davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
PILOT OF AIRPLANE WHICH FLEW
OVER PUEBLO GIVES FIRST EYE
WITNESS ACCOUNT OF DISASTER

fBY THE ASSOCIATED PREss1


Denver, Colo, June 4.-The first
eyewitness report of the Pueblo
flood disaster was brought to Dem
Yer late today by William A. Kim
sey, pilot Of the alrplane which
flew to Pueblo with staff CORE
spondents of the Associated Press
and the Rocky Mountain News.
After circling above the stricken
city to make an accurate appraisal
OF the havoc wrought by the flood
waters, Kimsey and his passengers
landed in the outskirts of Pueblo,
the first persons from the outside
world to reach the scene of the
catastrophe
Details Conditions.
Following his return to Denver
after a daring flight, Kimsey de-
tailed the conditions at Pueblo as
he saw from the air and as he
heard Of them from refugees who
flocked about his plane after he
landed at the state fair grounds.
"From an altitude of about 1000
feet said Kimsey, the business
district of Pueblo looked like a sea
of mud and water.
THE district which l know well
from other flights over the city,
was hardly recognizable on ac-
count of the vast piles of debris.
The railroad station stood out
as an island in a lake, but the
tracks were completely submerged,
and cars could be seen floating
about, The waters Of the Arkansas
We're backed up on the right bank
for what appeared to be several
blocks and that section Of the city
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05

the flood entered Main street, flow
ing south into Union avenue.
Within two hours the entire whole
sale district and a greater part of
the business district We're flooded
with water ten feet deep.
Buildings Set AfTe.
Several persons were rescued
from a candy factory. swimming
through the flood with the aid Of
ropes thrown by city firemen.
Many business houses and resi-
dences were set afire by burning
timber floating from Il flaming
lumber yard.
Boy Scouts rescued George King
and his son. Francis, from one
building in boats. Southbound
Denver & Rio Grande railroad
train No. 5, due In Pueblo from
Denver at 7:45 p. m. last night.
was held near the Nuckols packing
plant north Of here. The train was
swept into the river. Most Of the
passengers have been accounted
for climbing to the roof Of the cars
and making their way to the
Nuckols Packing company.
,rlralh lralh ioppies over
"a MlsSouIl Faciilc train NO -,
wien was 70 leaVe Fueplo at S,Vo
y ploeh ia9t hlBnt was loppied INTO
tile stream ana most OF the pas
Se'issis mace thelr way TO the
p@Chlhg plant
Oh Ihe Denver q Hlo Grande
tIii tTaih the known uead are DuIIey
Wlisoh' sWltch toreman' j. y. Llt-
Ilelohh, engineer, ana Dutch
Halhes.
twenty telegraph operators were
isnaaroonea N lhe alspatcheis Of
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
DEVASTATION WROUGHT
BEYOND DESCRIPTION

Colorado Springs. Colo, June 4,
The devastation wrought by fire
and flood at Pueblo last night and
this morning is beyond description,
according to c. S. Railsback, for
merly of this city. now special
agent of the Atchison. Topeka e.
Santa Fe railway at Pueblo Mr.
Railsback made his way to Colo
RADIO Springs at o'clock this aft
ernoon by special Santa Fe motor
car in an effort to get into COM
munication with La Junta over the
Union Pacific wires to order spe-
cial relief train to the scene of the
disaster.
Hundreds Of lives were lost and
millions of dollars in property was
destroyed" said Railsback THE
main business district of the city
is gutted by fire and water and 1t
probably never will be known how
many hundreds Of people perished.
"The entire residence districts in
several of the lowlands were COM
pletely wiped out. l spent the en-
tire night with hundreds of others
rescuing women and little children
from the flood and my mind is 50
befuddled that / can hardly talk
about the thing. 1t was horrible
beyond description.
II saw several cheap frame
rooming houses topple over, plunge
into. the raging torrent, each filled
with screaming women and chill
dren. The scene was sickening" "
Mr.. Railsback said at one time
there was fifteen feet of water run
ming through the Santa Fe yards.
He declared the yards were COM
pletely destroyed. To add to the
horror of the flood fires broke out
all over the city, not only in the
business district but in many resi-
dence sections. The largest busi-
ness houses of the city, including
the banks, Crews Beggs. White &
Davis, Straub's trunk factory. the
King lumber yard and many Others
were wrecked by water or COM
pletely destroyed by fire, accord
ing to Railsback,
The river broke over its banks
near the state insane asylum and
soon there was a raging torrent
from the high cliffs to the west of
the Union depot to Seventh street.
Denver, Colo, June 4.-Reports
to the Associated Press at Denver
the following conditions
at outlying towns.
At Lafayette--E Entire town under
lContipuad m Page Two.D
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
2 TRAINS TURN OVER IN YARDS
AT PUEBLO; MANY PERSONS ARE
BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED
(BY THE ASSOCIATED PREss.)

