The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-06-10
GREAT .FLOOD IN DENVER CITY
COLOR ADO TERR1TOnY.

GREAT sFLOOD IN DENVER CITY,
COLORADO TERR1TOAY.
Late Denver papers contain accounts
of the inundation of West Denver, caused
by sudden and unprecedented flood in
Cherry Greek. There was : great de.
straction Of property, and several lives
lost.
We make some extracts from the Den.
yer Commonwealth of the 2lst and 2Sd
instant:
"At about 1880 on Thursday night, the
10Th inst, the inhabitants of West Den
yer, and those who have occupied build
ings uninterrupsejly for several years in
the immediate bed Of Cherry Greek, were
aroused by most terrible roar, rushing
and crashing noise, as Of some mighty
hurricane, accompanied BY torrents of rain,
which soon developed itself to be huge
food in Cherry Creek, caused by two OF
three days consecutive heavy rains at its
head, on the great watershed known as
the Divide, where the water runs off az
fast q. from the roof of house. When
the food was FIRST discovered, it had en-.
tirel5 surrounded our building, and was
washing with the widest fury on every
side, carrying upon it's uneven surface
masses of hoodwood, houses, fences, gil
gantic cottonwood trees, and driving be.
fore its irresistible current huge boniders
which created q dull, rambling sound,
that rendered other sounds still more
frigktful. The FIRST object selected by the
element, was the Methodist Episcopal
Church, at Larimer street bridge, which,
together with the bridge, vas hurled from
its fastening Down the furious stream with
velocity worthy Of Niagara. either above
or below the falls. The blacksmith shop.
near the Church. Immediately followed
and then succession Of fearful noises. OF
buildings continually failing. waves surg
ing high in the air, the sight of which, 6y
the pale. clouded l,gbt of the moon, was
SO awfuliy grsud that the danger was for
gotten for moment, until some gigantic
masses OF wood, trees and stones would
come bounding against our Office, causing
the whole structure to trembe from its
roof to its base, dispeling our previous
admiration, aud in its stead filing us with
the utmost fear for the safety of our stu
alton.
"Houses, fences, trees, cattle, hogs.
chickens, wagons. barrels, boxes, house
hold furniture, wagon beds, and, indeed
property of almost every description was
sailing at the rate oil twenty miles or
more an hour towards the Missouri river.
"One of the most distressing of all the
scenes which transpired during the night,
was that of woman wading waist deep
IN ice-cold water with children in her
arms, in constant danger of being borne
along with the rubbish, their screa ms an
cries rendering the already dreadful nigh.
thrice more alarming.
"One OF the most astonishing feats per.
formed by the food was that of carving
printing press, belonging to the News
Office, which weighs upwards Of 5000
pounds, over half mile from it's original
position, which was stone floor, SO tina,
1t had nothing to foot on. and was &C
tuslly forced on BY the power of the cur
rent.
Captain Scudder's house is located in
the inundated district, where he aud hi,
family were on that fearful night. Some
person went to his house 10 give the
alarm, and reused up the Ancient Ma.
rlner' to q sense of his imminent danger.
The Captain came to the door rubbing bis
eyes and yawning, wanted to know il
there were any late dispatches by tele-
graph !"
The Rocky Mountain News Office, the
Methodist Church, and many other build.
logs were sweps away aud totally lost
4be city Records were lost.
The Commonwealth gives the names of
eleven persons known to be drowned, and
estimates The loss Of property at more than
one million dollars.