The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-01
SWEEPS
THROUGH CITY
Vast Damage Results From
a Rush of Water in Town
of Trinidad in Colorado
RAIN SMELLS RIVER
DOwnpOur Becomes Cloud
burst, Carrying Off Many
Bridges and Buildings

TRINIDAD, Colo, Sept. 3O.-A ter
rifle flood struck the city of Trinidad
and the whole valley along the Las
Animas River to-day, devastating a
wide section and causing a money loss
which may reach several hundred
thousand dollars
Every bridge in the city of Trinidad
ished, all of the railroads are tied up
and the telephone and Geographic
services completely suspended. More
than thirty city blocks in the residence
and business sections were from two to
four feet under water along the river.
The flood was caused by the heavy
rain, which has been falling for two
days. At o'clock last night the storm
assumed cloudburst proportions and at
o'clock this morning the Las Animas
River went over it's banks. At $3.50 it
was impOssible~to get within a block Of
the river bed at any point. Commercial
street was flooded for three blocks in
the heart of the business district.
Meantime the electric light and gas
PLANTS had been flooded and the city
WdS III DARKNESS.
The warning of the flood was given
when the river left it's banks by revol-
yer shots and the ringing of the fire
alarm, followed by the blowing of all
the locomotive and shop whistles in
town. Citizens upon RATS made of sec
tons of sidewalks padded through the
streets rescuing families which were in
danger.
The new Bacca Hotel; a two-story
structure, just reaching completion,
was destroyed. The water then ate its
way through fifty feet Of ground to the
Santa Fe depot, which was carried
away.
The Cardenas Hotel adjoining. bare
ly escaped a similar fate, an acre of
ground being washed away near it,
The Rio .Grande railway bridge at Ell
Moro is out and the. Santa Fe. right-of=
way in many places has been washed.
away. Railroad traffic is entirely -sus-:
pended and business here is ;paralyzed.
The city is divided. by the Las Ami
mas River, which Is spanned by six
wagon bridges; All of the bridges were
washed out and many residents were
unable to reach their homes or to: com
municate with their families because
the telephone system has been
wrecked.
A messenger from Ell. Moro, three
miles north, arrived on horseback and
reported that twenty-five men, women
and children were maroOned on a
small island, which the river was
slowly eating away, A relief party left
here Immediately and rescued them. In
one italian rooming house on the: bank.
of the river there were $50 .roomers.
They were aroused by ffremen. -
A Pullman sleeper and one chair car.
standing in front of the Santa Fe' de-
pot were lifted bodily by the food and
fioated right side up down the river for
two miles The Harvey clearinghouse
near the depot was damaged to the
extent of $1,000. The Western Union
and Postal Telegraph lines are badly
crippled.
OF the merchants on lower CONNER
ciaI street, whose losses were great, the
Colorado Supply Company is the heavi-
est loser. having $780, 900 worth of goods
destroyed. Trinidad is isolated from
the world tonight so far as railroads
are concerned.