The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-06-08
FLOOD FOLLOWS
FLOOD AT PUEBLO.
Colorado City Still Cut
Off From Outside
World-Other Reser-
yoirs Break and Rush
ing Waters Again In
undate Flood Swept
Areas eople in Dire
Need

Need
Pueblo, Colo, June 5.-Threa times
during the last As hours the waters
of the Arkansas river. breaking
from their course have inundated
the greater part Of this city with
the resultant loss Of probably not
more than ESQ lives and property
damage estimated at $i0,0O0,ooo
This loss is attributed chiefly to the
first flood Of Friday nigf.e and Sat
urday morning. The second ana
third foods of this morning and al
ternoon found little Of value not al
ready ruined by the waters and were
looked upon with concern only pc
cause, they hindered rescue ana re-
construction work.
First estimates Of the dead, based
upor reports from excited eyewit-
nesses who told of seeing hundreds
of bodies swept through the streets
OF the city, are considered greatly
exasgerated. While no oficila count
of the fatalities has been attempted,
viii not exceed $50. if that high.
One hundred bodies have been re-
covered, but it is feared that when
the mud and debris which fills the
streets and buildings in the flooded
area are cleared away more viii be
found.
Relief work is progressing under
t,ne direction of Red Cross officials
and Governor Shoup. The greater
danger ct present is from pesti-
lence. Food us being rationed. Those
without funds with which to pur-
chase provisions are being cared tor
nv the Red Cross and other agencies.
To those who have funds, military
permits are being issued allowing the
holderlto buy only limited amount
uf@food from local stores.
Pure water is at premium. Peo-
pie have been warned to boil water
before drinking In anticipation Of
q typhoid epidemic, large quantity
Of typhoid anti-.oxin has been called
for and Will be administered as soon
as available.
:. Five hundred persons are in tempo
rary hospitals as direct result OF
the food, according to j. f. Moor
head, secretary to the governor.
There are cases Of chickenpox, ty-
phoid pneumonia, diphtheria and enc
!. or two cases Of insanity.
The entire city is under martial
law and $50 troops are patrolling the
city with orders that all persons are
TO be kept out Of the restricted area
2 and to shoot if necessary.
Troops have received orders to pre-
vent all visitors from entering the
city. No persons not members Of the
national guard Will be admitted.
- The Red Cross today cooked car
load Of meat to keep it from spelling
and this will be distributed to the
needy.
Governor Shoup returned this af-
ternoon by automobile TO Colorado
Springs from which place he en-
pected to answer the message from
President Harding and Senator Mich
olson at Washington in regard to the
measures needed to help the situa-
4i.tosn
Col. Pat Hamrock, adjutant gen
erai. commanding stare troops here,
said tonight it soon would be pos
sible to ascertain something definite
on the disaster.
1t is impossible to obtain any ac-
curate information on the number Of
dead or the number Of bodies recov-
cred, as military headquarters IS
without communication with the east
and south sections of the city.
When the first report of the new
food came this afternoon soldiers
conducted a hurried search Of build
ings and in one found woman
standing in water up to her armplts
and holding above her head a baby
five hours old The mother and baby
were taken to hospital. where II
was said they could not live.
Three United states army air
planes are on the way 10 Pueblo to-
night from Dodge City Kan.
According to Colonel Hamrock the
machines Will be used for observa-
. ton and scouting to verify reports
of further flood dangers.
Fear was expressed for the safety
Of people HFiHS III 'o"!io oii 'He ~
kansas river below Pueblo. There
was no way OF spreading a warning
from here 1t was impossible to get
into other sections Of the city or out
of the city from the south.
The heavy rains today and tonight
again made the roadsaalmost impas-
sable.
Just before the afternoon food, the
military rushed seven soldiers across
the viaduct to the south side. The AS
<seciatad Press correspondent accom-
panied the troops, the journey beng
made through some Of the worst de-
yastated districts.
On either side the ruins Of princi-
ps! structures. twisted and torn by
the food. stood in mud and stagnant
water. High water marks showed
L.