The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1921-06-17
CL0UDBURST ADDS
HORROR
Business Section of Colorado
City Covered 5 to 18 Feet
Deep by Rushing Waters.
PROPERTY LOSS $10,oO0,000
Needed No Warnings and Peiished-
Thousands Left Homeless and Food
less-Looting Begins Amid Flames.
State Rangers Take Control.

Pueblo, Col, via Denver.-Flood wa
ters of the Arkansas River, suddenly
swollen by a great cloudburst fifteen
miles west, swept into this.city. causing
a loss of life that may reach 500 and
loss of property that will exceed
$1O,OOO,0OO.
Foreigners and mill workers living
i'm the lower Grove section of the city,
paying no attention to the warning that
the flood was coming, were caught Dy
the resistless waters and swept away.
The entire business section of Pueblo
was inundated by the waters which
continued to rise until late evening.
Bridges were swept away and all COM
munication with the outside world was
broken.
First reports suggested that the
death list might reach 1,5OO or 2,OUo
but as the waters receded today many
persons who were thought to have
perished were found.
Morgues were opened In different
parts of the city to house the victims
of the disaster. Up to mid-afternoon
1872 bodies had been recovered from
the flooded area.
To add to the horror of the floods
of water which swept over the city to
q depth Of three to eighteen feet fire
started during the night in the lumber
yard of the King Investment Company,
with an attendant explosion of gasoline
and oil tanks
Large quantities of lumber were first
reduced to ashes, and then the flames
were spread by the oil over a wide
area.
The flood waters, which ordinarily
would have extinguished the flames,
washed all sorts of comoustible mate
rial, including whole houses, barns, We
hicles and furniture, in the direction of
the burning pile. Thus In the midst of
turbulent lake a tremendous blaze
was in progress.
Among the concerns whose plants
we're destroyed by fire, in addition to
the buildings which were lifted from
their foundations and f1oated to their
destruction, were the Newton Lumber
Company and the Florman Paint Com
pany.
The Newton Company's plant, which
was almost completely destroyed was
attacked by flames again and it's en-
tire destruction appeared inevitable.
AS soon as the city was enveloped
In darkness, all power and lighting
plants being wrecked by the flood wa
ters the looting of stores in the down.
town district began.
Rangers and National Gu"rd and
peace officers, supplemented by civil
ians, we're quickly recruited to check
the vandalism, which continued for
several hours.
Flood survivors worked feverishly
rescuing bodies of the dead and plan
ming relief for hundreds of homeless.
More than 300 bodies were ~ecovered.
The total dead from the flood remained
undetermined, but the authorities were
still hopeful the number would not ex-
ceed 500. although some estimates
placed the dead at 1000.
The property loss will be from SS,-
600 900 to $1O,OOO0O0, according to es-
Inmates made today. The lowest esti-
mates placed the loss at $5,O0O,000,
while the highest estimate was $780,
600 900. Only small amount Of :nsur-
ance was carried by any of the busi-
ness houses ruined. The Grown Beggs
Dry Goods Company reported loss of
$500 900, with flood insurance of only
$4,000. The White Davis Clothing
Company lost $250,0OO,0OO, with but
$4,000 insurance. The fire loss will
be small.
Representatives of banks and busi-
ness houses met and discussed a recon-
struction policy. Depositors will be re-
ouested to withdraw money in as small
sums as possible. A plan whereby
bank deposits can be used for financing
building is expected to be announced.
Outside financial assistance will be re-
uuired il was said.
Smallpox and scarlet fever develop
ed among Mexican refugees. They
were being cared for at an improvised
hospital in the Congress Hotel.
A survey of the business district re-
vealed 30 business structures have been
ruined by the flood. Many are mere
piles of ruins. Others were entirely
swept away. One entire city block be-
tween First and Second streets was en-
tirely destroyed. The theatrical dis
trict was submerged, the Majestic
theater, Grand Opera House, Palm
theater and Colonial theater being
water stood II feet high.