FLOOD SWEEPS SAN
ANTONIO, TEXAS
List of the Dead Reaches 40
And Police Believe 250
Lives Were Lost
San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 10.—
With the known list of dead standing
at forty this afternoon, police officials
still believe an estimate of two hun
dred and fifty lives lost as a result
of the disastrous flood, which struck
this city early Saturday morning to
be a conservative one. No attempt
has been made to estimate the pro
perty damage, but it is certain to
run into millions of dollars.
Because of the continued swollen
conditions of the three streams which
caused the flood, the work of recov
ering bodies is progressing slowly.
Great piles of driftwood which have
lodged in trees and against bridges,
when removed, it is feared, will re
veal additional bodies. Many bodies
also are believed to have floated down
stream and may never be accounted
for.
Relief work and sanitary precau
tions are well under way. A thorough
ly organized relief committee has be
gun caring for flood victims and
health officers are engaged in a rigid
clean-up of the city.
Reports coming from out-lying sec
tions confirm the fear that the flood
is the worst in the city’s history.
Streets in some instances have been
swept clean—almost their entire
length Houses in the southern por
tion of the city were lifted from their
foundations and piled one upon an
other or in some cases driven entirely
through adjoining buildings Dead
animals line the banks of the streams.
The flood waters from the San An
tonio River and from Alazan creek
and small tributaries inundated an
area approximately two miles long
by one-half mile wide, including the
heart of the business section and a
portion of the residence section along
River avenue and adjacent streets
as well as the thickly populated West
Side, where today thousands of Mexi
cans are homeless and the dead are
not yet counted.
These were the things visible to the
eye when day dawned, cloudy,
gloomy and threatening.
But what occurred in the blackness
of the night and when scores of men,
women and children, met death in the
oil-coated waters of the flood, as
houses collapsed, bridges were swept
out, trees and electric light and tele
phone poles crashed is something that
will never be konwn in detail. Count
less acts of heroism are current, as
civilians and soldiers braved the cur
rent and floating debris to carry wo
men and children to places of safety.
Thousands of families along the
river were rescued before daybreak by
men who worked the long hours risk
ing their lives almost every minute
of that time to save others.
In keeping with such heroic acts
were the tragedies. Babies were
swept from mothers arms and lost,
mothers were carried away and chil
dren rescued. Fathers were lost sav
ing little ones and today there are
widows and orphans in San Antonio
who shudder at the thought of last
night.
San Antonio was caught without
warning. The rain which caused the
flood fell after 3 o’clock Friday even
ing in the hills along the Olmos
Creek.
The electric display accompanying
the storm was the most vivid ever
seen here as lightning flashed almost
continuously and the thunder bombed
and reverberated through the heavens
While torrents of rain were still
falling in the streets of San Antonio
and the residents, unable to get out
because of the downpour, went early
to bed, a roar was heard, subdued
but ominous as the flood waters
broke down upon the town.
“It was impossible to stand on your
feet against the swift current,” said
one man, who escaped from his home
before the force of the flood struck.
“I got away early as the first waters
roar was heard, subdued, but ominous
cling to buildings, trees, fences and
wreckage to get out. I could not stand
upright against the water. When
the crest came a few minutes later,
I do not believe any human being
could have withstood it.”
Large houses were swept about on
the flood’s crest as though they were
paper boxes.
Some of the bodies taken from the
flooded waters and awaiting identifi
cation in the morgues were crushed
and bruised as though beaten with a
mighty flail.
Throughout the darkness of the
night the terrified screams of women
and children echoed now and then
across the flood waters. Men and wo
men sank to their knees in the mud
and water and prayed. Others ran
about in a distracted manner, seeking
relatives and friends, talking inco
herently, weeping and shrieking.
When the waters reached the busi
ness section they came with the same
rapid swirl with which they swept
the residence portions.
After the first rush of water when
the river and Alazan Creek left their
banks it was possible for rescuers
to work at the edge of the flood, re
treating steadily backward like a bat
tle line yielding inch by inch before
the charge of the enemy. The waters
quickly swept up and down Houston
and Commercial streets for blocks,
running over side walls into base
ments, and rising steadily ever high
er and higher.
They quickly made their way from
street to street, up alleys, miniature
waves slapping against the side of the
buildings angrily. Now and then a
piece of wreckage was tossed here
and there through the streets until it
collided with a show window. Then,
under a shower of glass, merchandise
was seized by the waters, and car
ried out and away while a thick film
of crude oil, muddy ooze arid gravel
spread through the store.
San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 11.—
With the known death list standing
at 39, the waters of the disastrous
flood, which struck this city early
Saturday morning were receding to
day. Much of the debris, however, es
pecially in the Alazan Creek district
remains to be searched. The wreck
age in places was tangled to a depth
of 20 feet. The property damage in
the business district was estimated at
from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000.
