The San Francisco call., 1896-07-25
Campers in Morrison Canyon
Supposed to Have Been
Swept Away.
RAILROAD LINES DESTROYED.
Reports of Further Casualties Still
Coming in From Different
Points.

DENVER, CoLo., July PA cloudburst
struck the town of Golden, twelve miles
north of this city, shortly after 6 o'clock
tonight, and deluged the place. The
bridge across Clear Creek at Fourth street
was carried away. There were eight or
ten people on it at the time, and it is be-
lieved ell were lost. Others living on the
opposite side of the creek were carried
away by the food and are thought to be
drowned. The telegraph wires are down,
and the only communication is by tele-
phone. Rescuers are now at work search
ing for the bodies
A number of houses have been COM
pletely swept away, and the water at q
late hour tonight is still several feet deep
in the dwellings bordering on the creek.
The town is in total darkness, and it is
with the greatest difficulty that the Fire
Department, assisted by scores of citizens,
was enabled to search submerged districts.
at 1880 P. NJ. it is impossible to say
what the loss will be in either property or
life. A man just arrived here reports at
least ten lives lost. So far the only bodies
recovered are those of Mr.. and Mrs. john
son, an aged couple, who lived in Clark S
Addition, in Tucker Gulch. which is yet
entirely under water.
Two men who were seen struggling in
the water were carried down stream,
where they succeeded in catching limbs of
trees and dragging themselves to the
shore. Tne only bridge left standing be-
tween the two parts of the town is the
avenue bridge, and that is in such danger
Gus condition that it cannot be used.
The town is full of scenes of wretched-
ness and misery, and hours will be neces-
sary to tell the full extent of the horror.
Reports were received at the Union de-
pot tonight of extensive floods on the Rio
Grande, between Pueblo and Trinidad
and the Gulf. between Pueblo and Colo
rado Springs. Cloud bursts caused the
damage. At Franceville Junction, be.
low Colorado Springs, 800 feet of the Gull
tracks and the telephone wires are com
pletely washed away. Trains, much be-
hind time are being run on the Santa Fe
The oloudburst sent a great flood oi
water down Morrison Canyon, eighteen
miles west of Denver, late this afternoon
and it is believed many people lost their
lives. Morrison reports twenty-five peo-
pie drowned near that town. Campers
and summer tourists from Denver and
other points, in tents and cottages, are
located along the canyon for several miles
Old residents and ranchers rushed down
to the camps when they realized the ex.
tent of the storm, but they were too late.
Names cannot be learned tonight.
As far as known three lives have been
lost . The dead are:
Mrs. j. f. Edwards and Mr.. and Mrs. A.
johnson.
The dead at Morrison:
Mrs. A. 8. Proctor and four children.
Mrs. Moses Miller and three children.
Mrs. ]. F. Casey and five children.
Mrs. Harris and four children.
Others are believed to be drowned, and
the total list will aggregate fully twenty.
Eve persons. The foregoing list are Den.
yer families.
When the Ford-street bridge went out
the water spread all over Ford street and
the surrounding bottoms, four to seven
feet deep. Mrs. D.. H. Turner and family
were rescued by fremen and carried
through three feet of water. Her three
children were also saved Farther dowr
the river many families were rescued with
ropes and planks by the tiremen.
An unknown man was swept away hal
mile below the bridge, as he was seen in
place just before the torrent passed ovel
the spot. A large mum Der of men wer,
living in cabins above and below the towr
engaged in placer mining, and it is feared
that the sudden rise swept some of then
away.
Golden hes at the end of canyon where
it debouches into the plains. The street.
are steep and slope to the creek sides. Th,
water caught by half dozen mountain,
came into the streets and took everythine
OF movable character with it.
The lights went out and travel wa,
dangerous in the inky darkness.
Bowlders three feet in diameter ver,
rolled doyn on the Gulf road. Sand GOV
ers the track to depth of three feet il
the city The lower part of the nortl
side known as Goosetown was overru1
with water, but no one has been able t,
get to it to inspect its condition. Report
are out that the whole country east O
here was flooded and crops ruined. N,
idea of the am cunt of loss to property car
be obtained at present.
Viola Foster of Denver, whose father i
a tentmaker, was with the party known t,
have been lost. She was carried dow
stream by the great wave for distance
when parties heard her cries and managet
to rescue her. Her companions, who ha,
been living in house just below the town
were swept away, and all must have beel
drowned.
ALI OF the bridges across Bear Cree
were swept away. 1t is impossible to ge
across to learn if any fatalities occurred
There was big storm up the canyon be
fore the great wave came down, but &c
body considered it dangerous. 1t proved
however, to be great cloudburst, an
when the wave came down the canyon j
found everybody unprepared.