Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-24
ARIZONA DESERTS
TURNED INTO SEA
BY MIGHTY FLOODS
Torrential Rains Cover Wastes of
American Sahara with Lakes of
Water.
MUCH PROPERTY IS DESTROYED
Several Lives Lost and Hundred Of
Cattle Drowned in Unpreced-
ented Deluge,
MANY PEOPLE ARE RESCUED
Five Persons Taken from Windmill
on Which They Seek Refuge.
SOLDIERS AT NoCo SUFFERING
Tracks Are Washed out and Trains
Delayed at Different Points in
Region swept by Drench-
Ing storms.
MANY PEOPLE ARE RESCUE
Five Persons Taken from Windmill
on Which They Seek Refuge.
SOLDIERS AT NoCo SUFFERING

TUCSON. Ariz., Dec. 23.-Torrents of
rain falling almost continuously since
Saturday last have flooded vast areas in
this section of Arizona. The Santa Cruz
river, ordinarily a dry bed, was a roaring
water course a mile and a half wide to-
day. Many houses and stores along its
banks were wrecked or washed away,
although no lives were reported lost. The
desert country between this city and
Phoenix is veritable sea.
The Santa Cruz river skirts this city
and the swollen stream, invading build
ings of all descriptions. drove many per-
sons to the roofs Two Mexicans were
reported drowned.
Rescued from Windmill.
A tract of 10000 acres, developed by
farm syndicate of Chicago which in
vested S2,000,000, was inundated. Railroad
men rescued five persons in this section
who had climbed a windmill tower to
escape the waters
A relief train was sent out this after
noon with doctors and medical and other
supplies to make its way as far as It
could in the floodswept region.
The Benson division of the Southern
Pacific railroad was washed out at sew
eral points. Last nights train from
Nogales has not arrived. being stalled at
some point still unascertained, because
the telegraph wires are down. The
Southern Pacific main line, however, re.
mained open.
Hundreds of Cattle Drown.
PHOENIX, Ariz. Dec. 2S.-several hun
dred head Of cattle were drowned last
night in floods caused by the heaviest
rains in the history OF this section of
Arizona. One rancher alone. lost a herd
Of 100 head.
Traffic between Phoenix and Florence
was suspended today on account of
washed-out roads and bridges The ca
nails of the Salt River Valley Irrigation
works have been seriously damaged. The
Salt river. Gila and Santa Cruz rivers
have reached the highest levels ever
recorded. The prospects today are for
more rain
NogalCs, town on the border was
isolated today by the heavy rains. Wires
were down for several hours.
The United States army forces at Naco
suffered considerably. cavalry trooper
was reported drowned.
Five Inches OF Rain.
DOUGLAS, Ariz., Dec. 23-Five inches
of rain. which fell in four days, have
caused the greatest flood damage recorded
in this section in recent years. Rail-
roads in this side of the border and in
Sonora have suffered considerably.
Tracks and bridges have been washed
out. The FL Paso & Southwestern rail-
road was among the roads whose service
was badly crippled today. Sveral hun
dred feet of track and several bridges
on the Nacozari railroad of Sonora were
destroyed by the floods.
Fort Huachuca, an American army
post, was completely cut off from rail
and wire communication.
From Bisbee came reports of serious
damage, due to the flooding of business
houses situated in the low lying dis
tricts between the hills.