Gilpin observer., 1909-07-08
c. 8 5. WASH0UT

PSoPeN
will be inclined to be melancholy,
sad, discontented and restless. The
residents of Central and Black Hawk
and the many excursionists who were
marooned at Forks Creek Sunday
evening and were compelled to re-
main in the uncomfortable cars all
night were all these-and "a little
bit more"
A flood more destructive to the
Colorado G. Southern railway than
any which has occurred in recent
years came down Clear Creek Sun
day afternoon. The down train from
here had just reached the Forks
when the deluge came. The water
was almost over the long bridge at
the junction of the creek and was
coming down with fearful rush.
The track at Bates cut, this side of
the Forks was filled in from 500 to
q thousand feet, the "Y" at Forks
was covered a depth of three or four
feet and at various points below the
pletely out, no vestige of roadbed
remaining.
Sunday afternoon the Central and
Silver Plume trains were joined as
was made to proceed to Denver. The
train was run a few miles and
1t was discovered that the condition
of the track made travelling perilous.
The train was run back to the Forks
where the majority of the passen-
gers spent the night in the coaches.
At 3 o'clock Monday morning VIM.
Bosanko and Chas. McCallister, who
were among the passengers. decided
to walk to Golden and there take the
electric rather than miss their con-
templated visit in Denver. According
to Mr.. McCallister who returned to
road, his walk down the canon re.
vealed a most disordered condition.
At Roscoe 200 yards of the road was
washed out 10 feet deep and at Beav-
NA LiOOh Tic ioduDcu was
away 80 feet or more. Lower down
the bank was gone In several places
and two miles this side OF Golden
the track was covered with ties, trees
the water had uprooted big trees and
swept heavy boulders down stream
as IL they were pebbles.
The flood of Sunday wrought havoc
in the canon. but according to re-
ports the destruction was made COM
plete by Mondays heavy rains. Mon
days rush of water added the finish
ing touches as it were. Work of re-
pairing the roadbed was delayed ow-
ing to the difficulty experienced by
the company in procuring men. Sta
tion Agent McGinnis yesterday re-
ceived official information from Den
yer to the effect that the washouts
below Forks would be repaired so
that trains would be running to Sill
yer Plume this afternoon. He also
received word that it would take five
days to shovel the sand off the track
on the Central branch and that it
would hardly be possible to have
train into Central in much less than
a week. All the available men were
put to work below Forks and work
this side of the Forks was abandon
ed until the gangs could be brought
up. Reports as to the time traf
fic will be resumed are very con.
flicting and the only reliable informa-
tion that can be given out Is that
the first train will reach here when
1t arrives.
Sunday evening when the two
trains were Joined at Forks the sew
eral hundred passengers made the
meeting place of the trains resemble
the crowds at the White City. The
Silver Plume train had several OBJ.
servatlon cars filled with excursion
lists beside the regular traffic. Some
OF the passengers were taken to
Idaho Springs at 10 o'clock Sunday
night. They found no accommodations
there as train load Of tourists was
being held there and It was more
than the citizens could do to make
them comfortable. Those who remain
ed at Forks Creek stayed in the
coaches and made the best of the
situation. They ate everything to be
had In the eating house and the
cnfk was kent buay all niyht hakinp
biscuits. A Centralite who was re-
lating his experiences Of Sunday
night said everything was depleted
at breakfast time with the exception