Evening star., 1933-09-06
QPERSONS KILLED,
1,9)OHURT IN TEXAS
Rio Grande Valley Swept by
hurricane-Property
Damage Huge.
Continued From First Page.)

States and only the fact warnings had
been broadcast a week in advance pre-
vented much larger loss of life.
Despite the warnings, however the
hurricane caught many people unable
to withstand its tremendous force, and
fears were expressed the death list
would grow as crippled communications
made it possible to gather the complete
story Of the catastrophe.
Brownsville Hardest Hit.
There were 20 known dead in Browns.
vile and vicinity, 10 in Harlingen and
two in Rio Hondo Six of the dead in
the Brownsville area were accounted for
in Matamoros, TamaulipaS, Mexico, just
across the Rio Grande from Browns
vile
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 toward the
west. moving into Mexico, was not
known Immediately.
Calls for relief and even for lnstltu-
ton of martial law went out from some
of the stricken communities, ana Gov;
Miriam A. Ferguson, as well as Federal
authorities, moved swiftly to bring them
succor
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 train from
San Antonio bore Army medical officers
and a detachment Of troops from Kelly
Field.
Red Cross Starts Work.
At the same time the Red Cross mar
shaled its forces to combat the disaster,
sending Albert Evans, director Of dis
aster relief for the Midwestern area OF
the organization, from Houston, and
F. A. Winfrey, acting manager OF the
Midwestern area. from San Antonio on
the special trains. The Red Cross ex-
perts in relief measures took with them
physicians, nurses, relief workers, food,
water, medical supplies and clothing.
All those who escaped injury when
the hurricane struck already have start
ed relief work.
Improvised hospitals in public build
ings and larger homes soon became the
scene of greater activity today: The
food and water supplies hurr1edly as
sembled at San Antonio. Corpus Christi
and other points allayed fear OF addi-
tional suffering. Tank cars OF water
and refrigerators filled with perishables
were included in the shipments into the
devastated area.
Communications from the center OF
the hurricane area remained handl-
capped by leveled poles and lines and
reports of the progress of the rehabln-
tation work came slowly.
All available wires were jammed with
frantic inquiries from relatives and
friends of residents in the three hard
hit cities of Harlingen. San Benito
and Brownsville Very few had been
able to send out messages telling OF
their safety and civic leaders and the
relief details we're unable to compile
complete list of the casualties.
Edge Reaches Monterrey.
Torrential rains around Monterrey,
Mexico. indicated that the hurricanes
edge probably passed near that city.
The gas supply to Monterrey was cut
off when a line went out at Pesqueral
River.
At Cuidad Victoria. capital of the
Mexican state of Tamaulipas, the wind
had damaged buildings and trees:
Asked what the damage to Harlingen
would be, one man said
Whatever its value was before the
storm less the kindling wood We can
sell for salvage"
1t was generally estimated that the
minimum damage in the storm-sWept
valley would be s15,000,000. Some esti-
mates ran as high as S5O00O,OOO.
While the stricken thousands in the
Valley bore up bravely, despite the fact
all the possessions OF many. including
their homes, had been swept away.
new threat appeared in the form OF
possible flood as a result OF torrentlal
rains which accompanied the hurricane.
Much of Brownsville, Harlingen, San
Benito and other towns. and the terri
tory 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 sur
face water into the big river. Proximity
to the Gulf. affording quick drainage.
however, offered a possible factor OF
safety.
Ali through the area affected most
seriously. encompaSSing from rs to 100
miles square, thousands of farmers saw
crops valued at millions of dollars de-
stroyed The citrus growers probably
were the heaviest losers. P A. Hoidale,
in charge of the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture citrus inspection
service of the Valley. estimated go per
cent of the fruit was blown from the
trees The Valley citrus crop had been
valued unofhcially at s12 100000.
Property Damage Huge.
At the same time there was tremen-
dous destruction in the urban areas,
where hundreds of homes were destroy
SPECIAL NOTICES.
WARNING TO THE PUBLIC-WE DO NOT