The funerals of some of the victims
were held today while strict military
control was maintained over the in
undated districts.
As the flood waters slowly receded
the search of the wreckage continued.
Gangs of workmen were engaged
all night in hauling the debris from
the business district. All available
pumps and gasoline engines were
called into service to pump the water
from basements.
Great damage was done to the
pavements of the city, many entire
blocks being washed away. Loss also
was caused by a scum of fuel oil-re
leased at one of the city pumping sta
tions and at various manufacturing
plants.
As the waters receded the oil was
left on the buildings and their con
tents.
At the San Antonio Express build
ing the current at the crest of the
flood was estimated at 12 miles an
hour. It was so strong that heavy
floating timbers caused much damage
to buildings.
A numDer OX OIU lanu maina Ui
some streets in the business section
disappeared as completely as though
they had melted away. Some of these
structures were more than one hun
dred years old. All were small and
were occupied by miscellaneous busi
ness enterprises.
It was impossible to obtain accu
rate estimates of the number of
dwellingh washed away but according
to one police report the figure was
placed at 200. Of the 27 bridges
that crossed the San Antonio river
in its 14 winding courses through
the city, only was actually washed
away, but all except four were dam
aged almost beyond repair.
A trip to Berg’s mill showed that a
report that the entire settlement had
been washed washed away was un
true, only a portion of the bridge to
the mill having been destroyed.
One or two families are known
to be drowned or missing.
Rescue workers reported late today
that they expected to find more than
100 additional bodies before the
search of the debris was completed.
It was feared that the bodies have
been washed away by the current and
may be found miles down the stream.
It is strange to note that so many
of our people do not live up to their
opportunities.
FATTY ARBUCLE IS
ARRESTED IN CALF.
Charged with the Murder of
Miss Rappe, A Motion
Picture Actress
San Francisco, Cal., Sept. 11.—
Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle, motion
picture actor, was booked on a charge
of murder late last night, in connec
tion with the death Friday of Miss
Virginia Rappe, film actress, follow
ing a party in Arbuckle’s suite at a
hotel here last Monday. Arbuckle was
locked up in the city prison for the
night.
Arbuckle was charged, according to
Assistant District Attorney Melton
U’ren under the section of the Cali
fornia code providing that taking of
life in rape is considered murder.
Captain of Detectives Duncan Ma
theson said the evidence showed that
there had been an attack on the girl.
“On Monday a formal complaint
will be filed against Arbuckle,” Ma
theson said.
He added that Arbuckle is expected
to make a statement.
The complaint against Arbuckle
was made following examination of
Dr. M. E. Rumwell, Miss Zey Reiss
and A1 Seminacher, motion picture
manager for Miss Rappe.
Under the California penal code,
no bail is allowable to a person charg
ed with murder. If District Attor
ney Matthew Brady returns to the
city in time, the case is expected to
be presented to the jury tomorrow
night, according to Matheson. An in
quest will be held Thursday.
Miss Rappe, who died Friday, was
removed from Arbuckle’s rooms in a
hotel last Monday in a critical con
dition after the party at which five
men and four women were present.
Autopy surgeons said death was due
to peritonitis, superinduced by an in
ternal injury.
Accompanied by his attorney Ar
buckle came here by automobile last
night from Los Angeles and went at
once to police headquarters. He was
questioned by detectives for several
hours, but on advice of his attorney,
refused to answer. At midnight, Cap
tain Matheson ordered him booked for
murder. Arbuckle lost his usual
jaunty manner and as he posed for
newspaper photographers who asked
him to smile, he haid “Not on an oc
casion of this sort.”
All of today Arbuckle persisted in
refusing to answer questions of the
police and his attorney, under whose
instructions he was acting, declined to
discuss the case.
Miss Rappe was 25 years old and
was born in Chicago. She attracted
attention in that city in 1913, it is
said, by advice to young women to
create original methods of making a
living. She was then making $4,000
a year as a traveling art model she
said. Miss Rappe came to San Fran
cisco in 1915 and for a time designed
gowns and wore them as a model.
She began in motion pictures at
Los Angeles, in 1917, and took lead
ing parts in several.
Germany Paying Up.
The payment of 1,000,000,000 gold
marks, due on Aug. 31 was comfort
ably managed by the German govern
ment. And the leading German finan
ciers and industrialist are now admit
ting that Germany will be able to
meet the successive installments of
the bill for reparations. “We car
pay,” quietly says Walter Rathenau
Doubtless he means payment largely
in materials, by such agreements ex
tending over a period of year3 as he
has just been negotiating with M
Loucheur for France. But in one way
or another Germany is now confidenl
that she can pay.
