New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-04-26
IL Die in Flood
AT Fort Worth
Laid to Bomb
$500 Reported Homeless as
l,5OO Houses Are Swept
Away With Loss Placed at
More Than 81. 100000
Legion Men Guard City
Official Insi lists Levees
" ere Dynamited and
Will Demand Inquiry

FORT WORTH, Tex, April 25.--Sev-
entecn probably dead and property
damage estimated at approximately
$I,000,O00 is the toll of food which
swept Fort Worth early to-day, carry
ing before it scores OF residences and
small buildings, overhowing hundreds
Of acres of land and inundating several
city streets.
A boat which had been picking up
flood refugees from housetops and trees
capsized. Two women and a man are
known to have drowned. The city water
plant is out of commission and other
utilities endangered.
John J. Mccain. chairman OF the
levee board. issued q statement TO-
night. in which he declared that the
lovees around the rivers were dyna-
mited by unknown parties,' and that
an investigation by a grand jury would
be demanded Immediately.
With the city facing night of dark
ness 500 members OF the American
Legion were patrolling the streets,
augmenting the police force, which
was working full time in the flooded
areas.
The food followed a heavy storm
last night and this morning Nine
inches of rain fell here between 10
o'clock lGst night and 10 o'clock this
morning, breaking all previous records.
Streams already were at food stage
before the storm.
All ambulances in the city and scores
of automobiles were pressed into serv-
tn c+ricko,> So, a.;
volunteering their services and cars.
levee back Of the Panther Baseball
Park broke this morning. The depth
OF the water was half way up the right
field grandstand and the high board
fences cannot be seen. The water
rushed around Arlington Heights and
the north side and left those districts
marooned.
From the tops of trees, roofs of
houses and other places above the
water policemen, aided by boats, res
cued hundreds of men, women and
children. AS the water spread resi-
dents in the lowlands had been forced
to vacate their homes for a place of
refuge from the angry water.
Many thrilling stories Of rescue we're
told, among them the finding OF an
aged couple in the shaky branches of
tall tree. On another occasion the
family was saved from drowning when
police sawed hole in the roof of the
residence in which they had been Gagged.
With Fort WORTH taking its last
winks before dawiA the food rushed
down and forced rahny to fee without
thought as to what they wore. Women
with babes in arms, many clad only in
their night clothing, were rescued time
after time. Others, drenched and
chilled, had clung feebiy for hours to
any place that was above water.
An aged man. completely exhausted,
finally was rescued after hours of en-
deavor by rescuers who sought to get
him to abandon the top of a floating
house, where he was perched, armed
with gun. According to relief work
ers he kept saying:
"My wife has already gone down.
and ] don't want to be saved. III kill
any one that comes near me-"
A man took refuge in tree H.
cried for help several times, but Off.
GERS and rescue workers could not 10
cate him. Shots were fred seyera
times in the darkness. but the mar
was not found until dawn. When h,
asked who had been firing, the rescu,
Continued on next pasc)