Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-01-20

Tuesday there vas a train on the
Arizona s. New Mexico road from
Guthrie, which brought In a weeks
accumulation OF mail from Moreuci,
Clifton, aud the other towns 10 that
section, aud passengers who had trans
ferred from Morenci and Clifton.
This mail also brought the Clifton Era
Of last friday, which contained the
lrst account OF the great flood that
had been brought out. According to
the Era on Monday, January sth, a
steady rain fell 10 Clifton, and snow
10 the mountains. II ralned all night,
aud the temperature raised, which
caused the snow to melt, aud all the
arroyas and canyons ia the country
were soon raging torrents, making
high water on both Chase creek aud
the Frisco river. When these two
floods joined in Clifton II made the
highest water ever known in the town.
When IL became apparent there
would be a big flood down Chase
creek there was danger that the
water would get to the Arizona cop
per company's smelters, which would
probably cause explosions, and great
damage. The fires 10 the smelters
aud under the boilers, and 10 all
places about the company's works
we're smothered, and when the water
did come there were NJ explosions,
and the only damage done the works
was a few feet OF taillngs covering
everything. Tuesday morning, frame
houses, drift wood, and all kinds OF
wreckage began to come down the
river. This soon took out the suspen-
sion bridges, and brought up against
tie railroad bridge. This was built
by the side Of the county bridge, and
at first it was thought they would
stand the strain, but the load vas too
heavy, and about Que o'clock the east
side gave away, and the bridge floated
around, then the other end gave way
and the two bridges went down the
stream. Buildings 10 all parts OF
town were destroyed. The adobe
buildings melted down, the brick
buildings were undermined, aud the
wooden buildings ioated away, II the
water was deep enough. The Era
takes about nine columns to tell the
damage that was done to the various
parts OF town. The new school house
10 South Clifton went down. There
was two feet Of water in the Era office.
The Clifton hotel was flooded, but the
water was kept out Of the bank, next
door, although its foundations are
said to be damaged. The residences
OF President Colquhon, and Messrs.
Thompson, Veltch and Williams we're
surrounded with water, and all moved
up on Shannon hill, where they were
entertained by Superintendent Ben
ME. The companY's new Office was
above the food, but the cid one, and
the llbary building came ear going
down. The depot and express office
were flooded. The l3linl lumber yard
lost considerable lumber, which float
ed away. The Coronado railroad,
which brings the ore down for both
the Arizona and the Shannon COM
panles, was put out OF business, which
caused the Shannon company to shut
down. AS soon as the waters went
down the men who are employed by
the company 10 many different capac-
tiles we're set to work repairing dam
ages. A suspension foot bridge was
built, which restored communication
between the two sides of the river.
and the work OF cleaning up was
pushed, A large force Of men were at
work on the Coronado road, and an
other on the Arizona s. New Mexico
road. The FL Paso s. Southwestern
repair train aud outdt was borrowed
aud set to work cleaning up the road
from this end. II got TO Guthrie
Tuesday. The Guthrie bridge was not
washed out, but the approaches we're
destroyed, and the crossing was not
made till Wednesday, There was nc
particular damage done on the hills
between Guthrie and Clifton, and as
soon as the rev a build a temporary
bridge across the Frisco traffic will be
resumed, probably today or tomorrow
Clifton has had three floods, but this
one did the most damage. One reason
for this Is because there was so much
more property to damage.
The people in the various precincts