Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-07

governor Shoup, acting for the
governor. Moorehead reached
Pueblo at a late hour tonight.
Major Newton was put in com.
mand of the military forces by
Moorehead.
PUEBLO. Col. June 6.-Flood
waters of the Arkansas river swept
through Pueblo Friday. SATURDAY.
and Sunday night and caused
deaths that may total 500 and prop
erty damage in excess of $4,000, 900.
according to the fragmentary reports
that can be gathered as the flood re-
cedes
Morgues were opened in different
parts of the city and by mid-after-
noon 1872 bodies had been recovered.
The entire eastern and northern Sec
lions were cut off from the business
section.
The Red Cross organized to aid
sufferers, and c. w. Lee was named
official food administrator to have
charge Of rationing the food avail
able in the city.
To add to the horror of last night,
lightning set fire to half a dozen
buildings in the center Of the city.
Firemen could rot reach the scene,
and they would have been helpless
If they could, for the flood had l.
ready cut osE water service as well as
the electric lights.
At the same time, the rising flood
overturned two trains filled with pas.
sengers.
While the greater loss of life APP
pears to have been in Pueblo, reports
of damage to property came from
many sections of southea stern Colo
RADIO. Streams, sent out of their
banks by cloudbursts in the moun-
tains, carried away farm buildings
and drowned many head Of cattle. 7
Residents of the rural districts adj
jacent to irrigation projects spent
the night last night prepared to flee
instantly if the impounded water
broke through irrigation dams.
Railroad and highway bridges wer9
carried away and miles of telegraph
and telephone lines were laid low.
Fires Increase Damage
In Pueblo. damage was increased
by fires in the business section, start
ed by lightning, and unquenched for
lack of water pressure.
The whole business portion of
Pueblo was under six to eight feet
Of water this morning but by after-
noon the flood had begun to recede.
disclosing a scene of devasation
The railroad yards were left filled
with Undiscovered debris and broken
and overturned equipment, carrying
the damages to more than million
dollars. Business houses inside and
out. were covered WITH the same
Shiny mud. and in man%cases even
brick buildings were undermined and
wrecked Frame buildings ( in the
path Of the flood were swept away,
in many cases carrying their In
habitants with them.
While the flood warnings had been
given before dark last night. many
persons did not heed them. and to
this is ascribed goodly part of the
death loss.
Thousands Of Mexic5ns with pos
sessions on their backs. were wander
ing through the city this afternoon
with nothing to eat and no place to
sleep. No gas or drinking water
were available.
A patty of Pueblo business men.
who assembled for dinner at Minne-
qua club last night still were ma.
rooned there today.
Frank Pryor. of a local furniture
SoI,t
standing wall of his foUr-story build
ing which collapsed. Rescuers were
to reach him this after.
noon.
Richard Philbins was rescued fom
a telephone pole. where he had spent
the night. He was riding a horse
last night when the waters over
Whelmed him. The horse was drown
ed but Philbins managed to swim
to the pole.
City without Lights
Means of communication from
Pueblo are most meas ger. The West
arn Union company mas three or four
wires from a neighboring suburb,
but these are so crowded with official
business that press dispatches have
little show. The roads sto the cut.
side are so torn by the storm that 1t
IS almost impossible to make prog
'ess over them.
The city was without electric light
tonight. Gas also was unavailable.
This added to the plight Of the suf-
,erers. The water plant was put out
If commission by the flood and there
vas no drinking water available
The flooded section of Pueblo is de-
scribed as extending from Second
street to the Mesa; 1t contains
arge portion of the business district.
Starting shortly after, 5 o'clock yes
erday afternoon, Pueblo's fire whis-
les sounded the flood alarm. At that
hour both the Arkansas and the
Fountain were rising rapidly from
he cloudbursts that prevailed DUR
ng the day. Hundreds of persons
ook warning and gathered few be-
ongings and sought safety in the
Hills around the city. Others paid
10 attention to the warning. Many
If these paid with their lives.
Start of Flood
The floods swept into the city
proper about 7 o'clock. Police and
guards drove the crowds back from
lad taken refuge. In half an nour
water was pouring over the top of
he ratings of bridges and the main
business section was inundated.
street cars stopped, electric lights
vent off
In the darkness could be heard the
oar of the onrushing waters, and the
rash of falling buildings. A rain
vas falling to add to the discomfit-
Ire. Here and there with the flashes
f lightning, spectators could see
mall houses floating about. Over in
he railroad yards passenger coaches
nd other car equipment lay overturn-
d and out of the night came the
rieS of the stricken women and chill
rem, all appealing for help.
Scores of strong men risked their
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