South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-05
RUSH HELP TO
SUFFERING IN
STRICKEN CITY
Rescue Workers Believe Death
List Around 500-PrOp-
erty Loss Great.
(Continued from Page one. }


every effort to condole the distant
relatives, who fear death has over
come their kin. The Red Cross has
organized TO aid sufferers, and c. W.
Lee has been named official food ad-
ministrator to distribute that food
which is available.
Rising waters Of the Arkansas
river did not work alone in causing
death and destruction here last
night Lightning struck a half doz-
en- buildings in the heart of the bus
mess district of the city. completely
cutting them. Firemen could not
reach the scene. and would have
been helpless if they could, because
the flood had long before cut off the
water service Of the city. as we'll as
the electric lights. The entire east
ern and southern sections of the city
too. were cut off from the business
district. The city itself is isolated.
Overturn Trains.
While the fire ragged an the city's
thousands cried of hunger, the wa
ters overturned two trains. both of
which were said to have been filled
with passengers Many were killed,
although the exact number is not
known and perhaps never Will be.
As the waters receded this after
noon, they left only scenes of devas-
tation. The railroad yards were left
filled with mud covered debris and
broken and overturned equipment,
carrying the damages TO more than
a million dollars. Business houses
inside and out We're covered with the
same shiny mud and in many cases
even brick buildings were under
mined and wrecked. Frame build
ings in the path Of the food were
swept away, in many cases carrying
their inhabitants with them.
While the food warnings had been
given before dark last night, many
persons did not heed them and to
this is ascribed a goodly part Of the
death loss.
No Drinking Water.
Thousands of Mexicans with pos
sessions on their backs were wan
dering through The city this after
noon with nothing TO eat and no
place to sleep. No gas. nor drink
ing water were available.
A party Of Pueblo business men
who assembled for a dinner at the
Minnequa club last night. still were
marooned there today.
Frany Pryor Of a local furniture
company spent last night on one
standing wall Of his four-story build
ing which collapsed. Rescuers were
endeavoring to reach him this aft
ernoon.
Richard Philbines was rescued
from a telephone pole. where he had
spent the night. He was riding a
horse last night when the waters
overwhelmed him. The horse was
drowned. but Philbines managed 10
swim TO the role.
While the greater loss Of life ap-
pears to have been in Pueblo, re-
ports Of damage TO property come
from many sections Of southeastern
Colorado. Streams. sent out Of their
banks by cloudbursts in the noun
tains. carried away farm buildings
and drowned many head Of cattle.
Residents If the rural districts ad-
jacent TO irrigation projects spent
the night last ght prepared 70 fee
instantly il the impounded water
broke through irrigation dams.
Carry Away Bridges.
Railroad and highway bridges
we're carried away and miles Of tel
egraph and telephone lines were
laid low.
Means OF Communication from
Pueblo are meagre. The Western
Union company has three or four
wires from a neighboring suburb
but these are so crowded with Off
cial business that press dispatches
have little show. The roads 20 the
outside are so torn by the storm that
r. Is almost impossible 10 make
progress over them.
The city was without electric light
tonight. This added 10 the plight
OF the sufferers
The cheering thing 20 the city Of
fciaIs was the news that a relief
train carrying water, milk, food and
tents would be or the way from
/ Denver early tonight
/, The flooded section o. Pueblo is
described as extending from Second
street 70 the Mesa 7 contains a
large portion Of the business dis
: trict
( Starting shortly afte- o'clock
( yesterday afternoon Pueblo's IRE
/ whistles sounded the food alarm.
At that hour both the Arkansas and
/ the Fountain were rising rapidly
+ from the cloudsursts rha- prevailed
during m day. Hundreds % per-
sons took warning and gathered a
/ few belongings sought safety In the
biffs around the rirv Others na id