The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-05
Have Been Sweeping Down
From the Mountains
In Colorado for Two Days and
Everything is AflOat.
NOSUCH RAININ YEARS
Orchards Covered With Water
to the Treetops.
Railroad WaShOuts and Other
Serious Damage.

: Denver, Aug. 5-ClOudS that have been
banked up in threatening array in the
mountain passes for several days, turned
loose their holdings the past two days
and more water fell in Colorado than was
needed for any mortal purpose, and
enough to do great deal of damage to
life and property. 1t was the result of
one of those mountain storms that
sweiled Comanche creek to unwonted pro-
portions and washed out bridge just in
advance of the Union Pacific flyer from
Kansas City, causing a wreck in which
two people were killed outright and four
teen injured While no other loss of life
has been reported, the storms in the
mountains have caused great deal of
damage to property, the full extent of
which has not been yet ascertained.
All of the mountain streams are higher
than they have been for years, railroad
bridges and culverts have been washed
out. and badly overf1owed that they
cannot be used and farms and orchards
along the creek and river bottoms have
suffered heavily from oVerfows.
The heaviest rainfall appears to have
been along the valley of Plum creek. near
Sedalia and Castle Rock The rain began
falling in torrents and the creek began
rising rapidly indicating that there had
been clOudburst in the mountains. Soon
after noon the water was higher at Sc
dalia than ever known before, and doing
considerable damage to property along
the valley. The Rio Grande tracks were
under water in the vicinity and while no
serious damage was reported it
deemed advisable not to try to run trains
over the road. Soon after the decision
was reached, a report came from Castle
Rock that made the use of the road Inn
possible, even if the officials had deemed
it advisable to attempt operation The
creek became so swollen that the bridge
was threatened. Debris gathered from the
overflow lodged against the piers and at
O'clock two of the bents gave way and
carried out one span of the bridge and
about 100 feet of the track.
A railroad man who started from Lit
tleton to Castle Rock the Santa Fe
had a thrilling experience in the flood,
and reached his destination only after en-
countering great danger. Il saw a ranch
at Toluca" said he, that simply
swimming. The water was up to the top
of the trees in the orchard, and every
thing below the ranch was submerged
got off at Castle Rock the Santa Fe
side and tried to get to the Denver and
Rio Grande depot by the country bridge,
but found that about fifty feet of the
bridge washed away and the rest of it
weakened. l came down mile this side
and tried to hire a ranchman to take me
across He said he would not do it for
million dollars-wouldn't take his mother
across to save her life. Plum creek has
been raging all forenoon, but is going
down now, after having done an i'm
mense amount of damage. The ranchman
said he had lived in that place for twen-
tv-five years. but had never seen much
water before"
When the wrecl1ing of the Castle Rock
bridge was reported to headquarters, the
Rio Grande officials abandoned their aft
ernoon train for Cripple Creek and that
section of the country, and did not send
out any of their narrow gauge trains The
the Gulf to Butte. near Pueblo. Forces of
men were sent to Castle Rock to repair
the damage to the track and bridge.
]. A. Griffin of Evanston. Ill, was a
messenger on the Rio Grande train which
was obliged to turn back at Castle Rock
on account of washouts.
LAS we approached Castle Rock" said
Mr. Griffin, "alI the gulches had become
muddy torrents. Near Castle Rock is
Dry creek which, the train men say, is
usually dry. But it running bank
full The bridge looked if it might be
in danger, but after investigation it was
deemed safe to cross it, We had pro-
ceeded but a short distance after cross
ing Dry creek, when we were tagged by
section men, who reported that the track
ahead was washed out. Thereupon the
train was backed across Dry creek. In
few moments after crossing the bridge
the second time the news came that the
bridge had given way"