Denver. Colo, June 4.--Two
trains turned over last night In the
railroad yards at Pueblo and many
persons were killed, according to
information received late today by
the Denver Post, The trains were
Denver and Rio Grande No. 3,
which left Denver for Pueblo at
1865 p. m. yesterday and Missouri
Pacific No. IL, which left the
Pueblo union station at 5 o'clock
last night, according to the in
formation. No estimate of how
many persons were killed was re-
oeived, but it was said the trains
were filled with passengers
A report received through rail-
road channels by the Rocky Noun
tain News tonight said there were
about 300 persons in two trains of
whom ten were killed.
That report. however, had not
been confirmed. although the in
formation said positively several
persons were dead.
At the Denver office of the Dem
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
WARNINGS Of
FLOODDANGER
ARE SENT To
z n. N. TOWNS
Roswell and Logan Are Told
To Anticipate MenaCing
Conditions From Rivers
Within Few Days.
D0WNP0UR FORECAST
IN LIMITED AREAS
Rising Waters of Arkansas
Reach Point Midway Be-
tween Pueblo and La
Junta, Bureau Reports.

Denver, Colo, June 4,-Flood
warnings were dispatched to sew
enteen towns and farming centers
from Pueblo cast TO the Kansas
state line today by District Wealth
er Forecaster J. NJ. Sherier. Inn
mense dark clouds menaced the
eastern mountain slopes in the
northern and central portions Of
the state all day and weather Of
ficials forecase second downpour
In limited areas.
kilograms were sent to Wichita
and Dodge City, Kans,, to warn Of
the approaching flood down the
Arkansas river Warnings also
were transmitted to Logan, N. NJ,
and Roswell, NJ NJ, to anticipate
menacing conditions from rivers
there within the next two days
The weather bureau reported
flood waters OF the Arkansas river
reached point midway between
Pueblo and la Junta, Colo. The
river was reported over it's banks
but no reports Of resulting damage
were available. Forecaster SherIer
predicted the water would reach
La Junta soon,
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
TWO INCHES Of
RAIN BLANKETS
MOST OF STATE
Estimated That Precipitation
in Forty-eigh Hours at
TuCumCari Totals Three
and Half Inches.

Rains covering virtually the en-
tire state with an average OF two
inches Of water have swept New
Mexico in the last forty eight
hours. Tho official reports at AL
buquerque show precipitation
which totaled LA inches in that
period and the average for the
state will apparently not vary
greatly from that figure, ranging
from an estimate OF three and a
half inches at Tucumcari to a half
inch at Carlsbad and practically no
rain at all at Silver City.
The storm appears to have been
heaviest in the north and north
eastern portions of the state. II
continued down into Texas and
spread into Oklahoma. The west
ern parts OF Texas and Oklahoma
reported precipitations of 2.4t
inches.
Considerable rise In the streams
of the state has been reported. A
wire from Las Vegas claims that
the Gallinas river is higher than
II has been for sixteen years The
Rio Grande has been rising rapid
ly and quickly registered rise Of
one foot
Tucumcari reports twelve inches
of rain In the past thirty days
Wheat is said to be ripening and
crop prospects are given as the
best In years.
At Ration, little damage to crops
is reported, although the rainfall
has been heavy Thirty feet of road
south of the town has been washed
out. At Las Vegas, considerable
loss to crops Ia estimated There
is also damage to houses at Las
Vegas
With rain still falling, Clovis re-
ported a vast improvement in the
condition of the country. Great re-
lief to the range resulted from a
half inch fall at Gallup on Friday
and Saturday.
The total rainfall in Albuquer-
que during the entire storm
TO 1.S0 inches.
Following are the reports which
We're received from The Journals
staff Of correspondents over the
state:
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
1 KNOWN To BE
DEAD IN FLOOD
IN WELD COUNTY
Beet Workers Houses Are
Carried Away; Loss in
Implements and Equip
ment Reported Large.

