Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-06

most beautiful and picturesque spots
In Arizona. At that point the canyon
rs very narrow. and the Walls on eath
side rise prccipitously for 300 feet. Be
low where the Indian farms were STU
ated, the canyon Widens 10 the extent
/ OF a mile. The climate in the canyon
Is pleasant at al times of the year
there Is little more frost there than
in the Salt river valley.
Above the agency Is Cataract can
yon there are or We're. seven larse
reservoirs, W. Of them, each cover
ing an area of 200 acres. 1t mad peen
supposed that these reservoirs Would
regulate any flood that might ever
come down the canyon.
But this time there had been an un-
usually heavy snowfall In the great
CocOnino basin, and then came two
warm, rainy days, The reservoirs
above had beer frozen over and the
rush Of waters that came down Gre
ated some uneasiness, bat 1t was be-
lieved that the reservoirs woul hold,
But they did not; one after another
they went out.
On the night before the height of
the flood the water was high and sun
rising, but IL had much higher TO go
before reaching the danger point. Just
before the dawn Of the next morning
Mrs. Coe called her husband n said
tina the water had taken on a diner
ent and angler tone. Mr.. Coe went
to the door and saw that the water
was creeping 10 the top OF the door
step. He and his wife began dressing
and before they had finished and were
ready to seek the attic, the ley water
was about their waists. they drew
themselves into the attic, ana when
they saw the rushing tide further up
the canyon they climbed into an over
hanging tree.
Here is where the real thrill began.
There were In view twenty-five trees,
some of them as large as Tour ieet
in diameter. Three Of the trees, IN
Guiding that one in which Mr. and Mrs.
Coo had taken refuge, were nearer the
wall Ofsthe canyon. the others farther
out toward the edge of the chasm.
II was now gray daylight, and one
by one the stone buildings began 70
melt away until not a sign of habita-
ton was left above the crest of the
flood. Soon a large tree was lltted
easily II toppled over into the flood
with "A splash which the watchers
could not hear, and shot down the
canyon. Then another went, n sun
another. some of them very near the
tree where Mr.. and Mrs. Coe We're
perchcd. They found themselves en-
gagged in speculation as to whether
their tree or another would go next.
Now a huge boulder borne on the
flood like a cork. hit the trunk of the
tree With such force as never impeled
Il battering ram, and almost Jared
them into the swirling flood.
Then anne their salvation, though
they did not recognize it at he mo-
ment. a great tree was swept down
upon them. Before it reached them
the cots OF it swung about and struck
the Wall of the canyon, while the
branches were intercepted by the low
er part Of the school house wall, the
upper part having already been wash
ed away. The remaining wall, which
was far under watNr, furnished a
momentary anchorage for the tree
top. A moment was long enough FOR
the diversion of the current toward
the opporite canyon wall, where II
h%enceforth flowed, leaving the water
on the other side comparatively calm
but ii was calm only by comparison
with the riotous flood beyond. OF
the twenty-five trees, only three re-
NAMED. In FIVE hours the rush was
spent and MI, and Mrs. Coe could de-
scend and make their way out Of this
scene of destruction. They have hoth
often dreamed about this episode.