Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-10-06
TERRIFIC FLOOD
At TRINIDAD, COL,
Valley Along the Las Animas River
Completely Devastated.
HALF MILLION DOLLARS LOSS
Az Vet There Has Been No Loss OF
Life, But Several are Reported
Missing--FIood Caused BY
Heavy Rains.

Trinidad, Col, Oct. IA terrific
Hood struck the city of Trinidad n
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 t~elegraphic
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 flood was caused by the heavy
rain which has been falling for two
days. At eight o'clock Thursday night
the storm assumed cloudburst proper
lions. 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
food was given when the river left its
banks 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 rescuing families
which were in danger. The new Bacca
hotel, a two-story structure just near
ing completion, at a cost of 100000 on
the river bank, was destroyed. The
water then ate its way through 81 feel
of ground to the Santa Fe depot, which
was carried away. The Cardenas hotel
adjoining, barely escaped a similal
fate, an acre of ground being washed
away near it. The Rio Grande rail
road bridge at Ell Moro is out, and thu
Santa Fe right of way in many places
has been washed out. Railroad trafi'
is entirely suspended, and business
here is p%aralyzed.
1t was reported Friday that the f1oot
was due to a break in the city reser
voir. but this is The reser
voir is safe.
All Bridges Washed Out.
The city is divided by the Las Ami
mas river, which is spanned by 81
wagon bridges. All Of the bridge
were washed out, and many resident
were unable to reach their homes o
to communicate with their families
because the telephone service had beel
wrecked.
The electric light plant was 1oode
and city water mains were washed GU
which left the city without light 0
water.
A Pullman sleeper and one chair ca
standing in front of the Santa Fe sta
ton were lifted bodily by the flood an
foated majestically, right side III
down the river for two miles. TIL
Harvey eating mouse near the SAINT
Fe station was damaged to the eXte1
of $50, 900. The Western Union and I'll
Postal telegraph lines were badly cri1
pied,
Of the merchants on lower CONNIE
cial street whose losses were great, IL
Colorado Supply Co. is the heavie'
loser, having 100000 worth of goot
destroyed. Trinidad is isolated fro
the world, so far as railroads are col
cerned.