The herald., 1896-07-26
cLOUDB(JRSTS CAUSE
GREAT DEVASTATION
Sudden Storms of Awful
Severity
NO LOSS OF LIFE IS REPORTED
Though Growing Crops Are
Badly Damaged
MORRISON SUFFERS SADLY
Scores Of People Dead and the Bodies
Not Recovered
Many Tales Told Of tIairbreadth Escapes and
Thrilling Rescues
The 7onongnheIa Valley Suffers Prom
Tremendous Floods and Many Towns
Are Inundated-Ohio River Trlb.
utaries Overlooking
Scores Of People Dead and the Bodies
Not Recovered
Many Tales Told of f1airbreadth Escapes and
Thrilling Rescues
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
DENVER, July 25.-The cloudbursts
in the foothills west of Denver last night.
resulting in floods in which twenty-nins
persons are known to have perished, was
followed this afternoon by another ter
rible storm, which has seldom been
equaled in this vicinity. About 1880
p. m. dark clouds gathered in the north
west and rapidly rolled towards the city.
A little before 2 o'clock rain and hail
began to fall furiously. According to
Weather Observer Brandenburg, 10 Of
an inch of -Yater fell in ten minutes.
beating all local records The downpour
continued with somewhat diminished Sc
verify for half an hour and it rained at
intervals all the afternoon. The storm
was accompanied with severe flashes Of
lightning, but so far as yet known there
was no loss of life In this city and the
damage was confined principally to the
breaking of window lights and the de-
struction Of growing crops. The storm
played havoc with flowers and shrub
berry at the city park, and various green
houses throughout the city suffered Sc
verely.
At Morrison, seventeen miles from
Denver, in the foothills, where twenty
two persons were drowned in the food
tonight the people were stricken when
they saw the second approaching this
afternoon. Hail began to fall soon af-
ter IL o'clock. The storm continued
with steadily increasing force until a
black cloud of unusual density began
TO gather in the vicinity Of Mount Yer
non, few mills from Morrison. Then
the cloud burst and in an instant a wall
or water came down the gulch fully s,r
feet higher than was ever seen before
Everything in it's path was washed
away. The raging torrent carried aIon.
with 1t houses, barns, trees and debris
VI ai! hinos. The flood in this gulch last
evening was but light compared to this.
IL is hoped, but it is by no means GER
tain, that the residents and campers in
the gulch, realizing their danger. had
all escaped to places of safety before the
ilooo came Every house in Morrison
Is hooded, water having spread out all
over the place. Rain is still falling fur
1ously and the elements are making such
an uproar that it is impossible to move
around to judge just what damage ha,
been done. Below the town there have
peen searching parties along the creek
seeking for the unrecovered bodies of
the dead in last nights disaster. and
there are fears that members of these
parties have been caught in this last
tidal wave.
morrison is indeed stricken CITY and
rears are expressed that the end is NOT
yet. FAMILIES are afraid to occupy their
MONIES, not Knowing at what time thew
may be overwhelmed by flood. Happi-
ly the rumors of greater loss of life than
tnat already reported in the floods last
night at Morrison, Golden and Mount
Vernon have not been confirmed. The
lead number twenty there being
no change in the lists telegraphed last
night and today.
Numerous parties from Denver camp-
nS out at Evergreen. Idlewild and other
places IN the mountains near Morrison
are safe. Many hairbreadth escapes
and thrilling rescues are reported.
ot the twenty-five persons drowned al
Morrison only thirteen bodies have been
'ecovered. Some may never be found
having been carried away MANY miles
Town the stream and buried under de-
'rls. Mrs. A. S. Proctor and her four chill
iren, Mrs. T. F. Casey and five children.
WIS. Anthony HERES and four children.
annie Hanson, servant, and Thomas Me-
ioush, cousin of Mrs. Casey, eighteen
II all, were living in a large cottage ON
ne banks of Bear creek A bank NJ
Vater struck the house befc. ta,.,rtl.
'ants realized their danger and carried
bodily away. All the inmates perish
d except Irene Proctor. aged 10, whose
ong hair caught in driftwood, holding
er until aid came,
j. c. Longeneckers house was washea
way and dashed to pieces against a
'ck. Mr.. and Mrs. Longenecker and
nree of their children were thrown high
nd dry on hillside. One child was
rowned. One of those saved was bad
injured but will recover.
The walls of Bear creek canyon at
laces rise almost perpendicularly 800
set, and nearly every summer it is tha
Gene of flood, but in spite of the dam
er 1t has been favorite resort of Dem
er people.
The damage to the Denver and Rio
rande. the Santa Fe and the main line
the gulf railroads will be quickly re-
aired, but there are extensive wash.
Its on the Cuffs branch in Clear Creek
anyon and on the Florence and Cripple
reek road.
Eleven bodies recovered from the flood
Morrison were brought to Danvarto.