This will be a sad blow to Mr
Keyes. He has been going over the
figures of German reparations agair
and has asserted that the financia
burden placed by them upon Germany
is greater than she can bear. Mr
Keynes is positive that the whole rep
aration scheme will break down ii
two years. Meanwhile the Germans
go on paying, and are more and mor:
cheerful about the long future. 1
might almost seem that one of theii
motives is to spite the English ex
pert!—N. Y. Times.
After sunburn, then comes thi
sport of peeling off.
THE DELEGATES TO
REPRESENT AMERICA
Hughes, Lodge, Root and
Underwood Selected by
President Harding
Washington, Sept. 9.—President
Harding today announced the full
American delegation to ths armament
conference. It consists of four mem
bers:
Charles Evans Hughes, secretary of
state, former justice of the supreme
court, one time candidate for the
Presidency, and twice governor of
New York, lawyer by profession.
Elihu Root, once secretary of war,
later secretary of state, former sena
tor from New York, lawyer,’ jurist
and statesman of international repu
tation. The late President Roosevelt
his close friend and colleague, once
paid tribute to his attainments by de
scribing him as “the ablest man in
public life in America.”
Henry Cabot Lodge, senator from
Massachusetts, Republican floor lead
er, chairman of the foreign relations
committee, long time student of in
ternational affairs, and author of
many works of an historical nature.
Oscar W. Understood, Democrat,
senior senator from Alabama, leader
of his party in the senate as he was
in the house of representatives, re
garded by colleagues of both parties
in the senate chamber as “safe and
sane,” lawyer by profession and in
public and political life since 1892.
He was for the treaty of Versailles
and the league of nations covenant,
with or without reservations.
These four will represent America
at the table at which will be gathered
four from each other nation repre
sented. ,
Confidence that both Mr. Root and
Senator Underwood would serve was
expressed at the White House. Sena
tor Underwood’s position as minority
leader in the senate, where he might
be called upon to support any treaty
or other agreement reached, was not
expected to prelude his acceptance.
In event, however, that he should find
it impossible to serve, it was inti
mated unofficially that John W. Davis,
former ambassador to Great Britain,
might be the Democratic member of
the American delegation. Mr. Under
wood at present is in the mountains
of Tennessee.
The conference proper, or what
might be termed its “supreme body,”
will consist of 20 members, it was
announced, each of the five major
powers being represented by a “big
four.” An understanding to this ef
fect has been reached with the other
powers, according to the White House
announcement.
Only the “big four” delegations
from each of the five allied and as
sociated powers will sit in the gen
eral conference on armament limita
tions. The delegation from China,
which was invited especially because
of far eastern problems, will sit with
principal powers, it was said, only
when far eastern problems were un
der discussion. Representatives of
Belgium, Holland and other nations,
it was explained will occupy a similar
status and come into the powers’ con
ference only when their far eastern
interests are affected. Armament
questions, it was emphasized, would
be left solely to disposition of the
supreme body of 20. No official ad
vices regarding the make up of the
other powers’ delegations have been
received, but Secretary Hughs, it is
understood, is in touch with this ques
tion through conversations here with
te diplomatic corps.
After the announcement of the four
American delegates, it was said that
the next step would be the selection
of advisory bodies. This personnel,
at least so far as the United States
is concerned, probably will be limited
to 12 or 15, including a staff of army
and navy experts. The advisory
personnel also will include one or
more women.
The American advisory bodies, it
1 was said, would indicate “representa
1 tives of American womanhood, labor
: and other American interests” pe
' culiarly interested in armament prob
lems. The advisory delegation, it
was explained, would not operate
separately as a group, but as out
standing interests to be given a voice
■ in the proceedings.
Foreign governments have been
more or less members in their ad
visory or supplementary bodies, no
limit having been placed on their
number.
The question of a secretary general
for the conference is being considered.
Wharton Pepper, Philadelphia law
yer, has been suggested for the posi
tion, but officials are not yet ready
for an announcement.
Smithfield Damp Wash
The Smithfield Damp Wash turned
out its first work today . It is located
in the old Laundry building known
as the Ellington building. They say
they are here to stay and the only
way to do so is to do good work and
do it on a cash basis.
They will call for your laundry
and return it. They start today and
want plenty work right away and
say they are willing to work nights
if necessary.
