Evening star., 1946-09-27
Flash Flood Toll
In San Antonio
10
Many Morooned, Still
Await Rescue as
Roinfon Continues
BY the Associoted Press

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 27.-Tor-
rental rains, piling up water
faster than overburdened rivers
and storm sewers could carry it
off, brought San Antonio its
worst flood today in a quarter of
a century.
Six persons were known to be
dead and some sources placed the
death toll at 9 or 10. Many others
were marooned in trees or on roof
tops, hoping desperately that a res
cue fleet Of motor boats would ar
rive from Austin before the con-
tinuing rains raised the water level
sufficiently to wash them from their
precarious havens.
Gov. Coke Stevenson offered the
help of the State Guard to prevent
looting and pilfering.
Highways leading into the city
We're closed, and the Missouri Pa
cific Railroad said train service has
been indefinitely delayed" by wash
outs at several points.
Communications were difficult.
and lines were down in some sec
tions.
Many Stranded and Missing.
Joe Fletcher, assistant director of
the department of public safety,
said in Austin that Highway Patrol
Capt. N. r. Smith had notified
him from San Antonio that mine
or ten" persons were dead, many
more stranded and missing and that
boats were badly needed.
The flood was the worst since
September 10, 1921.
At that time a cloudburst deluged
the headwaters of the San Antonio
River, sending torrent into the
city while most of the population
was asleep, flooding buildings Up to
the second floor in a matter of
minutes.
Forty-nine persons perished, IA
others were listed as missing and
property damage totaled $7,5OO,000.
After this disaster the city built
an elaborate flood prevention sys-
tenn, including Almos Dam and the
San Antonio River cutoff.
Damage in Millions.
Property damage was estimated at
millions of dollars and literally
thousands of residents were made
homeless by the food waters. More
than inches of rain fell in IL hours.
Flood waters behind the Almos
Dam repeatedly rose from 18 feet to
a depth of IS feet, and traffic across
the dam was halted by police orders.
Turned into a raging torrent,
Alazan Greek inundated much of the
southwestern portion of the city.
WoodlaWn Lake. overflowing for the
second time this month, marooned
many residents in that area.
At the height of the flood trans
portation in many portions of the
city was halted and hundreds of
automobiles were stalled while their
occupants waded to safety across
streets flooded with swiftly flowing
water.
Appeal for Boats.
Early today police broadcast ap-
peals for boats and outboard motors
after Army authorities had placed
number of amphibious vehicles In
service.
In response to frantic calls for
help from the San Jose area of
Roosevelt road, where more than
so persons were reporting clinging
to rooftops shortly before 7 am,
Capt. c. L. Scott and detail OF
city and military police were dis
patched to the scene.
Red Cross authorities at about
the same time. reported 20 per-
sons were marooned in the 500
block of South Presa street and
were desperately in need of help.
Officers were sent to their assistance.
A military police searching party
was making an effort to locate two
military policemen who have not
been heard from since their truck
was stalled in almost feet of
swirling water in the $500 block
OF South Presa street at 5 am.
20 Are Rescued.
During the night Sergt. Charles
Barrera and members of the homi-
eide detail rescued more than 20
persons, many of whom were clad
IN shorts and underclothing. Some