The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-23
In a Water spout.
From the Denver News. |

Through the prompt assistance of the
managers of the South Park road, the
damages done to the track in the Platte
Canyon and near Buffalo by the water
spout are speedily being repaired, and
the customary travel on the road will be
resumed very soon. The telegraph wires
are still down, but statement of the true
conditions of affairs have been obtained
through the medium of the passengers
who were delayed in consequences of the
storm. In conversation with gentleman
who was stopping for a few days at the
boarding house near the saw mill at
Thompson's, the informant said: 1--WE
had terrible hail storm shortly after
o'clock, and stones as big as hens eggs
fell thick and fast. While we were stand
ing at safe distance from the windows.
for nearly every pane of glass was broken,
we saw remarkable phenomenon, ac-
companied by dull, heavy roaring sound,
like distant thunder. A large volume of
what we afterwards found to be water was
seen at the top of the mountain, coming
closer and closer, like an immense funnel.
As it approached the noise became al
most deafening, and one old gentleman
who was standing in the door, for we had
all assembled in and around the doorway,
exclaimed: It's water spout!' Out of
the house and up the opposite hill we ran
as fast as it was possible to almost the
summit. One of the parties, who was
| farthest down, in terror turned around
| and beheld the water rushing and tearing
down the opposite side, carrying with it
huge boulders, uprooted trees and all sorts
| Of debris. It struck the house and the
| sawmill simultaneously. and carried them
| away like straws, not a vestige of either
remaining. We stood there in terror for
| hnr I'd Itx, Il 70
| word but finally becoming more used to
the scene, we began to look around us
and take in the situation. When the
| heighth of the excitement had abated lit
| tie, an anxious mother missed her infant
| child, and instant search was made for
| the lost little one. After an hour spent in
the water and mud, one of the gentlemen
| discovered the infant in pool, and the
stream still coming down the mountain
| side, lying close up by a rock which also
supported large bureau, under which
the little one sat in an apartment in
1 tended tor lower drawer. The child
was not a bit frightened, but seemed to
be rather pleased with its situation, and,
strange enough, had hardly a scratch
upon it. The joy of the distressed parent
can easily be conceived when the wet
youngster was placed safe and sound in
her arms. The water continued to rush
down the gulch for several hours, and we
had to prepare places to sleep on the
side of the mountain. Eariy the next
morning | joined number of men who
desired to reach Denver as soon as poss-
BILE, and started to walk to the train,
about seven miles distant. When we
reached there we found it was wrecking
train with coach attached, and after be-
ing delayed several hours for the wreck
ers to prepare the track, we started on our
way home.
In the canyon the track was also gutted
out in spots, and good bit of it at other
places had the bedding washed out and
the rails twisted. Temporary bridges are
being constructed to facilitate the running
of the trains. An engine was run into a
ditch short distance this side of Thomp.
sons in consequence of the weakened
condition of the road-bed. Three flat cars
were also carried away some 40 feet, with
three men on them, who, wonderful to
relate, were not at all injured; they only
received thorough drenching and big
scare.
One of the most disastrous difficulties
arising from this unexpected accident ii
the great delay of the mails. There has
not yet been a single mail sent out tt
Leadville since the storm, and as conse
guence there has been great accumula
, ton of matter which will doubtless be
source of much trouble 10 the carbonate
camp, as we'll as to the many towns alon!
, the line of the road. Such an accident j
likely to occur at most any time, and pro
vision should be made that in such al
event in future there need DO no delay IL
the mails.-Deauer Tribune.