The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-06-07
HOMELESS THOUSANDS.
DISASTROUS WESTERN FLOOD
Pueblo, Colorado, Witnesses the Worst
Flood of Its Existence. S3,ooo,ooo
Damages.

Pueblo, Colorado was visited Thursday 10y
,and people were rendered homeless and
property was damaged TO the amount prob
sbly Of s3,00o,OO0 although It in impossible
al this time TO estimate the exact loss.
-Four breaks In the levee on the Northside
and two on the Southside have flooded the
region between Eighth street and the river on
the west on a zigzag sourse; thence TO Fourth
and Main, Second and Santa Fe. and every
thing south Of and including First street.
On the Southside the flooded area extends
from West Fourth street bridge down through
the Rio Grande yards 10 Union avenue In
cluding practically everything west uf Union
avenue from the river TO G street. and all
west Of Victoria avenue.
While the Arkansas was thus on its mad
career great torrent was coming down the
mountain. which reached almost the stage OF
the food OF last August The east approach
TO the East Eighth street bridge was largely
carried away, and the water main under the
Fourth street bridge was destroyed
The discordant notes OF the fire alarm
whistle warned n tremulous throng that the
residents OF the lowlands had better get out,
and they did so in hurry. some managing
10 carry of portion OF their belongings. The
first break In the lpvce was at the north side,
just west Of the Main street bridge The
efforts Of a score Of men TO repair the lcvee
were IA those Of pigmies, and the gap grew
wider until II was seen 10 be useless 20 strive
further.
Meanwhile the dirt approach to the West
Fourth street viaduct, on the north side OF
the river, had been slowly but surely melt.
ing away, small streams were trickling
down the Santa Fe tracks and making
their way east along Fourth street. Very
soon the stream was running mady on First
street, carrying dirt. wood and debris. and
making II almost impossible. TO wade in the
water.
In very short time the water was three
feet deep. and all the people in the locality
were forced 10 leave their homes or 10 up In
second stories. Women and children were
taken 30 the water works and points on high.
or ground. On South Union avenue, small
buildings south OF G street fell in, and though
there were no passengers around the Union
Depot. two feet OF water in the waiting rooms
made 1t decidedly uncomfortable for en-
ployes.
Hundreds Of people. men. women and chill.
drcn. were congrcgated in the City Hall and
the Armory, waiting until the waters go down
so that they can 90 to their homes, which
will he untenablo for some days. Mayor
strait issued n call for all men for whom IL
IS possible 10 assemble at the City Hall 10 be-
gin the work Of repair.
The Hood was probably caused by the very
extensive rains in the Arkansas valley above
Pueblo. A man was drowned at the lower
end OF the Santa Fe railroad while attempting
tocross the water at that point. Is il feared
that several others have perished. All houses
on Third, Fourth, Fifth and sixth Dtrcets
were filed with water. varying from two feet
to ten feet. according TO the height OF the
foundations. Several houses made Of adobe
collapsed early to-day
The basement OF the Opera House Llock.
Mechanics building, Central block. Mccarthy
block, Adee, McAIinn block. Frank Pryor's,
Ganns-Wilson block. Chilcott, Wells block,
and all the smaller buildings in that vicinity
were filled with the muddy torrent Of water
Two fatalities have come 20 light. The
body Of an unknown man was found today
two miles west Of the city. About 10 o'clock
Joseph Coppa, smclter laborer, with his
wife and four children, attempted TO wade
through four feet OF water at the rIricn. -
pot. lie became bewildered and stepped of
iuto hole where there was ten feet OF water
and was drowned before assistance could
reach him. Other losses Of life are believed
to have occurred and several prominent citi.
zenS are missing.