St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-01
TORRENT DESCENDED.
PEOPLE CAUGHT IN AN AWFUL
SWEEP OF WATER AT So
CORRO, N. NJ.
DWELLINGS CARRIED AWAY.
Men, Women and Children Left
Strangiing in n Sea of Wa
ter and Ruin.

of Socorro yesterday afternoon about
4 o'clock. Shortly after huge waves
of water came rushing down an arroyo
which drains the eastern slope of the
Magdalena mountains, and almost en-
circled the town. At first it was
hoped the flood would be confined to
the lower portion of the city, but soon
the water came over above the town
and three feet began rush through the
principal streets. The shrieks Of
women and children mingled with the
crashing of falling horses and the
dying walls of souls swept into eter-
nifty. The water came in waves, each
succeeding one being higher than the
others. Portions of houses household
goods, carriages, stock and farm i'm
plements, mingled with huge boulders,
railroad ties and bridge timbers, all
were borne through the streets by the
rushing waters. For two hours the
work of destruction continued, the
horror being increased by vivid light
ming, crashing thunder and binding
rain. Gradually the waters subsided
sufficiently to allow partial inspee-
ton of the destruction Only two
bodies were taken from the waters be-
fore dark-a dead mother and her child.
An attempt was made to reach the
people living in the river bottoms,
but darkness and the absence of boats
prevented. All night long homeless
people were being brought in and cared
for.
This morning a scene of desolation
was presented. A majority of the busi-
ness houses have escaped damage or
destruction, but hundreds of poor peo-
pie have lost everything, being home
less and without money, and almost
naked. More than fifty houses are
known to have been destroyed, while
almost every residence in the city is
damaged. Since the water has receded
many adobe houses have fallen in
and many others must be abandoned.
MANY PERISHED.
The two bodies recovered last night
have been identified as members of
the Durrane family, several of whom
are missing. Four more bodies were
taken out this morning and identified
as Durranes, making six recovered
Other bodies are reported as being
seen, but owing to the treacherous
nature of the ground they cannot be
reached.
The destructive waters spread over
the entire city, and carried death ev-
erywhere. Many are missing. Another
victim has since been added to the
death list, an infant son of E. Pace
having just died from the effects of
the water, having been rescued when
almost drowned. Reports are coming
from towns north and south of heavy
losses. For twelve miles south de-
struction of property was terrible.
Farm houses and crops were swept
away. The Santa Fe train was washed
out between here and San Antonio in
several places. The brance between
here and Magdalena is practically de-
stroyed for ten miles out, five bridges
and several miles of track being gone.
A large section of track on the south
side of the city, running east and west,
was torn up by the waters and turned
north and south.
SOME OF THE DEAD.
The names of the dead whose bodies
have been recovered are:
LEANDER DURAN.
CELIA DURAN.
THOMAS DURAN.
]. B. DURAN. II
DURAN. ri
DURAN. );
CHILD of E. PACA.
Only two members OF the Duran
family are alive. No estimate of the
property loss can be made, but it Isl
more than 100000. Among the heavi-
est losers are Mayor E. Baca, c. T.
Brown, J. E. Smith, A. D. Coon, C. S.
Perkin, J. H. Hilton, E. Kalsonstein,
j. w. Terry, A. H. Byerts, A. Torres,
E. e. Wood, Willis Baca and Mrs.
Loppa. Hundreds of farmers have
lost their houses, crops, fences and
stock, and in many instances the
farms have been rendered unfit for
cultivation.
This afternoon the citizens of Socor-
ro met at the court house and relief
committee was appointed. The COM
mittee was at once put to work, but
the demands soon outran the resources.
as every person had suffered loss. The
number of persons thus suddenly
forced upon charity cannot now be es-
timated. 1t is now raining in the
mountains and great fears are enter
tanned as to the safety of the city.
1t is said three small towns south or
here We're totally destroyed.