New-York tribune., 1921-06-08
Entire City Mobilized to
Clear Up Waste Left
by Receding Water Be-
fore Epidemic Is Born
Fix Dead at 500,
55 Bodies Found
Municipal Official Mys-
teriously Slain; Many
Business Men Ruined
Special Dispatch to The Tribuns

PUEBLO, Colo, June 7.--Pueblo's
nerves have steadied and as the torren.
tial Arkansas subsidies after thrice
flooding the city the peoples hopes arc
rising.
Last night, for the first time in fou,
days, citizens slept unalarmed by fooc
warnings and to-day the city is slowly
but surely shaking off it's shroud OF
mud and slime. 1t is so engrossed ir
being born again it has no time te
mourn its misfortune, although the
bodies of fifty-fye victims Of the loot
| have been recovered Seven bodies
were found to-day.
Prospects Of a period of fair and
warmer weather put Pueblo face tc
face with a situation almost as serious
as that which confronted it when the
Arkansas River broke out of it's banks
Disease. contagion and epidemics are
the dangers. An anti-hy campaign has
been launched, but it is almost hope
less battle.
The water supply still is inadequate
and water may be used only for cook
ing or drinking. Sanitation experts OF
the Pueblo Public Health Service are
putting forth every effort to prevent
the outbreak Of epidemic.
Prodigious Task Faced
Only those who have seen the appal-
ling destruction can have even a slight
conception of what has to be done i'm
mediately if the survivors of water
and fire are to escape death by pesti-
lence.
Scores of prominent men have been
ruined financially by the food. The
authorities are going the limit to give
those merchants chance to recoup
their losses. Wage regulations and
compulsory labor give every business
man the same chance.
The total number of lives lost in the
food will easily reach 500, according
to the consensus of prominent business
men and officials of the city, constitut-
ing the advisory board Of twenty five
who met at noon to-day to consider the
various phases OF the situation.
The estimate made by those who at
tended the meeting was based largely
on the condition Of the Pepper Sauce
lowland residents previous to the flood
Almost all of the people living in this
area had been practically destitute and
dependent upon charitable organiza-
tions of the city for some time They
were appealing constantly for aid
Since the flood, however, fewer than
one-third of the original number have
asked for assistance in finding their
dead and for shelter, clothing and food
according TO a check made of the vari-
Gus relief organizations. Nothing
whatever has been heard from the
other two-thirds. 1t is assumed that
most Of them were drowned.
No Ice to Preserve Food
Food Commissioner Lee has issued
orders stopping all shipments of meat
from entering Pueblo. The meat can
not be preserved on account of the
dearth of ice. Orders against the i'm
portation of milk have already been
issued.
OF the seven bodies brought in to
the morgues this morning two of them
were of mother with q young babe
clutched in her arms. The baby was
wedged tight against the mothers
breast. She had hugged it with such
strength that it was impossible to sep
arate the bodies.
Ernest E. Withers, president OF the
Iron City Fuel Company and member
of the Pueblo Water Commission, was
shot last night by an unidentified
civilian or guard shortly before mid
night as he was driving his car out
Grand Avenue past Eighth Street.
A theory of murder is given support
by the fact that Sergeant ]. E. Grit
fifth, of Troop c, Colorado National
Guard, on sentry duty at Ninth and
Grand, one block away, heard chal-
lenge Of "Halt!" followed almost in
stantly by q shot. The top and upper
part of the left side of Withers's head
was torn off. 1t was such a wound as
load of buckshot fired at close range
might have made.
Granville Withers, young son of the
slain man, was seated at the right of
his father in the automobile.
Colonel Hamrock, adjutant general,
and Captain Dennis of the Rangers,
with a score of guardsmen and
rangers, together with city police. went
to the scene at once. Coroner Ray
Continued on next pase)
1T. s. Cuus Sink TJ-ROat