The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-06-24
Great Disaster in. Colorado.

,urrcd at midnight of Thursday, the 10Th
Several days heavy rain on tho grea. water
,hed known as the Divide, caused a great
|resbet in Gerry Crock. The Common.
Iccdiih says;
When the food was first discovered IL had
entirely surrounded our building, and was
washing with widest fury on every side, car
rying upon it's uneven surface masses Of
houses, fonces, gigantic cotton.
wood trees, and driving before its Irresistible
current hugo bouders, which created dull,
rambling sound that rendered other sounds
more frightful. The frs, object selected by
the element was tho Methodist Episcopal
Church at Lsrimer street bridge, which. to-
gether with the bridge, was hurled from /
its fastenings down the furious stream with |
a velocity worthy Of Niagara. either above
or below tho falls The blacksmith shop !
near tho church Immediately followed. and
then succession of fearful noises. of build |
ings continually falling, waves surgiug nigh
in air, the sight (Which, by the pale, ,clouded
the imminent danger was forgotten for mo.
mont, until some gigantic masses of wood,
trees and stones would come bounding
against our Office, causing the whole struc-
ture to tromble from its roof to its base,
dispollng our previous admiration, and in
it's stead filling us with tho utmost fear for
tho safety of our situation. Long and anx
ously did all IN tho Commonwealth building
watch the .Nems Office, hoping even against
nope, tha, it might withstand the fury of
tho waters. Lights cleaned from it's win
dows, showing that all wero astir Within
Hardly had those in this Office exchanged
opinions as to whether that building would
be able TO hold ont, when tho light disap.
peared, and shortly after, at quarter to
one. loud crash came booming over the
water. and the Rocky Mountain .N't,rs of.
fee was totally demolished, the occupants
barely saving their lives.
| AT two o'clock tho water commenced to
sbaie, and so.low did it get that we found
but little difficulty In walking to tho Tre-
mont House and other places. This, how.
lever, did not last long. 1t was plainly evi,
dent that the creek was again rising fast
Families in this vicinity, and, indeed, where
ever tho iDundaton had reached, availed
themselves OF this pause in the storm to
move themselves and as much of their prop.
orty as possible Subsequent events proved
how judicious was this step to many. for
whom thoy returned in tho morning the
waters had not only carried off their houses,
fences and othor improvements, but the lots
with tho rest. Ono of the most distressing g
of all the scenes which transpired during
the night, was that of women wadipg was,
deep in ice.cold water with children in their
arms, in constant danger o: being borne
along with the rubbish, their screams ant
cries rendering the already dreadful nigh.
thrice more alarming. Many families were
quartered in the upper room of this build
ing, tho compositors Of this paper rendering
them every assistance in their power. At
halfpast two, A. NJ. nearly all who were in
danger had been removed to high ground
and what few were left behind we're soon
sought after by the gallant soldiers of the
Fits. Colorado cavalry, on their horses.
THE SCENE THE NEXT MORNING.
On every side, from the extreme bank oi
Cherry Greek on tho east, to the farther
> bank of the Platte on the west. all was water
Front. Cherry aue Ferry streets had encl
q river of their own, aside from the ont
which followed the heretofore dry bed o
+ Cherry Greek. Houses. trees. fences, cat
tie, hogs, chickens, wagons. barrels, boxes
tents, baggage. household furniture, wagol
. beds, and, indeed, property of almost over.
description, was sailing at the rate of TWEEN
ty miles or more an hour, towards the Mis-
souri, river.
About ton clock, word was received tha
tho Platte was rising rapidly. and it wa
essential to tho safety of residents in th
"Platto Bottom" that they should immedi
atey move to higher ground. Here wa
another panic nearly all the families boinl
deserted by the men, who not suspectipl
{ any danger from that quarter, had gone II
! zee how things were farther up town. Th
report of this new disaster soon spread owe
town, when great stampede of mel
was seen in that direction, and in few
= minutes general transportation busines
was being carried on. Then came thu
alarming word that William N. Byers ant
family were on an island in tho Platte river
). and the water rising fast and furious abou
A them. No time was taken for comment OF
! this latter report, but forthwith Col. Cbiv
e ington on his horse galloped to the place
@ where he bad communication with Mr.
Byers, who said he could bold out agains
the further rise of two feet. Upon this in
: formation, Col. Chvington hastily returned
. to town, where in The course of two hour
! = be had a boat constructed, which was sen
!. to the spot, and the whole family rescued.
n The whole number of lives lost cannot al
\ this tmo be accurately ascertaned, but there
!, lis little doubt that many are lost. Mr.. G
!, Bruce Haines, late Secretary of the Terri
s toral Council, is among the drowned, hi
body having been found some two milei
down the Platte river.
l.. L.