Evening star., 1933-09-05
HUNDREDS FLEE STORM.
Meager Reports Describe Havoc In
Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Lower Rio Grande Valley.
HOUSTON. Tex, September P).-
Ripping into the Lower Rio Grande
Valley. a tropical hurricane Of great In
southernmost point Of Texas early to-
day and dashed the Gulf Coast for hun
dreds of miles.
Vivid accounts of the terrific winds
came from a telephone operator at
Harlengen who sought frantically to
give the outside world details until all
her lines went out.
"All the lines to Brownsville went out
at once" she said, as the building in
which she worked trembled before the
blasts, and wire breaks" were so fire.
quent much Of her story had to be re-
peated
ITS storming terribly here now and
don't know what has happened 10
them down at Brownsville. Browns
vile is 80 miles southeast of Harlengen.
at the mouth of the Rio Grande.
A Missouri-Paciflc Railroad operator
at Harlengen. in conversation with
his Houston of1ce, said the winds were
terrific
Prepared Yesterday.
"The wind is blowing about 80 miles
an hour now" he said. Shingles and
boards are flying through the air and
the wind Is blowing 50 hard can't tell
much about what is happening outside
the station"
Reports from other surrounding towns.
however. attested to severity of the
et0 M al hor fura tNvrry hytf
ingS were shaken to their foundations.
frame buildings crumbled and trees were
uprooted.
Brownsville boarded up yesterday as
reports from the Weather Bureau indi-
Gated the hurricane would strike nearby.
Business men took steps to protect their
stocks residents of Summer Shacks
along the shore moved to safety in
public buildings and every one kept q
weather eye for word Of progress Of the
disturbance.
Reports of winds reaching almost
100 miles an hour presaged considerable
known as the Winter garden OF Texas.
The region is thickly covered with fruit
groves which supply large part Of
the market demand from Northern
points. Situated in moderate climate.
the area frequently has been the target
of similar hurricanes sweeping westward
through the Gulf.
Moved to High Ground.
The first tangible effects of the storm
appeared at Corpus Christi. some $50
miles up the coastline. Warned is
hours in advance some 5000 residents
of the lower part Of the city gathered
up their belongings and moved to the
high bluff which parallels the bay.
There, where much Of the business Is
conducted and where many fine resi-
dental sections are located. city ofi-
cials threw open public buildings cap
able Of withstanding terrific winds.
Frequent advisory warnings from the
Weather Bureau at Washington had
given ample opportunity for ships to
reach the comparative safety OF harborS
and none was known to have been 1t
| sea as the hurricane moved slowly but
surely westward.
Hundreds of persons along the coast
, line also took advantage Of the Gov
ernment advices. They packed what
| possessions they could assemble quickly
Houston and even San Antonio. A bus
driver arriving at the latter city told
how one woman donned a bathing suit
| as the trip from the coast was started
because she feared she might have to
swim before she reached her destina-
| ton.
Prepare for Relief.
The State and Federal Governments
laid plans to care for refugees and to
aid the striken area. Sections of the
Texas Highway Patrol assembled in San
Antonio and Austin, ready for a quick
dash South. The activities of the
American Red Cross were centered here,
ready on q moments notice to enter
the area.
For "a hours before the hurricane
struck. roads leading from Corpus
i Christi to Beeville and San Antonio
were crowded by families fleeing ahead
Of the big blow, carrying dogs, CATS
parrots. canaries and household goodA
The more easily frightened at Beeville.
far inland, sought safety to the north
and merchants there for the first time
i In history boarded up their buildings.
] No word had been received at Cor
pus Christi from DR.. F. r. Halstead,
believed to Be aboard his l&dnch, the
VTy~fAA <~rva DiffS hAltoVAd