Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-20
Flood Fight Waged
Along the Uncompahgre
speial to The chieftain.

Spcial to The Chieftain.
olathe, Colo. June ie.-The mail
came in and every one with swift steps
and grave faces. repaired to their
homes where they discussed the ter
rible disaster at Pueblo. sympathy for
tho stricken city was strong and deep
But suddeniy attention was called to
the rush and roar of our Uncompaghre.
which seemed to have all at once be-
como n new and dangerous thing.
BY the morning light anxious people
took UP their watch at different points
along its course. Very gradually II
rose. each day a little higher until 1t
menaccd mo town. Little groups OF
men began throwing in few shovels
Of dirt here and there. and more and
more was vri.cd for every hour. Satur-
day night was an anxious one to the
Corey pcopls. who live where the river
makes n short turn.
Nearer and nearer II swept TO the
TOP of the bunk. II II came thru there.
II was almost sure to take the lower
end of the town. Sunday morning
every one turned out to help. Some OF
tho pastors gave no sermons but with
their congregations went to work.
Ladies' brought baskets Of food. and
Mrs. Corey made plenty OF hot coffee.
and at the noon hour. sevcnty-five
hungry mon were fed on the spot. so
no chances wcrc taken. They threw up
bank of mud-fillcd bags. and dirt.
day was won.
In the meantime. on the flats north
OF town, m spite of blasting. and work
| by a big force. tho river left its chan
| mel and found new one. flooding
many acres of fine crops. and sur
| rounding many homes.
| No lives were lost. however tho some
wcrc rescued on RATS. Many rumors
| came into circulation. but IL is gen.
| orally fci. that II could have been
much worse. tho some have lost their
all.
More or 'css anxiety is fci; at nil
times, but there have been hours when
Il seemed as II IL would be impossible
| to hold 1. from tho town.
Tho river road to Montrosc is closed
and people who started for Delta Tues-
day evening were turned back. Trains
are not running thru. but mail is being
transferred. so we get some now and
| then.
| Wednesday WAS another extremely
anxious day and men ate where they
worked. Early Thursday morning. be-
| foro light. n, air WAS rent with shricks
and II proved to be little band of
watchers a, tho Pedicord dyke, who
needed moro help Immediately. as they
| fcl, Inadequate to holding Il. Help
camo and bv almost supcrhuman effort
the leak was stopped.
Tho sams thing was taking place at
tho Corey ranch. and efforts were made
| to have Mrs. Corey and her daughter
in-laws !eavS tho home. hu, they re-
| fused.
Thursday 10th those places required
little atten,icn and almost tho whole
force Is down north Of town. About
ito men ana teams arc busy building
dykes. drawing in trner. ana making
heroic efforts to prevent further loss
| OF property.
The bar. rnd corral on the Green
bank place washed away Wednesday
| night and every effort IL being made to
| ravc the tcuss. Theso people have
| been having a series of hard luck for
somo time, and Mt present have a bril-
| liant young son very H. who they fear
will not - benefited by all this cx-
citcment.
They were Obliged 10 move him and
his mother TO a nniEhhor-, where he Is
being given tho bos, Of care. TheEe
times do certainly bring out the hes,
that In in people. All arc stirring to-
Ecthcr for tho good Of the whole in a
way to he commended.