The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-09-15
Police Report Heavy Loss Of
Lite at San Antonlo-River
0verflows Banks.
"a BLOCKS UNDER WATER
Bvsiness District Inundated--AIi the
Available Soldiers From Fort Sam
Houston Sent to City to
Aid In Rescue Work.

San Antonio. Tex. Sept. 12.-with
estimates of the dead running as high
ns one thousand and property damage
believed TO exceed $5.O0O.00O. this city
ls In the grip Of the worst flood In its
history. Every building In the busl-
ness district stands In water ten feet
deep during the high water mark Of
the raging waters. while n vast section
OF the residential section In sub
merged. The estimate OF the dead
was given out by Mayor o. B. Black.
Twenty -one bodies. mostly those Of
women and children. have been recov-
cred. From every part Of the Hooded
area reports Of additional dead bodies
are being brought In and as rapidly
as possible they are being gathered
for Identification. The greatest loss
Of life was In the Mexican settlement
In the western part Of the city. where
the food waters engulfed hundreds OF
homes before their occupants had a
chance 10 make their way to safety.
The south section Of the city was also
heavily hit by the swirling waters
Hundreds Of homes In this district
were swept from their foundation and
dashed to destruction against each
other. Red Cross workers were or
dered To the city by Acting Eighth
Corps Area Commander Gen. John
Hines to assist In the relief work.
San Antonio. Tex. Sept. IL
Swollen by heavy rains of the last two
days. san Antonio river and Alazan
creek overtiowed into the downtown
business district OF Santa Antonio.
spreading over an aren Of about "a
blocks and lnundating ground floors
Of many Of the prominent buildings Of
the city. The loss Of life was esti-
0ated q 500 by the police.
Al the once Of the San Antonio Ex-
press the water reached into the nrst
floor at II 2:45 a. m. and few hours
later telephone and telegraph connec-
fion was severed.
The enbnnkments protecting st.
Mary's street broke shortly after mid
night and the water swept down st.
Mary's street through Houston and Ma
varre streets into the heart OF the city.
Five Reported Missing.
Five persons were reported missing
Charles Grant and wife and Mrs.
Anna Elan and two children.
by midnight scores of families liv-
Ing along the river In the northern
part Of the city and along the banks
Of Alazan creek had been taken from
their homes by police, firemen aud vol
unteer rescue workers.
All available soldiers from Fort Sam
Houston were sent into the city to aid
IN rescue work along River avenue,
where the water Is reported eight feet
deep
Merchants were busy all night re
moving their stocks and goods int
places of safety when the water rose
into the ground floors OF the principal
downtown buildings. The Gunter hotel
and office building and the Bready
building were among those where the
water had reached the first iioor by
one O'Clock.
outside telephone communication
with San Antonio was cut on early
this morning ami the city was thrown
into darkness when the water flooded
the power plant.
Tornado Hits Austin.
The eastern business district. the
lowest part of the city, was covered
with water several feet deep.
At Austin. Tex. the heavy rainstorm
was preceded by y tornado which
struck South Austin and nearby vii
lages, bringing injury TO dozen per
sons aud causing heavy property dam-
age.
officials AT Austin were watching
closely the rise Of he Colorado river
ON account of the Austin dam.
over ten inches of rain was reported
at Austin, with the storm undated.
A rainfall at san Antonio was re
ported as seven inches In the past two
days.
Houses Washed Away.
The greatest property damage thus
far reported In san Antonio has been
along Aazau creek, where number
of dwellings we're washed from their
foundations.
l. 80.