New-York tribune., 1921-09-12
90 Dead, ESQ
Are Missing in
Texas Flood
San Antonio Rescue Work
ers Expect to Discover
Many Bodies i'm Wreck
age Along Rivers Banks
Ii Die i'm Other Cities
Millions of Damage Done in
Area of 10000 Square
Miles; NewPeril Threatens

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Sept. 1.-THE
list Of known dead from the flood Of
early Saturday was forty-seven late to-
day. The dead and missing are esti-
mated at approximately $50 by officials
engaged in recovering the bodies, while
Police Commissioner Phil Wright esti-
mated that it might reach 800. Many
residents consider these figures high.
The property loss is placed at So
100000 by some business men and those
in charge Of reclamation work. Esti-
mates both lower and as high as $1O,-
100000 also are heard.
Reports from other cities in Texas to-
night revealed that thirteen persons are
known to be dead in districts outside
San Antonio, and that this list is likely
to be increased. The food swept over
an area Of 10000 square miles.
Soon after daylight to-day the search
ers on the Alazan Creek found three
bodies in the driftwood and wreckage
on the banks, and another was found
on the San Antonio River banks. Other
bodies were recovered at different
times. While it has been declared that
possibly the majority of the estimated
dead f1oated down the streams, the
searchers believe that as the wrcckage
and driftwood are cleared away others
will be found.
Rescue and Relief Continue
Efforts Of the rescuers to-day were
confined principally to recovering
BODIES, work OF rescuing the marooned
having been completed yesterday.
Rescue and relief work continued
all last night and to-day. Hundreds
of Mexicans and the poorer people who
lived along the Alazan Creek are home
less and were given assistance by the
relief headquarters estab bliShed in a
downtown building.
The fact that most of the bodies re-
covered have been fully clothed shows
that the victims either were warmed
or heard the approaching rush Of
water in time to make preparations to
leave.
The city proper has been crippled
all day from the flood. There have
been no lights nor streetcar service
because of no electric power. Water
has been running in the mains in
few portions of the city and the press
ure is weak at these places.
Act to Prevent Epidemic
City officials said late to-day that the
water pressure would be turned on be-
fore tomorrow and it is thought cleo
trio current also will be available to-
morrow. City Building Inspector John
L, Richter, estimated the damage to
buildings at approximately 100000. He
said that no large buildings have been
damaged permanently and that none is
in a dangerous condition. Hardly any
Of the damaged businesses carried food
insurance either on the buildings or
stock.
Precautions to prevent an epidemic
are being taken. The cleaning up pro-
ceeded systematically in every part Of
tho business district to-day. Proprie-
tors Of business establishments and
forces Of employees were sweeping and
brushing out the water and debris
while pumps drained Easements.
The funerals of some of the victims
were held to-day, while strict military
control was maintained over the inun-
dated districts.
AS the flood water slowly receded
the search of the wreckage continued.
Gangs of workmen were engaged all
night in hauling the debris from the
business district. All available pumps
and gasoline engines were called into
service to pump the waiver from base
ments.
One Of the greatest losses to any
line Of business was suffered BIZ auto
mobile dealers, many new ca&&h being
damaged in warehouses or onsdisplay
room floors. That loss was estimated
at $2,500,000.
Great damage was done to the pave
ments of the city, many entire blocks
(ContlHuod on paue flve)