Sterling, Colo, juno 1.-The
known death list in Fridays flood
in western Logan county remained
at four today. Waters from the
cloudburst in eastern Weld county
Thursday night had receded to the
banks of Pawnee creek this morn
ing and further losses are not an
ticipated.
The flood covered a territory
thirty or forty miles In length and
varying from half mile to a mile
in width. running from the Logan
Weld county line TO the juncture Of
Pawnee creek and Platte river near
Atwood
Approximately half mile Of
the Union Pacific railroad track
also used by the Burlington, was
washed out near Atwood and per-
haps a thousand acres of sugar
and ps many acres OF other
crops were flooded in the valley
Of Pawnee creek Many farm
homes were damaged, beet work
ers' houses were carried away and
loss in farm implements and equip
ment was large.
Bridges Washed Out.
Service on the Union Pacific and
Burlington railroads to Denver will
probably be restored today. The
Cheyenne Sterling Burlington line
will not be used before the first of
the coming week. Virtually all of
seven or eight highway bridges
across Pawnee creek were washed
out,
Carl Davis. his wife and three
children awol<e Thursday night to
find the water pounding on their
house. They escaped through a
window but were separated by the
waves. Davis was thrown out of
the stream but his wife and three
children perished The body Of
Mrs Davis was found twenty-five
miles below the place Of the
drowning Bodies of the two
smaller children have not been re-
covered. The house. thirty-five
miles northwest OF Sterling, was
splintered.
Backwater approached within a
mile of Sterling but did not reach
the city.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

Heavy watersheds the Rio Grande re-
ported from all The rainfall has been from one inch
10 oncaf within
have been loud bursts.
~ T. Is too early predict the effect the Rio Grande,
the vicinity
of two
feet will yaIe
1t should
above Albuquerque greatly
uous rainfall
lowered A should
Last which the city
the journal
10 strengthen nothing happens
thank kindly protecting
We wonder whether catastrophe
before
incompetency and extravaganza In
At this river bank pro
lection However be- and should be- watched
with
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
ESTIMATES Of The PUEBLO FLOOD VICTIMS AI$9O
FKOEk1Y LOSS TEN MILLION DOLLARS STREETS DEEP IN MUD;
WAIERS SWEEP LAROUGHA THIRD OF THE CITY LOOLERSERED ON
GERMAN ALLEGED TO
HAVE SUNK HOSPITAL
SHIP is ACQUITTED

Leipsic, June 4 (by the AS
sociated Press. )-Entente offic-
ials who expected the German
submarine policy in the war
to be passed on In its broader
aspects by the high court here
when it dealt with the case of
Lieut.. Karl Neumann, charged
with sinking the hospital ship
Dover Castle by the German
submarine which he command
ed, were disappointed. The
lieutenant was acquitted today
after hearing and through
the manner in which the issue
was handled by the judicial
body the only point at issue
was whether he carried out his
orders.
Proof was brought to the
courts satisfaction that the
lieutenant had acted clearly
within instructions given him
and he was speedily acquitted,
Whether Emperor william
Admiral Won Tirpltz or other
German officials who had a
hand in inauguratlng the ruth
less submarine policy were
criminally responsible was not
touched upon.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
PUEBLO PLACED
UNDER MILITARY
LAW BY NEWTON
'"ConditionS Are Beyond De-
SCription," Major Declares
After An Inspection Trip
Over the City.

Pueblo. Colo, June Ana ior
Paul p, Newton arrived from Dem
yer tonight and took command OF
che state troops here. He an
nounced no accurate estimate OF
the loss of life could be made.
conditions are beyond descrip-
ton" said Major Newton, after an
inspection trip. VIRTUALLY every
building from the postoffice to the
square beyond the Union station
on Union avenue was completely
wiped out. In addition to the
havoc wrought by the water, build
ings undermined by the inundation
have caved in causing a scene OF
desolation and horror beyond any
thing | have ever seen.
Water I6 Feet Deep.
"Many of the principal business
buildings in the main business sec
tions became roaring furnaces soon
after the first fires broke out. IL
was impossible for volunteer work
ers to get close enough to the olaz-
ing buildings to rlgnt the flames.
water reached a depth OF SIX
teen feet in the Union depot and
from that place all the way up
town to the postoffice the water
was five feet deep.
volunteer workers by hundreds
are aiding in the work Of rescuins
victims of the flood waters. one
troop of cavalry, the battery OF
field artillery, the American legion
and the state rangers are superin-
tending the work of rescue and re-
lief.
"Rangers arrived here today
from Walsenburg, Denver, Castle
Rock and from Colorado Springs.
Trip Hazardous One.
"We left Denver at 1915 a. m.
and reached Pueblo at 7;l5 to-
night. The trip was the most
hazardous any of us had ever un-
dertaken. In four places we
crossed railroad trestles over swol-
len torrents. In other places we
were forced to haul, push and carry
our car over makeshift bridges
where roads had been entirely
washed out.
IS. U. Pressey. acting purely in
a civilian capacity, Is directing
work of salvaging and rescuing. A
main Red Cross headquarters has
been established and bodies of vic
Tins are being taken to the city
as fast as found. Victims
who still are alive and suffering
from exposure are being cared for
by men and women volunteers who
are performing heroic work.
military law was declared here
after our arrival and
the city is orderly.
Fifteen men were arrested
charged with l0oting."
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05

