The record-union., 1895-08-02
Gigantic Waves Course Through
the Streets of Socorro, N. NJ.
EIGHT PERSONS KNOWN TO HAVE
LOST THEIR LIVES
a Terrible Cloudburst Occurs Near
Casper, Wyoming, Crushing and
Sweeping Away all Buildings In Its
Path-Many Campers Caught, and
Experience a Thrilling Race Tor
Life-SeveraI Children Drowned.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. IA special from So
corro, \. NJ, says that the flood yestef-
day was the greatest in the history OF
New Mexico. Sixteen persons are known
to have lost their lives. A cloudburst
struck the mountain about five miles
above town, and in less than half an
hour after gigantic waves. bringing mud,
rocks and debris, took their course
through the streets. destroyed bridges,
swept away houses and railroad tracks
and ruined crops AT least 100 families
are homeless. The city water works
were partly destroyed and a water famine
will follow.
The loss of life among the Mexican
residents is estimated at thirteen. 1he
father and We children of Ignacio DurIn
were drowned. the wife attempted to
escape with the baby, but the torrent tore
it from her arms, dashed it against wire
fence and she saw it perish. Two other
bodies were picked up, bruised beyond
recognition.
Mrs. Munsey. an American woman,
and her daughter, cannot be found. Five
Mexicans so far are missing.
Searching parties are looking for vic
tins in the timber along the river bank.
Much fruit and all the grain crop have
been destroyed. For the first time in q
hundred years in Socorro County there
will be failure of crops. The loss at
Soc orro and immediate vicinity far eX-
ceeds 100000.
The danger is not yet passed. Clouds
are again banking in the mountains, and
many fear that the worst is yet 10 come.
a mass meeting Of citizens has been held
and measures taken tor the ilnmed re-
lief of the destitute in the village of
Cunba. san Pedro and san Antonio,
near to Socorro, were visited by the flood.
but the extent of the damage has not
been ascertained as it is impossible to
communicate with them.
LIST OF DEAD EIGHT.
SoCoRRO N. NJ. Aug 1.-The excite
ment attendant upon the flood is over.
The list of dead is eight, six of whom arc
the Duran family, and the other two are
children that were rescued taOm the flood
and died yesterday. The damage 20 the
city is fifty buildings washed away and
contents destroyed, about 100 buildings
more or less damaged, and large por-
Uon of the contents damaged and de-
stroyed. With these losses must be
added the total destruction Of gardens
aud vineyards, and these losses fall upon
the poorest people.
The Magdalena branch of the Santa Fe
IS washed away for about five miles, and
their loss Will run into the thousa ndS.
The water washed away the main track
-Just below the depot yards, and covered
The track IN the yards bout four inches
deep. The lower part of ManZanires
avenue is a total wreck, bridges and
sidewalks being washed away.
The water covered the whole valley
from the vicinity of the Windsor Hotel to
The depot. and for several miles above
and below the city.
The arroyo that did the damages comes
into the city at the southwest corner of
the mountains on the road to Magdalena.
Just as 1t strikes the city it divides into
two channels, one going down Spring
street to the river bottom and the other
to the west, emptying to the north Of the
city and swinging around to the east OF
th ecity, mingliDg its waters with the one
coming down Spring street. The flood
came III TWO big waves, one hlllng tue
arroyo over bankfull, and the other pour
ing out over every street in the city. Had
THIS storm come at night hundreds would
have perished.
FATAL CLoUDBURST IN WYOMING.
CASPAR (Wyo.), Aug. IA terrible
cloudburSt occurred south of this city on
Casper Mountain al the head OF Garden
Creek last night. The creek is about
eeven miles long from mouth to source
and is lined with campers. y Near the head
of the creek Is a summer resort fre-
ouented by local picnic parties, and is
credited with being one ofthe most beauti-
fulspots in Central Wyoming. The first
thing the flood reached was the pleasure
resort at the head of Garden Creek. At
this point ali the buildings were crushed
and swept away, and the original site OF
the hotel at this point is buried beneath
debris twenty or more feet deep. From
here the water followed the course of the
creek and demolished everything in its
path Judging from water marks vol
ume of water forty feet high and thirty
rods wide must have passed narrow de-
file about two miles from the mountain
proper.
Without warning this great flood OF
water in its rush down the side OF the
mountain caught many campers up and
down the creek, either sleeping OF just
about ready TO retire. ;. Newby and his
family had retired for tho night, when al
at once they We're surrounded by wafer.
and race for lie was commenced.
Newby saws that he heard his wife scream
for help. he grabbed for her. but missed,
and in the next second he was being car
ried on by great rush Of water. That
was the last he saw of his wife ana baby.
Newby grabbed the limbs OF q floating
tree, and after floating about forty rods
was thrown on q bank. Mrs. Newby was
found this morning beneath Pile OF de-
bris twenty feet high. The boy has moi
been found.
Near the Newby camp was camped
Samuel Harrison, late OF Alliance, Neb
Uarrisou's two children were caught III
the llood aud carried away py Inc mao
waters. Tie bodies of the children were
recovered this morning.
Some idea of the force OF the torrent
can be formed from the TACT that III the
nf
OF rock are to be found. These lodges
are twenty-five feet high. In the hrst
one are boulders torn from the mountain
side that viii weigh fifty tons. when
were torn up aud carried down the
stream. The tents aud wagons OF all the
campers up and down the creek were de-
stroyed, and al least fifty persons es-
caped with nothing but their sleeping
garments. Food and clothing are being
sent 10 the unfortuanates by the citizens
of neighboring towns.
RAILROAD wAsHoUrS.
ALBUQUERQUE n. NJ. Aug. 1.-An-
otbar eloud burst has occurred and the
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company's
new bridge at Rio Puerco has been
wrecked. Farmers homes are flooded
and fields are rulned.
Hail accompanied the rain and crops
on high ground are lying fiat, as if
monster roller hsd passed over them. y
rain was sent to meet the east oouno
train at Rio Puperco. TIE country is
flooded as far south as El Psso and as far
west as Williams.
F1oRENcE (Col.), Aug. 1.-The Flor
anc1and Cripple Creek Railroad tracks
have been washed away for fifteen miles
from point eighteen mics south o
Cripple Creek, and the railroad will have