Semi-weekly herald., 1911-10-09
Webtown Flats Desc
late and Deserted

]
Webtown flats were desolate look
ing indeed. Houses turned up on end
and in many cases with furniture still
in them. Nearby, broken roof stood
against the end of house from which
I the whole Of one side had been torn
away. In places, the water had re-
ceded, and disconsolate turkeys, ducks
and chickens wandered looking for
food. At times the banks were heap
ed with furniture covered with oil
cloth. Driftwood and broken furni-
ture every where.
Mexican Flats Evacuated;
No Serious Damage
! The lower Mexican flats appeared to
have suffered very little, although
most of the people had moved out
Of their houses.
Lightner Creek
The road up Lightner creek is en-
tirely y-demelished. This morning Mr.,
Paul left the sawmill, which is located
about four miles up the creek, and
came down on horseback. 1t took him
until one O'Clock to make the trip.
The mill narrowly escaped total de-
struction and many of the cabins
along the creek banks have been swept
away by the flood, All the crops on
the Johnson and Conway ranches were
destroyed.
| The Florida
About noon today some unknown
informant telephoned in that the Sher-
itz ranch on the Florida, including
house, barns and all buildings with
everything they contained, had been
swept away, and the family had bare
ly escaped with their lives.
The man phoning said he was camp
ing near the old Stewart bridge on the
Florida, and when he saw the flood
rushing down on the Sheriff ranch,
hastened to their assistance, but the
family rushed to some high ground
and thence, he supposed took refuge
with one of their neighbors. His own
camp was next to go and he said he
thought the bridge would not last
long. Our informant rang off before
we could ask the name.
No Communication With
! bayfield, or Pine River Section
We have been unable to obtain com
munciation with either Florida, Igna-
clio or bayfield,, today, but word came
this morning that the Pine had over
flowed and was causing considerable
trouble in the Bayfield, and Ignacio
sections.
The Animas Valley
Geo. n. Raymond was the first per-
son to arrive this morning from the
upper Animas valley. He tells of
general destruction of crops. roads
and bitches. Although the river com
menced falling in the upper part of
the valley last evening the valley from
1rimble Springs down resembles one
/ big lake.
Starting in at Bakers bridge the
Raymond -Smallwood- Carter irrigatinR
dam, that was supposed to be abso-
lutely safe, went out between IL and
/ o'clock yesterday, the high water
previously having cut a new chan
mel to the north Of the dam. The wa
ter then cut into the north banks an,
took down two buildings, one large
wagon and machinery shed and tn
other a barn, and for time Mr.
Mitchell was afraid his stone hous,
might go. Just above and across
the river the Girardin barns wer'
under five feet of water.
The wagon road from the Small
wood ranch to the high point by tn
Mitchell residence is practically wash
ed out. The water fifteen feet dcel
rushed over the road by the bluffs
taking irrigating fumes and every
thing with it, and with exception o
short stretches covered the road
washing away the banks, making
} necessary probably to change tn
course Of the road. The beautiful