Arizona republican., 1921-06-05
Dead Estimated 500

PUEBLO. Colo. June 4-The waters of the Arkansas and the Fountain rivers which last night poured upon the city of Pueblo bring ing death and destruction. tonight were receding. They left city of desolation-
 Best estimates early tonight of the toll of life taken by the flood placed the death list at about five hundred This however. was little more than a guess. for it win be days before the authorities are able to check up to ascertain the actual number who lost their lives. Estimates of prop erty damage remained at about SIG. .0oo, 900.
 Organized work of minIstering fo the needs of thousands of homeless in the city was we'll under way tonight. The homeless have been assembled In schoothcu-es and at churches c. w. Lee. food administrator. took over supervision of the city's food supply. now very low because much food was lost in the flooded areas. The city was without electric lights or gas to- night This added to the plight of the sufferers. The water plant was put out of commission by the flood and there was no drinking water available from the city mains
 RELIEF TRAIN ON WAY
 The cheering. thing to the city off, cials was the news that a relief train carrying water. milk, food and tents would he on the way from Denver early tonight.
 The flooded section Is described a< extending from Second street to the mesa IL contains a large portion oi the business district.
 Starting shortly after five o'clock yesterday afternoon. Pueblo's firs whistles sounded the flood alarm. Al that hour both rivers were rising rapidly from the cloudbursts thai | prevailed during the day. Hundred. of persons took warning and gathered a few belongings. sought safety ir the hills around the city. Oshers pait no attention to the warnings. Man, of these paid with their lives.
 The flood swept into the city proper abotft o'clock Police ans guards drove the crowds back iron the main bridges, where the peopl. had taken refuge. In half an houi water was pouring over the top of tn, raiIings of bridges and the main bust ness section was inundated. Stree cars stopped: electric lixhts went off
 Rail Equipment Wrecked
 Tn the darkness could be heard tn, roar of the onrushing waters and thu crash of falling buildings. A rain wa falling to add to the discontinue Here and there with the flashes o lightning spectators could see smal houses floating. over fin the railroai yards passenger coaches and othe car equipment lay overturned. An out of the night came the cries O the stricken women and children. al appealing for help.
 Scores of strong men risked thei lives to bring women and children | safety The Colorado rangers. the DO lice and Troop C of the Colorado na tional guard bent 10 the work of res cue. Scores of persons alive in Pu
 eblo tonight owe their lives to th
 bravery Of the men Of these organ nations and scores Of volunteers Then came the fires. A flash Of tn lightning burst. There was a cras | and in the light of the next flas , a bG!iding was disclosed in flame
 There was no water to combat tn blaze. So it swept on. IL swept O
 through the Florman Paint compan,
 the gas plant. the Ice plant move , down two big garages in Its patl i and then attacked the yards of fh , King Investment and Lumber com pany. All were laid in waste. , Tn the grip of disaster all Puet l To seemed stunned today. All day lon ! refugees. dazed and seemingly nc r knowing what to do. stragged abot I the mud covered streets. Mother
 with babies in their arms. mother n whose arms were empty. old me e and women and people of every ds e scription wandered about until gath . cred up and taken 10 a headquartei 5. established this afternoon by the Rs