Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-01
MANY HOMES RUINED
Scene of Desolation Caused by Flood
at Socorro.
CROPS And HOUSES WASHED AWAY
Citizens Organize a. Committee Of
Relief.
SMALL TOWNS WIPED OUT

DENVER, Col, August IA News spe.
cial from Socorro. N. NJ, says tremendous
roaring startled the people of Socorro Tues
day afternoon about 4 o'clock. Shortly
huge waves of water came rushing down
an arroyo which drains the eastern slope
of the Magdalena mountains and almost
encircles the town.
At first it was hoped the flood would be
confined to the lower portion of the city
but soon the water came above the wood
and three feet of water began to rush
through the principal street. The water
came in waves, each succe eding one being
apparently higher than tn. others. Por-
tions of houses, household goods carriages
stoves and farm implements were mingled
with huge boulders, railroad ties and bridge
timbers. All were l.orne through -ha streets
by the madly rushing waters.
For two hours the work Of destruction
continued, the horror being increased by
vivid lightning. crashing thunder and bind
ing rain. Gradually the waters subsided
sufficiently to allow a partial inspection Of
the destruction. Only two ,leld bodies
were taken from the waters before dark,
a mother and ner child. An attempt was
made to reach the peopla living N the river
bottoms, but darkness and the absence of
boats prevented success. All night long
homeless people were being brought in and
cared for.
A Scene of DesOlatiOn.
Yesterday a scene Of dasoiatioa was pre-
sented A majority of the business houses
had escaped heavy damage or destructio,s
but hundreds of poor people lost every
thing, being homeless and without money
and almost naked. More than fifty houses
are known to have been destroyed, while
almost every residence in the city is dam
aged. Since the water has receded many
l.|No
others must be abandoned. The two bodies
recovered Tuesday night We're identified
as those of members of'the Durana family.
Four more bodies Were taken out yester-
day morning and ider titled as DuraneS
making six recovered. Others are reported
as having been seen but, owing to the
treacherous nature of the ground. they can
not be reached.
The destructive waters spread over the
entire city and carried death everywhere
Many are missing. Another victim has
been added to the list, infant son of
II. Baca having died from the effects of
the water, having been rescued when al
most drowned.
Reports are coming from towns north
and south of here of heavy losses. For
twelve miles south destruction of property
was terrible. Farm houses and crops We're
entirely swept away. The Santa Fe track
was washed out between here and San
Antonio in several claces. The branch
road from this city to Magdalena is prac-
bridges and several miles of track being
gone.
large portion of track on both sides of
the. city running east and west was taken
up by angry waters and turned north and
south. The names of the recovered dead
thus far are Leander Durane. Celia Du-
rane, Thomas Durane, = Durane, - Du-
rane and a child of H. Baca. Only two
members of the Durane family are alive.
Over IA Million Dollars Loss.
No estimate of the loss can be made, but
it is said to be more than s1,OOo,OOO. Among
the heaviest losers are NJ. E. Baca, c. B.
Brown, ]. E. Smith, A. D. Coon, C. S.
Perling, J. B. Hilton, E. Kalsonstefn, ]. w.
Tory. A. E. Bie-ts, A. Torres, E. E. Void,
Elias Baca and Mrs. Lopa.
Hundreds of farmers have lost their
houses, crops, fences and stock, and in
many cases the farms have been rendered
unfit for cultivation. Yesterday afternoon
the citizens of Socorro met, and a relief
committee was appointed. The committee
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 estimated. Reports of damage con-
tinue to come in. Three small towns south
of here were totally destroyed.
The Storm General.
ALBUQUERQUE, N. NJ, August Am
other cloudburst has occurred and the
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Companys
new bridge at Rio Puerce has been wreck
ed. Much suffering is reported by Mexi-
cans and small farmers near the waters
edge. Their homes are flooded and their
fields ruined. Hail accompanied the rain
and the crops on high ground are lying
fiat as if a monster roller had passed over
them. A train was sent to meet the east
bound train at Rio Puerce An endeavor
will be made to transfer the passengers.
The storm was general and the country
is flooded as far south as Ell Paso, and
far west as Williams. Rumors are plentiful
regarding loss of life. Railway tracks are
in places very dangerous and much care is
being exercised by the officials to have
weak places closely watched.
Disastrous Rains in Colorado.
DENVER, Col, August 1.-Colorado has
been visited for two days with the most
destructive rains and cloudbursts in the
history Of the state. At Boulder, forty
miles north of Denver, three inches Of rain
fell in four hours, damaging crops to an
inestimable extent. Irrigating bitches have
been damaged along their entire length.
At Loveland the biggest ditch in northern
broke through the sides in sew
eral places. flooding the country in the
which contains well culti-
waited fields.
At Golden the gulf trains are all tied up
because the track up Clear Creek canyon
has been washed out in several places and
four bridges have been carried away.
In the towns of Central City and Black
Hawk, at the head of Clear creek floods
have caused considerable damage to houses
and mining operations are interfered with
on account of the washing away of the
fumes.
At Catskill, in New Mexico, the Red
river went on a rampage, bridges were
washed out and several families had to
fee for their lives From score of other
points in the mountains come reports of
heavy rains ard cloudbursts.
The Midland Terminal passenger train
which left Cripple Creek last night at 10
o'clock was caught in landslide near Gill
lett and the two rear coaches derailed
No one was injured, but the train and its
had narrow escape. Travel on
all the mountain roads Is interfered with
and it will be weeks before the damage
to some of them is repaired.
FLORENCE, Col, August president
Johnson Of the Florence and Cripple Creek
railroad put large forces at work today
repairing the extensive washouts caused
by cloudbursts. 1t is believed the road
can be reopened in about ten days. The
damage to railroad and other property is
estimated at $4,000. The supposed death
list of eight at Adelaide is now reduced
to three, as follows: Thomas Watson, Mrs
Carr, Lee Tracey. They were in the hotel
that was washed away. The three train
men who were caught in the food are now
said fo havA eScaned