between the depot and the approx
irIate vicinity Of the Vail hotel was
submerged,
Districts Devastated.
"All outlying districts in the low
lands appeared utterly devastated
and for miles around there was
nothing but a vast expanse Of mud,
dotted here and there by houses
perched at some odd angle.
IL didn't leave my plane after /
landed in the city, but a number of
residents told me of the horrible
conditions and verified my aerial
observations. They said that there
had been no chance to start a
search for the dead and the missing
but that the police lines were be-
ing formed fairly well, and that
the situation, which for hours was
one Of panic and wanton destruc-
ton by looters, was getting more
comfortable.
Bridges Washed Out
"Between Pueblo and Colorado
Springs all bridges as far as | could
observe, were washed out and the
flooded city was entirely cut off to
the north. Although / did not go
south of Pueblo, I could not see any
bridges in commission in any di-
rection out of the city.
"When we got to Pueblo the city
was cut right in half by the flood
and it appeared impossible for
those on one bank of the Arkansas
to reach those on the other, a sit
uation which the refugees told me
was creating great CONSERVATION,
When | was leaving / was told that
one of the viaducts connecting the
two main parts of the city, would
soon be in commission, relieving
the confusion"
KS. Got Lost In the Clouds.
In describing the flight from
Denver to Pueblo, which was sue
cessfully accomplished, in spite Of
adverse flying weather, Kimsey
said:
Several times on the way down
we got lost in the clouds, flew
ahead in the chance there would be
a hole and we had good luck. The
only towns we sighted on the way
down were Castle Rock, Monument
and Fountain.
"At Fountain the tracks were
under water and a passenger train
seemed to be partially turned
over
Kimsey said the roads between
Denver and Colorado Springs were
passable and that traffic could be
seen moving along without great
South of Colorado
Springs, however. he said, that
everything appeared like ghostiy
10 mans land.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
CONFIDENCE VOTED
IN WlRTH'S REGIME
BY THE RElCHSTAG

berlin, june (by the Ass0-
ciated Press) Tho reichstag to-
day voted confidence in the gov
ernment of Chancellor Wirth. The
vote was 213 to II, with forty
eight members not voting.
The vote Of confidence was on
the question Of approval of the
sion regarding fulfillment Of the
allied ultimatum.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05

buildings where their recovery was
because of the mud and
debris.
The force of the flood carried
entire buildings down the stream
all it is believed many Of the dead
were carried far down the river
and nay never be recovered
1851 Chiefs Pessimistic.
tat s3 officials We're pessim-
la0 sumption of train serv-
SD Ito lines in Pueblo either
bed away or tho tracks
rei twisted and torn that ii
uire entire new construc-
a roadbed and tracks.
first warning Of yesterdays
came at shortly after D. m,
W. telephone messages which said
that dams near Portland were
threatened and the Arkansas river
had risen dangerously ut Wetmore,
Portland and Florence. The fire
department siren sounded fifteen
laiuptn fia p arp ag s9d saep
every available police officer and
guardsman was sent into the West
Peppersauce river bottom Of West
Pueblo to warn the inhabitants.
Refused 10 Leave.
People were slow to leave their
homes and many refused, accord-
ing to soldiers One woman drag
ged from her home before the flood
crest reached the bottoms crawled
under the house and refused to
come out 1t is feared a heavy loss
of life resulted in this section, al
though it has been impossible as
yet to conduct an investigation. On
the crest of the flood which turned
from the river into Fourth street,
was carried a two story house.
Scores of people were caught as
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
]. NJ. Buckley IS
CHOSEN To HEAD
N. NJ. EDUCATORS
Program Against COnStitu-
tionaI Amendment Limit
ing Rate of Taxation To
Be Carried Out.

