The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-10
TWO THOUSAND
ARE HOMELESS
IN STORM AREA
Thirty Bodies Recovered by
Workers This Afternoon.
Telephone, Electric and Trolley
Service ParaIyzed. .
TROOPS PATROLLING STREETS
San Antonio Mexican District
Heaviest Sufferer.
Telegraph Wires Are Down and
Tracks Washed Out.
Thirty Bodies Recovered by
Workers This Afternoon.
Telephone, Electric and Trolley
Service ParaIyzed. s.
TROOPS PATROLLING STREETS
San Antonio Mexican District
Heaviest Sufferer.
Telegraph Wires Are Down and
Tracks Washed Out.

San Antonio. Sept 10.-With thirty
bodies recovered out of an estimated
death list placed by some as high as
500 and with a property loss various
ly estimated at from one 20 three mil
morning suffered the worst flood in
its history. A cloudburst in the O1mOs
valley north of the city sent a flood
of water down the San Antonio river
which joined with flood waters from
the Alazan and San Pedro creeks on
the west, completely inundating a
large part of the business section and
several residence sections. The resi-
dence section in which the greatest
loss of life occurred is occupied large
~ by Mexican families.
Light and Power Plants Out
The electric light plant and power
plant for street cars was put out of
&C cmmission and il will be several days
tefore service will be resumed. The
E!ater supply is cut off and it Will be
twt nty-four hours before it can be put
in commission again. Telephone serv-
ict is disrupted. Two thousand peo-
pie are homeless.
a survey is being made of the dam
age done and meeting of military Of
fic ais, city and county heads and tho
Chamber of Commerce is to be held at
IL o'clock at which further plans Will
be put into operation.
The weather is partly cloudy and
the weather bureau said more show
ers could be expected during the day
but not heavy enough to cause fur
ther flooding.
The waters in the river and creeks
are receding rapidly and rescue work
is proceeding with greater dispatch.
temporary morgue has been es-
tablished at the central fire and po-
lice station to which the soldiers and
police have been directed to bring all
bodies for Identification.
Troops from Fort Sam Houston are
patrolling the city and aiding in res
cue work. The water supply is cut off
as is the electric light and telephone
power Estimate of the loss OF life
reaches as high as five hundred by po-
lice and firemen who aided in rescua
work thruout the night. Definite fig
ures cannot be given at this time.
Newspaper Plants Flooded.
Water from the San Antonio river,
which runs thru the city and from its
tributaries. the Oimos creek. flooded
the business section of the city for
many blocks to a depth of from ten to
fifteen feet. The San Pedro creek on
the west side of the city, which runs
thru the Mexican District. overfIowed
and Joined the waters from the river
and swept thru the southern portion
Of the city.
Newspaper plants were flooded but
the San Antonio Light succeeded in H.
suing an extra on a hand press at
a. m.
Alarming reports of loss of life in
the valley of the San Antonio river
south of the city are coming in but the
Light is unable to confirm them.
Eight Inch Rainfall.
An unprecedented rainfall. which
began at midnight Wednesday ana
continued thruout Friday and Friday
night, caused the flood. At least eight
inches of rain fell during this period
Early last night there was a heavy
rainfall in the valley Of OImos creek.
north of the city. Water from the
creek rushed into the San Antonio
I river and Joined the surface water
which was pouring into the river from
I the heavy rain thruout the day in the
! city proper. The river went out OF
/ its banks within a few hours. The
water and electric light plants are To-
/ Gated along the banks Of the river and
| they were put out Of business quickly.
Mexican Death List Heavy.
1t is believed that the greatest loss
| of life occurred in the Mexican dis
trict. Residents in that section wers
unable to get out. tho aided thruout
/ the night by firemen, police and troops
from Fort Sam Houston. Water stood
fifteen feet in the lobby of the Gunter
/ hotel which is a block from the river.
The flood reached to the Alamo Plaza,
on the east, which is five blocks from
the river. The power plant will be
out of commission for at least two
| or three days. There is a partial teie-
phone service. Water service viii be
cut off for at least twenty-foUr hours.
Street car service is cut off indefI-
nitely.
Both banks Of the San Antonio river
are strewn with the wreckags of
houses. A number of automobiles
/ lfe~f7
the east and west sides of the city
were cut off from each other and Il
was only by daylight that the waters
had receded sufficiently TO permit