Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-07-10
.150 PERSONS
LIVES N
GERMAN FLOOD
Stricken Area Includes a
FavOrite Tourist District
Along Elbe
MANY TRAPPED
Disaster Comes So Swiftly
That Victims Are Unable
to Escape

DRESDEN, Saxony, July 9 O.
FULLY $50 persons have lost their
lives in a great rainstorm flood in
Saxony, which without warning swept
IN wave seven feet high and threw
towns and villages in the affected
area into chaos in less than three
minutes.
estimated at 10000, 900 marks (about
S2,80O,O00). The bodies of hundreds
II cattle drowned in the flood were
reported to be menacing the health
Of the population in the inundated
regions.
The stricken areas include two
valleys in the favorite tourist district.
along the Elbe and its tributaries,
the Mueglitz and Gottleuba rivers
in the so-called Saxon Alps, with
Pirna, well known to American tour
lists as a center and including Glas-
huette, the center Of the celebrated
German industry, where a 400 year
old stone bridge, the pride OF the
city, was washed away Rail traffic
was completely paralyzed throughout
the area and telephone communlca-
ton was being re-established today
only with great difficulty. The
disaster came so swiftly it was i'm
possible for many of the victims
to take refuge on their house tops
or take other means of escape.
The surrounding country for sew
eral days had been under low
pressure atmospheric blanket causing
a rainfall which gorged the river
Elbe and it's tributaries to overflowing.
1t is estimated that it will take
eight months before dams can be
rebuilt to allow resumption of railway
service. The onrush of water was
SO powerful that road beds were
washed away in many places, so
deeply that the tracks at a distance
seemed strung in the air.
Heartrending scenes were enacted
everywhere and children today were
wandering in search of their oar
ents, while distracted relaF t~o and
friends were trying to identity the
victims of what was the worst flood
disaster to strike Germany this sum-
mer. which already has been filled
with water catastrophies.
Among several villages which are
was Oelsengrund.
The town of Berggiesshubel, which
was in the direct path of the storm
was literally swept away.
| More than SO dead have been re-
covered from the ruins. The flood
reached a height of 13 feet, before
| it receded. Refugees forced to flee
| from their homes were up to their
necks in water before they were able
to reach a safety zone. Others who
sought safety on the tops of houses
experienced night of horror as the
rushing flood threatened the founda-
tions.
The inhabitants of outlying villages
surprised in their sleep were drowned
without having an opportunity to
escape. This accounts for the most
of the casualties.
! Nothing remains of the village OF
Neuendorf, where most of the inhabit-
ants perished. Great masses OF lum-
ber from the saw mills smashed
everything in their path, causing
enormous damage.
The first indications of the coming
disaster were given at o'clock Friday
night when calls for help came from
the burgomaster of Tottleuba, which
was hit by a cloudburSt late in the
afternoon. Other calls reached DreS-
den in the course of the evening
but the floods rose so rapidly that
the catastrophe already was complete
when relief was sent.
1t is feared that many tourists are
among the victims.