Evening star., 1921-09-10

An Unprecedented rainfall. which
began at midnight Wednesday and
continued throughout Friday ana
Friday night. caused the food. At
least eight inches of rain fell during
this period. Early last night there
was a heavy rainfall in the valley
of the Olmos creek. north of the city.
Water from the creek rushed into
the San Antonio river and Joined the
surface water which was pouring
into the river from the heavy rain
throughout the day in the city prop
er. The river went out of its banks
within a few hours. The water and
electric light plants are located along
the banks of the river, and they
were put out of business quickly.
Street car traffic was stopped. and
hundreds of people were unable to
reach their homes. Many of them
spent the night wandering about the
business district.
Hundreds Are Marooned.
warn residents in the Mexican sec
ton of the city. and succeeded in
getting hundreds of them to safety
before the San Pedro creek over
flowed. Many others We're cut off
before they could get out. and the
police estimated the loss of life in
this district would he large.
At S am. the waters were receding,
but We're not yet within their banks.
Soldiers We're bringing out people who
have been marooned throughout the
night. The weather is still cloudy and
further rain is in prospect. Unless
there should be unusual precipitation
in the Olmos valley it is not believed
there is further danger.
Wires of commercial telegraph COM
panies went down early this morning.
and scores of persons. anxious to get
word to the outside that they were
safe, came to the office of the San
Antonio Light and appealed to have
messages sent out over the wires of
the Associated Press. which were
working.
Flood Breaks Embankments.
The embankments protecting st.
Marys street broke shortly after mid
night. and the water swept down ST.
Narys street through Houston and
Navarro streets into the heart of the
city. inundating a section comprising
about twenty-four blocks.
BY midnight scores of people liv-
ing near the river in the northern
part of the city and along the banks
of Alazan creek had been helped from
their homes by police and firemen.
Five persons were reported missing
early today-Charles Grant and wife
and Mrs. Anna Elan and two children.
vi
moving their stocks and goods to
places of safety.
The heavy rainstorm was preceded
by a tornado. which struck South Aus
tin and nearby villages late yesterday
bringing injury to dozen persons
and causing heavy property damage.
Watching Colorado River.
Officials are watching the rise of the
Colorado river anxiously on account
of the Austin dam.
Over ten inches of rain had fallen
at 1 o'clock this morning over Austin
and all surrounding territory. with the
storm unabated-
The greatest property damage thus
far reported in San Antonio has been
along Alazan creek, where the number
of dwellings washed from their founda-
lions has not yet been escertained.
The San Antonio river, rising at the
north end of Breckenridge Park. could
hot care for the accumulated flow
from the c:Aek and as result the
water broke across Breckinridge Park
into River avenue.
Water Cuts on Phones.
]. H. Curry. repeater chief for the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company, reported that the water in
the vicinity of the telephone build
ing was Twelve feet deep and that
eli lights in the city were put ou.
when the power plant, in the lower
section of the city, was flooded. The
eastern business district, one of the
lowest parts of the city was under
several feet of water. he said. but
20 lives had been lost, as far as he