Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-11
Forty Bodies Recovered;
Work p Progressing Sl01ulu
Thousands Homeless az
River Inundates Resi-
dent Section of City.
Soldiers Aid in Rescue
Work; Fund Started
to Help Sufferers.

San Antonio, Tex, Sept. 10.
with the known list Of dead
standing at 40, police officials
still believe an estimate of $50
lives lost as a result of the dis
astrous flood which struck this
city early Saturday morning,
to be a conservative one. No
attempt has been made to esti-
mate the property damage but
it is certain to run into millions
of dollars.
The work Of recovering bod
les is progressing slowly. Great
piles Of driftwood which have
lodged in trees and against
bridges over the flooding riv-
ers and creeks when removed,
it is feared, will reveal addi-
tional dead. Many bodies al
so are believed to have floated
down stream and may never be
found.
With the waters of San Antonio
river, the Alazan and San Pedro
creeks back in their banks only few
hours, relief work and sanitary precau-
tlons are already well under way. 4
thoroughly organized relief committee
has begun caring for flood victims and
city health officers are engaged in a
rigid clean UP Of the city to prevent an
epidemic of any disease.
Business District Suffers.
Reports gradually trickling in from
outlying sections of the city only serve
to confirm the fear that the flood is
the worst in the city's history. Streets
adjacent to the three streams, in some
instances have been swept clean.
Houses in the southern portion of the
city were piled one upon another, or
IN some cases entirely through ad-
joining buildings. Dead animals line
the banks of the streams.
The flood waters from the San An
tonic river and from Alazan creek and
small tributaries inundated an area
approximately two miles long by one
half mile wide, including .he heart Of
the business section and portion Of
the residence section along River av-
enue and adjacent streets as well as
the thickly populated west side where
thousands of Mexicans are homeless
and the dead not yet counted
The residence section in which the
greatest loss of life occurred is occu-
pied by Mexican families.
Two thousands persons are home
less
Street car traffic was suspended and
hundreds of persons were unable to
reach their homes. Many of them
spent the night wandering about the
business district.
Police and firemen attempted to warn
residents in the Mexican section of the
city and succeeded in getting hundreds
of them to safety before the San Pedro
cut off before they could get out and
the police estimated the loss of life in
this district would be large.
At 8 p. m. the waters were recedinG
but We're not vet within their banks.
Soldiers we're bringing out people who
had been marooned throughout the,
night The weather still was cloudy
and further rain was in prospect. I'm
less there should be unusual precipita
tion in the Olmos valley it is not be-
ieved there is further danger.
Wires of commercial tele graph COM
panies went down early Friday. morn
ng and scores of persons. anxious to,
ret word to the outside that they were
safe went to the office of the San An
ionic Light and appealed to have mes
sages sent out over the wires Of The
Associated Press. which were working.
Dead May Reach 500.
Various estimates were made early
Saturday Of the possible death list and
property damage. Some of the police
estimates of the possible number Of
lead ranged as high as 500.
Troops from Fort Sam Houston are
,atrollng the city and aiding in rescue
work.
Water from the San Antonio river
which winds through the city and from
is tributary. Dimes creek. flooded the
BUSINESS section of the city for many
locks to a depth Of from 10 to 15
eet. San Pedro creek on the west
ide of the city which runs through the
Iexican district, overflowed and joined
he waters from the river and swept
through the southern part of the city.
Water stood Is feet deep in tho
obby of the Gunter hotel, which is
lock from the river. The flood reached
o the Alamo plaza on the east, which
3 five blocks from the river.
The power house will be out Of COM
mission for at least two or three days.
rhere is a partial telephone service.
Extra Edition Published.
Both banks of thesSan Antonio river
ire strewn with wreckage Of houses
| number of automobiles were sw.pt
way.
Throughout the night the east and
-est sides OF the city were cut off from
ach other and it was only at daylight
hat the waters had receded sufficient
, to permit, access to bridge in the
orthern section.
Newspaper plants were flooded, bat
he San .ar,onio Light succeeded Ia is
uing an edition on q hand press ut s
i. m.
Alarming reports Of loss Of life II
he valley of the San Antonio river
outh Of the cits are coming in. bur the
light il unablelto confirm this. !