J. M. Buckley. former superin-
tendent Of the Curry county schools
and recently elected city school
superintendent of Clovis, has been
chosen as president Of the New
Mexico Educational association,
He will succeed e. w, Bowyer, who
was also school superintendent at
Clovis. G.. B. Jones Of Las Cruces
vas elected treasurer Of the afsso-
citation, to succeed MIR Buckley.
IT has been decided by the asso-
citation to carry out a program Of
advertising against the constitu-
tional amendment which fixes the
rates Of taxation, as it lowers the
school tax rate.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
ONE TIME MOB LEADER
IS GRADUATED FROM
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

New York, June 4.-Frank Tan
nebaum, 2S years old, one time
mob leader and radical agitator.
was graduated from Columbia uni
versity this year as an honor stud
ent and won the key of Phi Beta
Kappa, an honorary scholastic fra
ternity, 1t was announced today.
Tannebaum was declared to have
discarded his radical views.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
STATE TO BUILD
ROADS TO END
UNEMPLOYMENT

Santa Fe, June 4.--Highway En-
gineer L. A. Gillett announced that
the highway commission would Is
sue $500, goo debentures to relieve
the unemployment situation In tho
state. He said contracts for road
building would be let az rapidly
as plans could be finished and an
nounced calls for bids on SIX pro-
jects, to be opened July 6, and APP
proval by the highway commits
sions of fourteen more which COW
er ITS miles.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05
RIO GRANDE IS
SLOWLY RISING
To BANK LEVEL
County Surveyor Expresses
Little Fear For Either
BareIaS Bridge Or bikes
North of the City.

DUKE CITY WARNED.
nArsfItnIH Er,Hf.r ,,nertV1n.., % "a,

10 DUKE CITY WARNED. g
10 BeTthOld Spitz, postmaster, 9
10 has received the following g
3 wire from the Denver weather Q
o bureau: o
y "RaNHily rising stages In %
Q Rio Grande indicated owing to o
. to heavy rains In upper water Q
. shed. o
. "sHERIER." Q
o o o o Q Q Q = o . o o o . 0 .
Although the Rio Grande has
raised a little more than a foot in
the past forty eight hours. County
Engineer Edmund Ross expressed
little fear last night that either
Barelas bridge or the dlkes In the
vicinity Of Alameda are in danger.
During tho spring the county Of
ficlals have made every possible
effort to secure the valley lands
against flood and have repaired
and built new dikes near Alameda
sufficient, 1t Is believed to care for
q foot higher water than was ex-
perienced last year.
Reports North OF City.
Dangerous raises on the rivers
draining the general Rio Grande
watershed north of here had not
occurred at q late hour last night,
according to wires received by
County Surveyor Edmund ROSS.
Albuquerque need have nothing
to fesr until higher water is re-
ported in the Rio Grande nearer
the Colorado line" Mr. Ross stated
last night. THE highest stage
there will not be so high here and
will not be reached here for many
hours after experienced as far
north as Espanola. where the
Chama unltes with the Rio
Grande"
River has raised four inches to-
day" states a wire received by the
county engineer from Eapanola
There has been heavy rain here
and up the Chama"
1t rained all day yesterday at
Domingo and telegraphlc reports
indicate that the Galisteo Is run.
ming high but not at an unusual
flood mark,
i
received no word late last night
indicating danger on the Rio
Grande north of Albuquerque,
Last night the Rio Grande was
carrying a heavy volume Of water
here and had broadened out to its
extreme channel, carrying In many
places two or three swift currents
side by side. A rise Of another
foot would be necessary TO take the
water out of its banks and test the
strength of the dixie projections.
BareIas Bridge Believed Safe.
Barelas bridge seems TO be
weathering the added force Of the
double current in good shape, al
though some fear has been eX-
pressed regarding the strength Of
the western span, which has been
weakened preparatory to repairing
that section of the bridge. Auto
mobiles were making the passage
late yesterday afternoon and en-
glneers were encouraged at the
slight effect which the heavy autos
appeared to have on the structure.
The bridge has been in process
of repairing for the past few
weeks. 1t is the longest bridge
across the Rio Grande and was
built in 1910. The western end of
It has suffered several times since
then on account of high water and
the fact that the heaviest current
swirls toward that end.
The bridge is 1910 feet long and
CONTINUED on Page TWo.l
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-05

Iver and Rio Grande tonight the re-
port that train No. had turned
over at Pueblo was confirmed.
Officers of the company, however.
had no information as to the num-
Der of lives lost or as to the num-
ber injured, 1t was reported in
kilograms received here that pas
'sengers who had escaped with their
lives when the train turned over
we're given temporary shelter in a
packing house.