Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-08-08

ton Of track between the Thinner House
and the bridge whore tho rails aud ties
hang suspended Dor a distance OF 30 or 40
feot.
Billiard street was damaged but little
except below the Broadway crossing.
From there TO the Benton House the
Street is badly washed out. Repairs
we're commenced yesterday. Main
street is practically impossible from
Ninth street to a point below the Ele-
plant corral, but the work which was
done on this street last year between
Yankee street and the b~reukwater was
not damaged.
Many Of the people who live between
Bullard and Hudson streets or who we're
between those streets when the food
came down we're badly frightened and
measures we're taken to rescue Thorn in
case the Hood got higher, as many ex-
pected it would, as It was raining in the
mountains until after the highest point
had been reached. A rope was thrown
across Billiard street opposite the res
idence Of DR.. Bailey and a crossing Of
ropes and ladders was made opposite the
Wholesale liquor store of Fleming and
Rosecrans. A cable was stretched across
Nam street at the Broadway crossing so.
that It is hardly probable that there
would have been any loss Of life ever il
the food had been higher than 1t was.
Harry Whitehill was out on horseback
rendering assistance where it appeared
necessary. He took the w~aterbound
people in the Benton House out and
brought some ladies across the flood on
Bullard street from a house opposite DR..
Bailey's.
People who lived outside the food
limits gathered on the hills on either
side to see the rushing waters and not a
few we're apprehensive OF grave danger
to people who we're in the flooded dis
triot. A general feeling Of relief was exc
pressed when the food commenced to 90
down but it fell only two or three inches
when it was again augmented by the
rain which was steadily falling In the
mountains. The rise was Of but short
duration and by 5 o'clock the wator had
receded very .appreciably. Two hours
later 1t had dwindled down TO a flood Of
moderate size and no more danger was
feared.
If there had been a food from Chic
ride as there usually is when it rains
heavily in the mountains, the damage in
the business part OF town would have
been much greater than it was and it is
not at all improbable that some of the
more insecure buildings would have beeN
washed down.
Where the greater portion Of the break
water at the foot Of Main street was
standing last Sunday morning, there is a
great vacancy, the dirt having been
washed out to u depth Of 10 to 10 feet.
1t will be impossible to build a break
water now where the one put in this
summer stood, and Mayor Fleming is
considering whether it would not be the
wiser plan to construct a dam where the
old Main street bridge stood to hold the
water and thus obviate the necessity of
putting in a new breakwater. Such a
dam would hold the debris wished down
and the arroyo would soon be filed up
TO a level Of the top of the dam as the
Lyons and Campbell dam was filed up
just below the railroad bridge. There
is solid rock on which to put the foun-
dation Of such a dam and it could be
made strong enough to resist the pres
sure Of any flood which might cone
down.