The Tupelo journal., 1904-10-07
TERRIFIC FLOOD
! At TRINIDAD, COL,
Valley Along the Las Animas River
Completely Devastated.
HALF MILLION DOLLARS LOSS
Az Yet There Has Bee No Loss OF
Life, but several are Reported
~ Missing--FlOOd Caused BY
Heavy Rains.

Trinidad, Col, Oct. IA terrific
flood struck the city of Trinidad and
the whole valley along the Las Ami
mas river, devastating a wide section
and causing a money loss which at
| present can not be estimated, but
which will reach nearly a million dol
lars. So far as known, there was no
loss of life, but several are reported
missing.
Every bridge in the city of Trinidad
is out. the Santa Fe station is demol-
ished, all of the railroads are tied up,
and the telephone and telegraphlc
services completely suspended. More
than thirty city blocks in the residence
and business portions 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 Thursday night
the storm assumed %cloudburst proper
tons, and at two o'clock Friday morn
ing the Las Animas river went over
its banks. At $3.50 it was impossible
to get within a block Of the river bed
at any point, and Commercial street
was flooded for three blocks in the
heart of the business district.
Business Section Flooded.
Meanwhile 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, carry
ing lanterns, and doing their best to
provide for those driven from their
homes with shelter. Warning of the
God was given when the river left its
,anks by revolver shots and the ring
ing of the fire alarms, followed by the
| blowing of all the locomotive and shop
Whistles in town. Citizens upon RATS
| made of sections of sidewalks padded
through the streets rescuinS families
which were in danger. The new Bacca
hotel, a two-story structure just lear
ing completion, at a cost of $4,000 on
the river bank, was destroyed. The
water then ate it's way through so feet
of ground to the Santa Fe depot, which
was carried away. The Cardenas hotel,
adjoining, barely escaped a similar
fate, an acre of ground being washed
away near it. The Rio Grande rail-
road 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.
1t was reported Friday that the food
was due to a break in the city reser-
voir, but this is erroneous. The reser-
voir is safe.
All Bridges Washed Out.
The city is divided by the Las Ami
mas river, which is spanned by six
wagon bridges. All of the bridges
we're washed out, and many residents
we're unable to reach their homes or
to communicate with their families,
because the telephone service had been
wrecked.
The electric light plant was flooded
and city water mains were washed out,
which left the city without light OF
water.
A Pullman sleeper and one chair a
standing in front of the Santa Fe sta
ton were lifted bodily by the flood and
foated majestically, right side up,
down the river for two miles. The
Harvey eating house near the Santa
Fee station was damaged to the extent
of $40, 600. The Western Union and the
Postal telegraph lines were badly Grip
pied.
Of the merchants on lower CONNER
cial street whose losses were great, the
Colorado Supply Co. is the heaviest
loser, having $100, 900 worth of goods
destroyed. Trinidad is isolated from
the world, SO far as railroads are con-
cerned.