Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-06-20
THE FLOOD
Albuquerque on an Island--People Fly.
ing TO the Excitement.
ing.

THAI the river had overAowed its banks .
at the Rinconada and was threatening /
our town with isolation. The latter oc- /
CURED on Sunday morning at o'clock 1
at Rinconada on "Wednesday reached |
the river again above Barelas; thus
partially cutting us OFF from all sur.
roundines. communication being kept
up SO. ely by means OF fordlng between
here and points east and by boats be-
tween here and points south and west.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
a force OF men were at work under the
direction of Mr.. Franz Huning and Lo-
renzo Montana, endeavoring to stop
the breach, but owing to a want of suf.
ficient help and the unsteady manner
in which the men worked, no Roadway
could he made and the attempt was
abandoned. In the meantime the wa
ter had spread over large portion of
the lands along the margin. drowning
out the budding crops. tumbllng down
houses and soaring everybody gener
ally. This destruction was mainly due
to the action of some persons between
here and Alameda who 4N-ew up EN-.
bankments acrc"s the channel where
the water was seeking an outlet, here
by causing Il % collect, rise ana Ak.
pand until Il finally overtopped the OF.
structioas and burst passage through
'"sm. Other entertainments existed In
its course in the shape of acequias,
which also helped to spread destruc-
ton, some of which were cut or burnt
by the force of the water and others
that resisted had to be opened notwith-
standing the insensate objections of a
Few shortsighted individuals. A large
force had to be kent at work day and
night since Saturday last. strengthen
ing the border of an acequia one mile
above town, otherwise a still greater
destruction of property would ensue
and the town itself endangered. The
bers of poor PEOPLE are rendered home
less. Ever since Monday last wagons
loaded with the effects OF some per-
sons whose houses have been washed
away, but principally of those tlmorous
individuals who are always the first
to fly at the mere semblance of danger,
time al. AVls.
ties but basely failing TO do their duty
in helping the community to combat
common danger. and as fear is al
ways infectious, showing the worst
kind of example to other who may
have looked upon them as models Of
sensibility. 1t reminds us of ship at
sea in danger of being wrecked, when
there Is no ruling mind to direct and
restrain the crew and passengers the
cowafdly are the first to fly to the
boats and abandon their companions
in danger. Were 1t not for the exer-
tons of Salvador Armijo, Santiago
| Baca, +. and c. Huning, Diego and
Manuel Armijo, and the money contrib
uted by II. Springer, Ambrosio Armijo
and few others, we think the town
in all probability would have been
swept away or at least a much larger
amount OF property destroyed. There
We're others who assisted according Ia
their means and still several others
who did not. We mention the above
persons because they were the most
conspicuous, spending more money, de
voting more time and using more ex
ertions in endeavor'ng TO animate thell
neighbors, where no such animation
ought to have been necessary. II Al
buquerque is not swept away during
the present food ii will be owing to tn,
determination OF the above name,
gentlemen. II has never been our lo
TO witness such a display OF foolish
ness, cowardiee, illiberality, Ignorance
and meanness as has been exhiblte,
during the present excitement by SOM
of our fellow citizens. On the othe
hand, We have numerous examples o
the opposite virtues among those from
whom we least expected IT, The has
of the bluffs in front OF town o
the east side. Is now lined with CAM
ing places where II seems to us tn
persons encamped although rejoicin
in comparative safety. are suffering
, great deal from exposure and anxiet
: at the prospective loss OF their hlme
q and crops. We know not. of cours
: whether the river will rise much higl
A or than II Is now. but believe II
4, should rise three feet higher, a propG
n display OF energy, a unity OF purpos
/, and liberality of purse can yet save III
town. The whole weight OF our defens
should not be left on the shoulders
three or four persons, no matter no