The Mena weekly star., 1921-06-09


 dred or more lives were lost when food waters from the Arkansas and Fountain rivers swept over this city last night. Already 201 bodies have been collected and are awaiting identi- fication in the morgues. Scores more are floating in the slowly receding water.
 Caused by cloudbursts, all streams flowing into the Arkansas river near here threw such a volume of water into the larger stream that it oyer- flowed its banks and swept into the business district of the city with ap- palling swiftness.
 Death and desolation were left in the wake of the flood and tonight, with the water slowly receding, it is impossible to tell accurately the damage to life and property
 Property Loss 10 Millions.
 It will be days before the author ities are able to cheek up to ascertain the actual number of lives lost. Esti- mates of property damage remained at about 10 million dollars.
 Organized work of ministering to the needs of the thousands of home- less in the city was we'll under way tonight. The refugees have been as- sembled in school houses and at the churches.
 The flooded section is described as extending from second street to the Mesa. It contains large part of the business district.
 But Many Ignored Alarm.
 Starting shortly after o'clock yes- terday afternoon, PuebIo's fire whistles sounded the flood alarm. At that hour both rivers were rising rapidly from the cloudbursts that pre- vailed during the day. Hundreds of persons took warning and gathering a few belongings, sought safety in the hills around the city. Others paid no attention to the warning. Many of these paid with their lives.
 The floods swept k co the city proper about o'clock. Police and guards drove the crowds back from the main bridges, where the people had taken refuge. In half an hour water was pouring over the top of the railings of bridges and the main business sec- tion was inundated. Street cars stopped, electric lights went off.
 It Was Night of Terror.
 In the darkness could be heard the roar of the on-rushing waters, and the crash of falling buildings. A rain was falling to add to the discomfiture. Here and there with the flashes of lightning, spectators could see small houses floating about. Over in the railroad yards passenger coaches and other car equipment lay overturned, and out of the night came the cries of the stricken women and children, all appealing for help.
 Scores of men risked their lives to bring women and children to safety The Colorado Rangers, the police and troop c of the Colorado National Guard bent to the work of rescue. Many persons owe their lives to the bravery of these men and scores of volunteers.
 Then came the fires. A flash of lightning burst. There was crash and in the light of the next flash building was disclosed in flames
 No Water. Blaze Swept On.
 There was no water to combat the blaze, so it swept on. It swept thru the Florman Paint Company, the gas plant, the ice plant, moved down two big garages in it's path and then at tackled the yards of the King Invest ment and Lumber Company. All were laid waste.
 In the grip of disaster, all Pueblo seemed stunned today. All day long refugees, dazed and seemingly not knowing what to do, struggled about the undiscovered streets. Mothers with babes in their arms, mothers whose arms were empty, old men and women and people of every descrlp- tion wandered about until gathered up and taken to a headquarters estab- llshed this afternoon by the Red Cross There they were fed and allowed to rest.
 Viewed City From Airplaue.
 A trip over the city by airplane re- vealed to the Associated Press staff correspondent a scene of disaster. Residences had been toprled over, railroad passenger coaches and freight cars had been swept in every direc- ton or smashed into kindling. Black ened ruins showed tke ioeatinn a1 fires started last night by burning lumber from lumber yard floating