DISASTER IN TEXAS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1921, Page 5

DISASTER IN TEXAS.

DESTRUCTIVE CLOUDBURST.

MANY LIVES LOST.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. By Telegraph.—Press Asstf.—Copyrigtt, Received. September 11, 5.5 p.m. New York, Sept. 10. A telegram from San Antonio, Texas, states that a cloudburst caused considerable damage to property, and many reports received indicate that as many as five hundred were killed. Although these are considered highly exaggerated, the telephone and telegraph wires in the stricken region were destroyed and reliable information is therefore not available.

A wild storm is raging in the Carribbean Sea, which devastated several islands and sunk ships caught in mid-sea. Twentyone bodies have been recovered from the flooded districts of the city, which is under twelve feet of water. The cloudburst was most violent over the southern and central part of the State and in San Antonio did the greatest damage to the business and residential sections. Ten inches of rain fell in a few hours.

Looting began in the devastated areas of San Antonio, and the Mayor enlisted the aid of State troops, who are patrolling that area. Hundreds of homeless are being provided for. Various cities of the State, including the capital, are cut. off from communication with each other, resulting in inability to aid the distressed. A large part of the State’s cotton crop is believed to be ruined. A later message states that 42 bodies have been recovered.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received September 11, 11.5 p.m. New York, Sept. 10. The San Antonio cloudburst was part of a national thunderstorm. Disturbances from the Canadian North-West to the Gulf of Mexico were marked by tornadoes. In South Dakota and Nebraska heavy rainfalls occurred over the entire Mississippi Valley, rain in the north-western States turning to snow, Montana reporting a freezing temperature.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.