The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-06-17
PUEBLO RELATIVES OF VEL
AND MURDOCH FAMILIES

AND MJkUOtH FAMILIES
The Fred L. viei and r. NJ. Muir
doch families in Salmon have receiv-
ed word from their sister, Mrs. Ethel
Niel Shallenberg, whose home Ii To-
Gated in the stricken city of Pueblo.
Mrs. Shallenberg writes under date
of June 9.
Dear Fred and Maude, Lily and Rod:
No doubt you have read Of the ter
rible flood in Pueblo and are wonder
ling about US. | can say, so far we
are safe and well but keyed right up
to the limit as we get food warnings
every day and night. The food was
lcaused by number of cloudbursts up
Colorado Springs way. The water
got SO high the levee went out and so
far no repairing has been done there
and II raises every day and every
might with bad storms up the river,
$50 we are constantly getting food
warnings. Last night | went to bed
with an easy mind thinking all dan
ger over and | slept like log. This
morning was told there was more ex-
lcitement than at any time yet. FIRST
a fire, then fearful rain storm with
Hood warnings, In whistle that blows
ten times), after the rain bad cleo
itricat storm and the trucks lust rae
ing all night. ! surely am glad did
not hear IL as | don't belive | could
lhare stood much more.
] went through that big Chelsea
IRE, and nothing is as terrible as fire,
but there Is no comparison between
these two catastrophes. The fire only
lasted few hours, only one bridge
out, and we were right In touch with
Boston and the outside world all the
time. That fire began at q a. m. This
Hood began at q p. m. and came after
dark, with light, city water, gas and
telephone all out of commission and
all bridges out In every direction.
IL WINS late Sunday afternoon be-
fore the first aid came In by truck
from Colorado Springs and since that
time IL has been pouring in. State
troops are here and the Congress ho-
tel. where you stopped. is military
headquarters. | should say the cor
ner store directly under your room l.
headquarters and Miss SCOTS school
has been taken over as sleeping quar-.
ters for bunch of them. IL l. full
of cots. also the y. NJ. C. A. Is hous-
The court house Is filled with refugees
but they are now being moved up "a
the north of town where n city oi
tents has been built.
After the Chelsea fire there was
nothing left, everything swept clean
as whistle. After this FOOD. no END
of filth, dead animals and debris. The
stencil Is horrible. Ambulances and
hearses rushing every way, big trucks
going by with four dead horses to u
truck. They are taking them way
out and burning them.
Fred remembers the postoffire just
four blocks away. The water was ur
feet in II and came up 10 Sixth and
Main. ! would not undress that nigh,
and a. IN. lay down on the bed.
This flood came down the Arkansas
river and IL Is the Fountain river that
passes our office and plant. Louis
went down as late as eleven p. M. "a
look at the Fountain and there was
nothing in II, so we had nothing ia
worry about as every one says we are
safe here at sos Sante Fe from food
Al seven Saturday morning we were
called out. The Fountain was rag
ing torrent. the bridge over the river
by our office completely gone and ent
INK in on that side. while IL broke
over the banks up above and came
down on the other side. After the
water receded we had TO dig our shop
out and they are still digging. Wa.
ter was up over five feet in the shop
and IL left over foot Of solid mud
On everything. Cuiverts in back are
completely buried. But we have moth.
ing TO complain about.
The sights you see in the Main part
Of town---al our beautiful stores
gone. White a. Davis was considered
one Of our best stores only selling
ready made goods. In that the water
was up to the second floor, windows
Jail smashed and when they went 10
clean out. found two dead hofses mix
ed up with the garments. Three
army planes are on scout duty and
We have ut least 500 troops protecting
Us. Looters have been busy.
This Is Thursday and "Wednesday
Was the first that any mail was
brought in and Monday afternoon Was
the first time we saw "A paper of any
kind. ! wired Fenton three different
times and three letters are on the
way. The first two letters ! sent out
by truck drivers that brought supplies
from the Springs Sunday night and
started back Monday.
Received q wire Yesterday from
Mary saying the folks were worried
to death so ! sent out another right
away TO them saying We were safe
and well and in mo danger.
We received beautiful letter from
Clare Tinker in Denver. He said he
had planned a fake message to send
to Dad and Mother saying we were
all right. then he was afraid 10 So
sent word to his people 10 tell Dad
He wanted To knos II there was any.
thing he could do 10 help and tha, II
he did not hear from US soon bs
. should start for Pueblo and woult
mi lrana until ha I.cnan.I - IT,.