The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-06-06
EYE WITNESSES
TELL GRAPHIC
STORIES FLOOD
DEVASTATIONS
WOMEN AND CHILDREN SWEPT
TO DEATH THROUGH WIN
DOWS OF TRAINS AND FROM
CRUMBLING HOUSES,

(By The Associated Press)
Colorado Springs, June 6.-Frank
Ducray, sheriff of Mesa county, whose
home is at Grand junction, arrived
here last night with one of the most
thrilling and graphic of the survivor
and rescue stories coming out of Pu.
eblo. Sheriff Ducray was passen-
ger on the Denver and Rio Grande
train No. 3, which arrived in Pueblo
on Friday night at 8 p. m.
The train, the sheriff said, was com.
fortably filled, and he stated as a guess
that it contained about 200 passen-
gers. Just as the train pulled up to
the bridge over the Arkansas river,
leading into the union station, it was
stopped, he said.
I'VE were left there. On the next
track was a Missouri Pacific train
he related. I'VE had been there only
a short time when we heard the roar
OF waters and the flood Tapped at the
coach steps and began rising rapidly.
1T was soon running through the car.
Some OF us went up and down In the
cars quieting the Passengers, many
OF whom were screaming and moan
ing and praying.
"A young girl was sitting in her
seat crying. stopped to reassure and
comfort her. She said she was from
Chicago and sobbingly called out:
Daddy, daddyl' She was on her
way TO the coast. told her we would
look after her and II cheered her. But
well. l saw her swept away as the
water rushed into the coaches and car
ried us out through the windows and
doors.
AN old lady sat in her seat, smiling,
just before the water flooded in on us.
She declared that II IL were her time
to go, she was prepared and kept smil-
ing. l reckon she died in her seat.
II saw young man in superb health
with his mother, consoling her. She
was praying.
in the water, We clung to the
coaches Of the train which were sway
ing back and forth with the waves
and striking the coaches of the Mis-
souri, Pacific train.
"On either side OF us, houses and
barns and other buildings were swirl
ing down. Many people were clinging
to them. saw two women on the top
Of a house. The structure struck the
bridge and crumbled like an eggshell.
i saw their white hands a moment in
the water.
Morning came. The watsrs had
been receding. Those OF us who were
left--about sixty-were able TO reach
the ground and walk around in water
above or knees.
"Some OF the unconscious women
and children were left in the dark. IL
was scene of devastation and death:
Ii was awful
II cannot say what the loss might
be. know Il must be lar over hun
dred lives. for nc least that many. |
am sure, were lost off our two trains" "
4 sergeant OF the United States army
said warning was given throughout the
district Friday night and that many
persons laughed at the warning. refus-
ing to leave. Later in the night, he
aided in clearing back crowds IRON the
vicinity Of the river rs the water swept
into the bottoms. Cries OF persons
trapped In their homes could be heard,
he said, but no one could assist them.
They told how men could be seen
running ahead Of the waters, breaking
windows and looting. A large part OF
the dead. he believed. represented per-
sons who declined to heed the flood
warnings or who did not understand
the gravity OF the situation.
The search for bodies interrupted
late yesterday by rising waters, was
resumed early this morning.
With the exception Of a relief train
over the Colorado Southern from Trim.
idad yesterday. there has been no re.
sumption Of train service.
Reports received here toiay from
Lake Charles. Is miles south, told Of
the probable drowning OF hermit,
who had lived for years In the cave,
which was ON the high bank OF the
st. Charles river. The swirling waters
obliteratcd the cave and the occupant
il still missing. II was near the same
spot. Lake Charles reports said, that
woman and four children were
drowned.
ADD EYE WITNESS 81 p ONE
II. +. Leigh. contract clerk Of the
Arkansas Valley Railway Light and
Power Company. First and Main
street, gave an account Of an attempt
made by himself and six other EN-.
ployes TO save property and ledgcrs
Of the company Friday night.
AT I o'clock, we went into the elec.
trio company building with the inten.
tlon Of saving lcdgers and property.
At 10 o'clock Friday night. there was
8 feet Of water In the first floor. at
midnight. 10 feet.
I'VE were surrounded by floating
burning rafters. A fire occurred across
the street. Two men In the building
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