flood
Is the worst in the city's history.
Streets In some instances have been
swept clean almost their entire length.
Houses in the southern portion Of the
city were lifted from their foundations
and piled one up on another, or in
some cases driven entirely through
adjoining buildings. Dead animals
line the banks OF the streams.
Dead Not Yet Counted.
The flood waters from the San
and small tributaries inundated an area
approximately two miles long by one
half mile wide. including the heart OF
the business section and a portion of the
residence section along River avenue
and adjacent streets. as we'll as the
thickly populated West Side. where to-
day thousands of Mexicans are homeless
and the dead not yet counted.
Such structures as the Brady Building,
er's st. Mary's church and school build
ings. the st. Anthony Hotel, the Elks
Club. formerly the Travis Club; several
hospitals. the Central Telephone EN-
change, the City Hall and police and
fire headquarters, and countless other
structures along the low lying river val
ley were In the pathway of the flood
These were the things visible to the
eye when day dawned. cloudy, gloomy
and threatening. But what occurred In
the blackness Of the night when scores
of men. women and children met death
In the oil coated waters of the flood, as
houses collapsed, bridges were swept out.
trees and electric light and telephone
poes crashed is something that will
never be known In detail
Countless acts OF heroism are cur
rent. as civilians and soldiers braved
the current and floating debris, to carry
women and children to places of safety.
Thousands of families along the river
we're rescued before daybreak by men
who worked the long hours, often neck
deep in water. risking their lives almost
every minute of that time to save others.
And in keeping with such heroic acts
were the tragedies. Babies were swept
from mother arms and lost. mothers
were carried away and children rescued.
Fathers were lost saving little ones, and
to-day there are widows and orphans in
San Antonio who shudder at the thought
of last night.
Caught without warning.
San Antonio was caught without
rr~au
food fell after 8 o'clock Friday evening
in the hills along the Oimos Creek
The electric display accompa nying the
storm was the most vivid ever seen here,
as lightning flashed almost continuously
and the residents. unable to get out be-
cause OF the downpour. went early to
bed. A roar was heard. subdued but
ominous. as the flood waters broke upon
the town.
1T was impossible TO stand on your
feet against the swift current" said que
man who escaped from his home before
the force Of the food struck. II got
away early as the first waters rose and
even then was compelled To cling to
buildings, trees. fences and wrectage 10
get out. I could not stand uprighs
against the water When the crest came
a few minutes later l do not believe any
human being could have withstood il"
In some parts OF the city q wall OF
water. variously described as ten 20
thirty feet high. struck with rush that
carried houses from their foundations.
swept motors cars away. destroyed con-
crete bridges. tore down trees and poles
and ripped up the paving In the streets
like so many pebbles
81 seized hold OF picket fence" said
one youth. Just as the food struck.
The fence was torn away and when
got out | still had one OF the pickets IN
my hand. don't know how got out. .
Houses swirIed Away.
Large houses were swept about on the
floods crcs. as though they were paper
boxes. Some Of the bodies taken from
the flooded waters and awaiting ideni-
fication In the morgues were crushed
md bruised as Il beaten with a mighty
fail
Throughout the darkness OF the night
6'owtsnued on Eighteenth Page.