The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-09-06
RIO GRANDE
VALLEY SURVEYING
EXTENSIVE LOSSES
Damage to Crops and Property
Will Run Into Millions,
Estimates Say
BROWNSVILLE STRUCK HARD
80 Per Cent Of $4,000, 900
Citrus Crop Reported
Blown From Trees

Edinburg, Tex, Sept. 6.-(PeRe-
mobilization Of the devastated hurri-
cane-swept lower Rio Grande valley
near Harrington and Brownsville be-
gan Wednesday as relief trains from
the north arrived with doctors. nurs-
IS and foodstuffs.
The casualty list showed 10 killed
and approximately 1900 injured. Ten
died at Harrington, six at Matamoros
in Mexico, and two at Rio Hondo.
None died at Brownsville, 1t was
revealed as communication was re-
established with that community.
many were believed dead
there.
Eight hundred persons were made
homeless and millions of dollars Of
damage was reported at
Brownsville with no building escap-
ing unscathed.
Communication with Brownsville
was established from the outside
world for the first time Wednesday
when Andy Burke, pilot for American
Always, used the radio set on his
plane to broadcast through his Fort
Worth office an appeal for direct
relief at once" He said the Browns
vile airport was three feet under
water.
It was generally estimated that the
minimum damage in the storm-swept
valley would be $4,000 900. Some es-
Inmates ran as high as $50,000,00o.
Whether the storm snatched addi-
tional lives from the many small
towns and villages and agricultural
sections, as it raked a path Of terror
from the mouth Of the great river to-
ward the west, moving into Mexico,
was not known Immediately.
Begin Relief Preparations
Calls for relief and even for insti-
tuition Of martial law went out from
some of the stricken communities, and
Gov. Miriam A. Ferguson, as well as
federal authorities, moved swiftly to
bring them aid.
At least five relief trains hastily
were equipped to battle disease and
allay thirst and hunger, threatened
by the temporary destruction Of power
plants and food reserves, and were
rushed into the storm country.
One train moved from Kingsville,
the nearest available point, two from
San Antonio, one from Corpus Christi.
which also experienced the destructive
power Of the hurricane, and one from
Laredo, far to the northwest. One
medical officers and detachment OF
troops from Kelly Field.
The Red Cross marshaled its forces
to combat the disaster, sending Al
bert Evans, director Of disaster re-
lief for the midwestern area Of the
organization, from Houston and F. A.
Winfrey, acting manager Of the mid
western area, from San Antonio on
the special trains. The Red Cross
experts in relief measures took with
them physicians, nurses, relief work.
ers, food, water, medical supplies and
clothing
Flood Threat Appears
A new threat appeared in the form
of possible flood as a result Of tor
rental rains which accompanied the
hurricane.
Much OF Brownsville, Harlingen,
San Benito and other towns, and the
territory adjacent, was under water
for many hours after the storm had
begun to SubSide, and some feared
the deluge might be increased as the
country feeding the Rio Grande
poured its surface water into the big
river.
All through the area affected most
seriously, encompassing from IS to
100 miles square, thousands Of farm
ers saw crops valued at millions Of
dollars destroyed. The citrus grow
ers probably were the heaviest losers,
an estimated 80 per cent Of the fruit
being blown from the trees. The val
| ley citrus crop had been valued un-
officially at $l2yO00.000.
| There was tremendous destruction
In the urban areas, where hundreds
Of homes were destroyed or damaged
and business establishments in some
places wrecked. s. Findley Ewing
former mayor Of Harrington and real
estate man. said In Harlingen alone
there was from 100000 to 81 ,000, o0o
damage, 80 per cent Of the buildings
having been damaged or destroyed.
In Brownsville. Augustin Celaya
state representative, said every
building showed marks OF the storms
violence.
! Corpus Christi Escaped
Corpus Christi, about 100 miles
from Brownsville, saw water blowr
into some Of It's principal downtown
streets, but escaped the full effects
OF the gale.
Telephone and telegraph compa-
MES stationed crews Of wormAen q
strategic points up and down the val
ley. As soon as the blow was ove1
they started repair work.
The state highway department. hid
stationed patrolmen near the threat
ened area and - quickly . posslhae
they advanced. s4
! Governor Ferguson talked by tolo,
i phone With Harry Hnpkins. 1e0oa
relief director, who authnEt1ad epon,
lditure Is government relie1 4ta a.
| groceries and medical m1e sss
The governor, also ord 0(g,
available TEXAS ianeer tnAc ~ !.
area. n " Il.
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