Washington telegraph., 1921-06-03


hghtning, 4 crash. and In the light OF
t0e next fash building was dis.
closed in flames. There Vas no water
to combat the blaze. So 1t swept on.
II ate through the Floruau Faint
Company, the gas plant. the ice plant.
moved down two big garages in its
path AND then attacked the yards OF
the King Investment and Lumber
Company. All were laid in waste.
Residents Are Dazed.
In the grip OF disaster all Pueblo
seemed stunned Refugees. dazed
and seemingly not knowing what to
do, struggled about the mud-covered
streets. Mothers with babies in their
arms, mothers whose arms were
empty old men and women and peo-
pie of every description wandered
about until gathered up and taken to
headquarters established by the Red
Cross. There they were fed and al.
lowed to rest.
With everything swept away but the
clothes on their backs and the few
things they carried in little bundles,
many moaned and cried. while others
tried TO find relatives and friends.
The courthouse was thrown open. and
served as a canteen and hospital.
After the food motor cars moved
up Main street carrying bodies on
the tenders, each body covered with
mud.
Just when Pueblo was beginning to
nf
Friday night, the Skaway reservoir
between Florence and Victor sudden
ly gave way, and within an hour the
swollen torrent OF the Arkansas river
again had inundated the outlying sec
tions of the city.
Waters rose to a point only few
inches below the high water mark OF
Friday nights floods.
The new flood did not develop ser
iously, although the river rose several
feet in a short time.
State Troops on Duty.
Trees and masses OF debris were
coming down from the country above
Pueblo on the crest Of the new foods
Troops quickly cleared the business
and wholesale districts. Citizens were
prevented from coming within block
of the waters. while every effort was
made to prevent loss OF life from the
new danger
Gov. oliver II. Shoup and Col Pat
rick Hamrock, commander OF the state
constabulary. arrived early to take
personal charge of the situation. I'm
mediately upon their arrival it was
decided that Colonel Hamrocks
troops. consisting Of Colorado Ma
tlonal Guard units and state rangers,
will Assume all responsibility for law
and order during the emergency.
Governor Shoup and Colonel Ham
rock left Colorado Springs in a motor
truck mounted on fange wheels, which
travelled to Pueblo over the Santa Fe
and D. & r. G. tracks. Due to delays
caused ~ washed out roadbeds the
| officials abandoned their conveyance
at Buttes, however. proceeding to this
city by automobile.
Along the railroad tracks from Col
orado Springs to Pueblo are scenes OF
desolation and disaster. fences down,
great trees uprooted, deep gullies torn
in the fields by the rushing torrents.
Upon the arrival of Governor Shoup
and Colonel Hamrock the belief was
expressed by members of the party
that the reports of the death toll had
been exaggerated. The property dam
age, il is conceded. however, will be
at least s10OOO,OOO
Pueblo recently experienced two
new floods. Breaking of a dam on
the Fountain river near Colorado
Springs has sent the flood waters OF
the Arkansas river up. The waters
again reached Third street Then
Skagway reservoir broke. and brought
the third flood
The city was put under military con.
troll under charge Of Lieut.. Col Paul
II. Newton of the Colorado National
Guard. Thousands OF persons were
cared for at night in churches and
courthouses, hotels and private homes.
Water from the Arkansas river
crept back into Main street in the
morning, seriously handicapplng res.
cue workers. The water, which had
receded at night. rose again in the
morning, but by noon once more had
started to recede.
Both food and water are being re-
toned and are very scarce. but the
most serious problem facing the city.
according to Robert Cast, chief OF the
Sanitation Commission OF the Red
Cross, is that OF sanitation Disinfect-
ants are needed urgently. Mr.. Cast
said. In an appeal sent to the ST.
Louis chapter OF the Red Cross the
local chapter stressed the need for
$4,000 for immediate use in reelama-
tion work.
In Pueblo's courthouse hundreds Of
homeless were housed.
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