Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-10-06
Loss OF A MILLION.
Every Bridge in Trinidad Swept
Away by Flood.
MANY PEOPLE SAVED ON RATS.
Water and Light Plants Put Out OF
Business and 30 City Blocks
Two to Four Feet Under
Water.

Trinidad. COL, Oct. IA terrific
food struck the city Of Trinidad and
the whole valley along the Las ,Animas
river, devastating a wide section. The
loss is 100000. Every bridge In
Trinidad is out, the Santa Fe station
Is demolished, all Of the railroads tied
up and the telephone and Geographic
services completely suspended. More
than 30 city blocks in the residence
and business sections were from two to
four feet under water along the river.
The food was caused by the heavy
rain which has been falling for two
days. At eight o'clock last night the
storm assumed cloudburst proportions
and at two o'clock this morning the
Las Animas river went over its banks.
At $3.50 1t was impossible to get with
in block of the river bed at any point
and Commercial street was flooded for
three blocks in the heart of the bust
ness district. Meantime the electric
light and gas plants had been flooded
and the city was in complete darkness.
Hundreds of citizens thronged the
streets on the edge of the submerged
district, carrying lanterns and doing
their best to provide those driven from
their homes with shelter. Warning
of the flood was given when the river
left its banks by revolver 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 sections OF side
walks padded through the streets,
rescuing families which were in dan
ger. The new Bacca hotel, a two
story structure, just nearing compile
ton at cost of $4,000, on the river
bank, was destroyed. The water then
ate its way through so feet OF ground
to the Santa Fe depot, which was car
ried away. The Cardenas hotel ad-
joining barely escaped similar fate,
an acre of ground being washed away
near 1t. The Rio Grande railroad
bridge at Ell Moro is out and the Santa
Fe right-of-way in many places has
been washed out Railroad traffic Is
entirely suspended and business here
is paralyzed.
A messenger from Ell Moro, three
miles north, arrived on horseback and
reported that rs men, women and chill
dren were marooned on a small island
which the river was slowly eating
away. A relief party left here imme-
diately and rescued them. In one
Italian rooming house on the bank OF
the river there were $50 roomers. They
were aroused by firemen. After plac-
ing the women on the backs OF men,
one Italian giant led the way and the
men, joining hands, waded in water to
their armpits for two blocks to safety.
A Pullman sleeper and one chair
car standing in front Of the Santa Fe
depot were lifted bodily by the food
and fioated majestically, right side up,
down the river for two miles. The
Harvey eating house near the Santa
Fe depot was damaged to the extent
of $4,000.
Railroad Tranic at Standstill.
Santa Fe, N. M, Oct. 1.-Railroad
traffic in New Mexico is at a standstill
owing to heavy rains. Every one of
the three railroads centering at Santa
Fe is washed out. The washouts are
the worst west of Albuquerque and be-
tween Albuquerque and I'll Paso.