The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-06-05
DEVASTATION DECLARED
BEYOND DESCRIPTION

Colorado Springs, Colo, June A.--The
devastation wrought by fire and
floods at Pueblo last night and this
morning Is beyond description, accord
ing to C.sS. Railsback, formerly of this
city, now special agent of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe railway at Pu-
eblo, Mr.. Railsback made his way TO
Colorado Springs at 2 o'clock this att
ernoons by special Santa Fe motor car
in an effort to get into communication
with La Junta over the Union Pacific
wires to order special relief train
to the scene OF the disaster.
Hundreds of lives were lost ana
millions of dollars in property were de-
stroyed,"e said Mr.. Railsback.S The
main business district OF the city Is
Quilted by fire and water, and 1t prob
ably never will be known how many
hun dreds of people persisted.
1.-THE entire residence districts In
several OF the lowlands were complete
ly wiped out. I spent the entire night
with hundreds of others rescuing
women, and little children from the
flood, and my mind Is so befuddied that
i can hardly talk about things. 1t was
terrible. beyond description.
II saw several cheap frame room
ing houses topple. over, plunge into
the raging torrent; leach filed with
SCI cdtnIH WOAhSh oh0 SAAi>>>A ~&@'
scene was sickening."
Mr. Raflsback said at one time there
was is feet OF water rushing through
the Santa Fe yards. He declared the
yards were completely destroyed. To
add to the horror of the flood, fires
broke out all over the city, not only
in the business districts, but in many
residence sections. The largest bust
ness houses OF the city, including the
big banks, Crews-B eggs, White d
Davis, stratus trunk factory, the
King lumber yards and many others
were wrecked by water or completely
destroyed by fire, according to Rails
back. The river broke over It's bank
near the state insane asylum, and soon
there was a raging torrent from the
high cliffs to the west OF the Union
depot to Eleventh street.
HUGE DAMAGE WROUGHT
! East Las Vegas, N. NJ, June 4--Dam-
1 age, the extent OF which cannot be
! accurately estimated owing TO the
! wide area covered, but known to run
4 high into the thousands, was caused
/ here and In this vicinity by the worst
/ rain and hailstorm seen in many wears
| which broke over the city last night
/ The precipitation is estimated at from
four to Ave inches
:, Scores of homes were fiooded WIN
| water and Z mud several feet deep
while all gardens were ruined ane
| much poultry and small live stock was
killed. Roads are Ampassable.
/ RED Cross BEGINS RELIEF
Washington. June 4.--The southwes
| tern division of the American Rec
Cross was Authorized tonight to. draw
upon the national disaster relief funt
] up to $4,000 until Monday for the pur'
pose Of affordirg relief in the Colo
RADIO flood district.
/ In making the announcement. nation
| al headquarters said the whole exten
! OF the problem was expected to b.
/ known by Monday and II 1t was theI
| found that the national disaster fun'
/ and the resources Of the southwestern
division were lot sufficient to- NEE
| the situation additional funds will b.
Forthcoming from national headauar
| ters."