The state herald., 1912-07-19
FLOOD SWEEPS
CITY OF DENVER
DEATH AND DEVASTATION RE.
suit FROM cLouDsURST
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
THOUSANDS HOMELESS
EXACT NUMBER OF LIVES LOST
COULD NOT BE ASCER-
TANNED EARLY MONDAY.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Denver. - Denver was inundated
Sunday afternoon by cloudburst that
carried death and immense properly
loss-probably $1.5OO.OOO in its wake.
Cherry creek. usually placid
stream, became a raging torrent that
swept over hundreds of homes and
carried a score or more of them away.
Men, women and children were
drowned, but no authentic list could
be obtained because officials were un.
able to reach the stricken district.
At least 500 homeless were given
shelter and care at the Auditorium.
Mayor Arnold, acting through Fire
Commissioner McGrew and Chief Of
Police ONeill threw the city's big
building open for the refugees ana
furnished coffee and bedding that was
hastily collected The Chamber of Com,
merce will forward the rescue work
and solicit subscriptions of money,
food and clothing.
twenty-five babies were taken to
the police matron and cared for by
the officials. They were infants from
six months to six years in age and
had been separated from their parents
in the flod excitement.
The storm broke at 3 o'clock and
lasted two hours. During that time
2.OS inches OF water fell and the wind
reached velocity OF forty-eight milea
an hour. The precipitation in twenty
minutes of the period was IL inches
and for five minutes 20 inches. ihe
hurricane of wind and rain was con.
fined almost exclusively to Denver.
1t was not till near nightfall that
Cherry creek began to swell and roar
with the sudden increase OF water.
There was but little time for the po'
lice officials TO give warnings ANA
many Of these were not needed.
Within thirty minutes the creek bed
was filled to overflowing and half an
hour ater the water was rushing over
the bridges spanning the creek, ana
tapping into houses In the lowlands on
either bank almost the entire five
miles the channel runs through Den
yer.
The trnmway cars were placed out
OF commission on n majority Of the
lines. Thousands at gardens and city
pleasure resorts were marooned untll
after midnight
Storm sewers were flooded and dis
charged their overflow into the
streets. The damage suffered by the
commission men on Market street and
in that district probably win run into
the hundreds OF thousands. counting
damage to buildings and merchandise.
The city streets and drlveways were
torn up by the rush of water and not
less than fifty miles OF roadways are
ruts and gulleys where they presented
even surfaces before.
Union station was flooded to a
depth OF three feet and incoming and
outgoing passengers has to be trans
ported to the street car or TO the sta.
tlon. on trunk trucks AZ least 5000
excurslonlsts who arrived before the
flood reached It's full force escaped the
incUnvenienccs and dangers faced By
NJ least 1000 later passengerG
An Unknown boy eleven years old
was drowned at Twelfth and CalIfor
MIA streets He had beon playing
about the corner before the water rose
to thrt point He was seen just be.
fore he WIS drowned. running along
the street. trying TO avoid the water
which was gradually rising throughout
the nclghborhood and filling base.
monts aud low houaoh. By flash OF
llshtning he was seen 10 slip and fall
was heard to cry family. and then all
was atlll
By direction OF Mayor Arnold, Den
ytf's Auditorium was thrown open
Just ~ the flood which devastated
thousands Of homes In this city was
nj its height. 10 small army Of men,
women and children. mostly from the
poorer districts. who were crowded
out Of their homes by the onrushlnF
waters Into the street and who be-,
slcEcd the Auditorium In final effort
10 gain suceor and refuge from tho
flood.