New-York tribune., 1921-06-07
Torrent Has Risen Six
Inches Since :3OP. M.
and Bottoms Are Being
Cleared of Inhabitants
Delugge Is Sweeping
Over City Bridges
Many Factory Plants Are
Inundated; ;P PeopleW W ork
Hard to Forthfy Levees
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


DENVER, June 6-Flood waters in
the South Platte River in Denver have
risen six inches since 2:30 o'clock this
afternoon and are swelling hourly.
The bottoms are being cleared of all
inhabitants.
Water is running one to six feet
deep at West Twelfth Avenue and
Alnca Court and five feet deep at West
Third Avenue and Wyandotte Street.
Two thirds of the ground floor OF the
Western Chemical Works, West First
Avenue and TETON Street, was under
water at 3 o'clock. Driftwood and tim
Der have heaped up against the automo-
bile and foot bridge at West Third
Avenue and TETON Street, and the water
IS backing over considerable expanse
OF territory tc the westward
Last night many families were driv-
en- from their homes in the vicinity Of
West Eleventh and Twelfth avenues
and Zuni Street. They sought refuge
IN the Garfield School nearby. Others
fled to the Colfax viaduct, taking bed
ding and provisions.
Police Riot Car Stuck in Mud
Hourly the riot car Of the Police
Department and other machines are
called to rescue families that have re-
manned too long in their homes. This
morning the riot car became stuck in
mud three feet deep when it attempted
TO rescue woman and her two chill
dren residing at TAG Vallejo Sire ct.
he combined efforts of the four mem
oers OF the crew Of the car and q
score OF volunteers were required to
extricate the car.
Women and children have Joined the
men IN throwing up dikes and embank-
ments al along the river between West
Elghth Avenue and West Thirteenth
Avenue, where the overfowing strean,
has done the most damage.
The women are carrying coffee and
TODD to the men who are working to
prevent general food of that locality,
twenty five families in the vicinity
OF jerome Park deserted their homes
LAST night when the waters of the
Platte, which rose almost foot in
tour hours, threatened their dwellings
With destruction. The breaking of the
Weaver Dam, twenty miles southwest
OF Morrison, and the conseuuent neces-
S'ty OF opening the flood gates of the
bergen and Hartman reservoirs.
caused last nights rapid rise of water
IN the Platte. 1t was believed the
worst was over at o'clock this morn
ing, but these hopes were shattered
%hen the water gauge of the Denver
Gas and Electric Light Company's
power plant, at West Thirteenth Ave
nue. and Zuni Street, registered a rise
OF more than six inches after 8 o'clock.
Water Sweeps Over Bridges
Ihe city has doubled it's safety pa
troll along, the river and dozens of fam
Ines are being warned to seek higher
ground. The high waters are sweeping
practically every bridge spanning the
track except the high-fung ones and
the viaduct.
The General Chemical Company.
near West Fourth Avenue, and the
Acetylene Service Company's works
are partly under water.
lhe swollen river is carrying guam
titles of logs, trees and other debris
and much of it is lodging against the
bridges, several of which will be car
ried away unless the water subsidies
soon.
The owner of home between West
Seventh and Eighth avenues is ma
rooned on top of his house, with his
flock of chickens, which he took with
him when the waters began to sur
round his dwelling. An incubator in
which two dozen chicks are just ready
to pick their way out OF the shells is
lashed to the roof
Fears were expressed yesterday that
the immense Cheesman Dam, the chief
source of Denver's water supply, To-
Gated forty miles up Platte canyon,
aside this morning when water plant
officials, including those in charge of
the dam, assured all that there was
not the least danger of such an occur
renee. cloudburst south of Morri-
son yesterday afternoon resulted in the
breaking of the Weaver Dam, near
Confer. This dam is fed by Deer
Greek. According to reports reaching
Denver, q wall of water twelve feet
high tore through Weaver Gulch to-
tcentinued on next paas)