The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-26

Denver, July 2.-Cloudbursts In the
foothills west OF Denver last night, re-
suting In floods In which - persons are
known to have been killed. were followed
this afternoon by another terrible storm.
which has seldom been equalled In this
vicinity. About 1880 o'clock p. m. dark
clouds gathered In the northwest ana
rapidly rolled towards the city. A little
before o'clock rain and hail began to
fall furiously. The downpour continued
with severity for half an hour. and II
rained at intervals all the afternoon The
storm was accompanied by frequent Sc
we're flashes OF lightning, but so far as yet
known there was no loss of life In this
city and the damage was confined princi-
pally to the breaking OF window lights
and the destruction OF growing crops.
The storm played havoc with flowers and
shrubbery at the city park and various
greenhouses throughout the city suffered
severely.
At Morrison, II miles from Denver In
the foothills, where % persons were
drowned last night. people were terror
stricken when they saw the second storm
approaching this afternoon. Hall began TO
fall soon after O'Clock. The storm con-
tinued with steadily increasing force until
nearly 4 o'clock. when n black cloud OF
unusual density began to gather In the
vicinity of Mount Vernon. few miles
from Morrison. There the cloud burst and
In an instant a wall OF water came down
the gulch fully six feet higher than was
ever seen before. Everything In its path
was washed away. The raging torrent
carried along with II houses, barns. trees
and debris OF all kinds. The flood In this
gulch last evening was but light COM
pared to this. II is hoped. but Il Is by no
means certain, that the residents and
campers In the gulch. realizing their dan
ger, had all escaped to places Of safety
before the food came.
Every house In Morrison Is flooded. wa
ter having spread out all over the place.
Rain is still falling furiously and the ele-
ments are making such an uproar II 10
impossible to move around to Judge Just
what damage has been done. Below the
town there have been searching parties
along the creek seeking for the unrecov-
cred bodies OF the dead In last nights
disaster and there are fears that men,
bers OF these parties have been caught
IN this last tidal wave.
Morrison II indeed stricken city, and
fear is expressed that the end Is not yet.
homes, not knowing at what time they
may be overwhelmed In food. Happily
the rumors of greater loss of life than
that already reported In the floods last
night at Morrison, Golden and Mount
Vernon have not been confirmed. The
dead number 20, there being no changes
In the lists telegraphed last night and
to-day. Numerous parties from Denver.
camping out at Evergreen. Idlewild. Idle
dale and other places In the mountains
near Morrison, are safe. Many hair
breadth escapes and thrilling rsscues are
reported.
or the 2, persons drowned at Morrison
only IL bodies have been recovered. Some
may never be found. having been carried
away many miles down the stream and
buried under debris. Mrs. A. Proctor and
her four children. Mrs. T. r. Casey and
Ave children, Mrs Anthony HERES and
four children. Annie Hansen. servant. and
Thomas McGough. a cousin OF Mrs. Ca
sey, IS In all. we're living In a large cot
tage on the banks OF Bear creek. A great
bank OF water struck the house before
the occupants realized their danger and
carried II bodily away. All the inmates
perished except Irene Proctor. aged 10.
whose long hair caught In the driftwood.
holding her until aid came
J. c. Longnecker's house was washed
away and dashed to pieces against a
rock. Mr.. and Mrs. Longnecker and three
children were thrown high and dry on
the hillside. One child was drowned. One
of those saved was badly injured But win
recover The walls OF Bear creek canyon
at places rises almost perpendlcularly Scf
feet, and nearly every summer II Is the
scene OF n flood. but IN spite OF the dan
ger II has been a favorite resort for Den
ven people.
The damage 10 the Denver q Rio
Grande. the Sante Fe and the main line
OF the Gulf railroad win be quickly re-
paired. but there are extensive washouts
on the Gulf branch In Clear creek can
yon and on the Florence a Cripple Creek