The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-11

pressing as close as the dead me
I win permit. thousands OF persons
waited tonight for news Of lost rela-
tives and Of lost possessions.
sr Mud Is Everywhere.
Mud and pools OF water were
everywhere, while all manner of mer-
chandise and household goods lit
tered the streets through which the
flood had swept after breaking over
, the banks Of the San Antonio river
and O tributary creek.
~ In the branches Of trees, In the
flooded residential sections, many
bodies Of drowned victims could be
seen. .r
- Danger Of an epidemic of disease
from insanitary conditions Is great.
s..l All fire apparatus was put to work
pumping out cellars and health au-
4, thorities are taking protective meas
:. The raging flood waters of Aiazan
q creek, in the southern and western
portion of the city, swept away hun
. idreds Of Mexicans. negroes, and few
whites. according to reports received
from residents along the creek today.
Hundreds Of Houses Ruined.
Thousands of Inhabitants Of the low.
lands along the creek were homeless.
Hundreds of houses were demolished
4. and washed away. while others were
hurled miles down the creek In the
rushing torrents. Devastation spreads
for hundreds of yards on each side
of the creek, which was reported
thirty feet high In some places.
Both soldiers and civilians are con-
tinuing the search for bodies.
Reports Of the death toll of Alazan
creek were Indefinite, ranging from
100 to 500. The sheriffs department
received a report that eighty were
drowned near the South Flores
bridge. Twenty bodies were reported
found at the /. & N. bridge. the sup
ports and approaches Of which were
washed away. Debris. lumber and
houses were piled high against TIM
bridge.
: Reports Of whole families drowned
were coming In tonight. Some were
swept away with their homes. Others
persisted as they tried to make their
way to higher ground. only to be
caught by the rushing wall Of water
sas 1t embraced more territory.
Rescner Hit BY Failing Wall.
Rico rescued ten persons by tying
n rope to his body and swimming out
sinto the flood. He told Of another
man who made several rescues. The
mans jaw and arm were broken by
"a falling rail as he attempted 10
rrescue a woman and her baby. Other
Ahsroic rescues were made along the
creek. One Mexican woman near the
.El Paso street bridge had just given
birth to q baby when the waters
came into her home. She and her
babe were rescued.
= Before daylight military headquar-
tiers were established at the corner
of Grayson street and Avenus d.
and later moved to the Federal Build
ing. where Colonel BENJAMIN A.
ePoore was placed in command Of the
military forces in the city.
I. Lieutenant Colonel Leon d. Kro-
smer, assistant chief of staff. and
Captain Frank p. Stretton. provo''t
marshal. were among the leading nd
svtsers to Commissioner Wright.
Reports of Looting Fake.
: Hundreds OF reports were brought
ITO ,the military officials from bust
ness men that their stores and ware
houses were being looted. but gen
orally proved to be erroneous, and
swere duo to the intense excitement.
airy and engineers, all acting the
role Of military policemen, were
thrown about the bushes district
before dawn and prevented maraud-
-ers from entering places of bushes
where the entire fronts were washed
away and thousands Of dollars worth
ssof property exposed to view.
> Before the flood had receded in tho
Alazan Creek on the West Side, where
loss OF life was heaviest. soldiers from
fort Sam Houston and Camp Travis
threw q pontoon bridge together and
sbegan dragging for bodies. One ser.
sgeant pulled out nine bodies, princi.
epally women and children.
: One soldier brought to headquarters
a portion OF q mans leg which had
caught on one Of the bridges. Along
the Alazan Creek refugees were found
in the muddy streets. clothed in night
garments. hathrobes. raincoats and
BLANKETS. which were all they could
grasp as they fed their homes.
: Water Supply Curtailed.
, No less than ten buildings were
washed into the streets and many Of
them were carried down stream and
dashed to pieces on the bank Of the
river. Trolley wires were blown down
and all electric currents were cut off
to prevent fire and electrocution.
Some portions Of the city are without
water as the result Of destruction to
water mains ty the currents.
!, The body Of Billie West, 12-year
old, was found by searchers in Debris
several hundred yards below the South
Laredo street bridge over Alazan
Greek.
: Billie, according to reports, was sent
for a doctor to attend his father, ]. C.
West, who was at the point OF death.
The physician had been procured. and
she. Billie. and a chauffeur were re-
stunning In q service car. At the South
Laredo street bridge the car was swept
away by the torrent.
= The physician swan out but the
chauffeur and the boy were drowned.
: Relief Work Organized.
: Mayor Black called a meeting Of
citizens at city hall at noon to or
! ganize the relief work. In the mean
slime the dead lines" around the food
area were extended a quarter of a
mile.
. All OF the army field kitchens have
.been put into service throughout the
scity by Maj. Gen. Hines.
:. The San Antonio river, which has