WILSON’S MILLS SCHOOL OPENS
Enrollment For First Day Was Over
100; One of Few Schools In
Which School Truck Is Used
Wilson’s Mills, Sept. 12.—The Wil
sons’ Mills High School opened on
Monday, September 8th, under pros
pects for a great school year, with
Miss Mayme Moore, of Wilson, as
Principal. Present at the opening
were several of the patrons of the
school and the school committeemen;
and from Smitfield were Miss Mary
E. Wells, Prof. H. B. Marrow, Mr. S.
J. Kirby, Miss Minnie Lee Garrison
and Mr. H. V. Rose. The opening
exercises were very informal and
were conducted by Miss Wells.
The district numbers something
over 250 pupils and the enrollment
for the first day was over 100. The
school is one of the few schools in
the county in which the school truck
is used, the truck being first used in
this district laht December to trans
fer te pupils of the Pimple Hill school
into the Wilson’s Mills high school.
It was put into operation at the op
ening of the school this year and
brought in its freight of ever twenty
children on the first day.
Miss Minnie Lee Garrison made a
very interesting and instructive dem
onstration in the opening exercises
with the “school lunch” problem. In
this she emphasized the use of milk
for school children, stating that each
child should use at least one quart of
this most perfect of foods each day.
H. B. Easom Will Direct Choir.
H. B. Easom, formerly with Fred
N. Day, the lay evangelist of Wins
ton-Salem, will direct the music at
the Southside Baptist church Sunday
morning and evening, it was announc
ed by the pastor yesterday. Mr.
Easom is widely known both as a di
rector and as a singer. He was asso
ciated with Evangelist Day for three
years.—Wilmington Star.
REV. A. B. CRUMPLER
Who is conducting the revival in th<
tent here under the auspices of th<
Methodist Church.
STATE CHAMBER
COMMERCE PLANNED
Meeting of Business Men
Will Be Called; Sound
ing Public Opinion
Definite plans for the organization
of a state chamber of commerce are
being made by the North Carolina
Commercial Secretaries’ association,
through its president, C. W. Roberts,
of Greensboro, and its secretary, W.
T. Ritter, of Winston-Salem, and it
appears now that a meeting of busi
ness men and all those interested will
be called in October or November to
consider plans.
President Roberts is now sounding
out public opinion on the subject him
self and through all the chambers of
commerce in the state opinion is be
ing sought as to advisability and
procedure.
Should the opinion sought reveal
sufficient interest, and those back of
the plans are optimistic on this point,
the next step will be a meeting to
take specific action. Mr. R)berts
had considered calling such i meet
ing in September but has new decided
to get as many expressions of opin
ion as possobile before taking action,
lu has s'nt cut lett'is to all the com
mercial sf'iftaries in North Carolina
and has already received answers
showing strong interest in the sug
gestion.
His action in the matter follows a
resolution adopted at the state meet
ing of the commercial secretaries in
Rocky Mount in July, which urged
the formation of a state chamber of
commerce and authorized the presi
dent to take such steps as seemed
advisable.
“The secretaries’s association” said
Mr. Roberts yesterday, “is only in
terested because we appreciate the
need of such an organization, and
know the possibilities for service. I
am sure that none of the secretaries
are interested in the formation of a
state organization with a view of
forming any connection with such an
organization.”
The plan suggested by Mr. Roberts
calls for support by memberships
ranging from $25 to $100 to be held
by organizations, corporations, and in
dividuals. The state body should
have he thinks, departments of mar
keting, production, transportation,
civic affairs, publicity, commerce, and
a department to assist communities
to organize.
He is strong for an organization
founded by business men and not by
politicians or by seekers after jobs.
“Wo do think it wise to follow the
leadership of politicians and those
who want to organize special bureaus
to carry on only one phase of activi
ties that should be a part of the state
chamber,” he says in his letter to the
commercial secretaries.
Continuing, he says, “The state
chamber should be an organization to
look after the interests of the state
as a whole in any matter affecting
the state or the people. It should
work to co-ordinate the activities of
other state organizations now exist
ing. It may or may not displace any
of the present organizations. It should
not be formed unless enough of the
business men express themselves fav
orably. No other name than cham
ber of commerce should be considered.
It is standardized throughout the
world as an organization of service.”
In connection with the move of the
commercial secretaries, it is Known
that at least two other groups in
the state are working toward the
formation of some kind of body to
work for the state. One group is
identified with the name of T. Leroy
Kirkpatrick, of Charlotte; the other
with the name of Miss Hattie Berry,
of Capel Hill, secretary of the North
Carolina geological and economic
survey, and acting secretary of the
North Carolina Good Roads Asso
ciation. She is understood to be
working more in the direction of a
state publicity bureau.—Greensboro
Daily News.
Revival at Hopewell Postponed.
Mr. J. F. Davis was here yesterday
and asked us to state that the revival
meeting at Hopewell Freewill Bap
tist church has been postponed from
September until October. It will begin
on Friday night before the 3d Sun
day in October.