The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-06-09
Death LIST IN
COLORADO FLOOD
PLACED AT 500
Property Damage Is Estimated
at About S10,OOO,O O0--
Pueblo Is a City of
DeSolation

UeSOldtl0n
Pueblo, Colo, June 4.-The waters
of the Arkansas and the Fountain
rivers, which last night swept upon
the city of Pueblo, bringing death
n destruction, tonight were recsd-
ing. In their wake was left a city of
desoiation.
Best estimates early tonight of the
toll of life taken by the flood placed
the death list at about 500 This,
however, was little more than a guess,
for it will be days before the author
tiles are able to checK up to ascer-
tain the actual number who lost their
lives. Estimates OF properly damage
remained at about $40, U00, O0t.
Organized work of administering
to the needs OF the thousands of
homeless in the city was wei under
way tonight. The homeless have been
assembled in school houses and at
churches. &. w. Lee, food admins
traitor, took over supervision of the
city's food supply, now very low be-
cause much FOOD was lost in the
flooded area.
City without Lights
The city was without electric light
tonight. Gas also was Unavailable.
This added to the plight of the suf-
49, . IN 'e'NN $500 49, INN NN
of commission by the flood and there
was no drinking water available from
the city mains.
The cheering thing to the city Off
Gals was the news that a relief train
carrying water, milk, foo and tents
would be on the way from Denver
early tonight.
Denver, Colo, June 4.-The first
49,, TO- - a.. D,,aII. gIgAlI Is.
aster was brought to Denver late to-
day by VIM. a. Kimsey, piloU of h
airplane which flew to Pueblo with
staff correspondents of the ASSOCIATE
ed Press and Rocky Mountain News.
The plane vas owned by Don .. Ho-
gan of Denver.
After circling above the stricken
city to make an accurate apprisal of
the havoc wrought by the flood wat
ers, Kimsey and his passengers land
ed in the outskirts of Pueblo, the
first persons from the outside world
to report the scene of the catastrophe.
Filler Views Ruins
Following his return to Denyer af-
ter a daring flight, much of which
was accomplished through low hang
ing clouds which obscured the earth
completely at times, KimSey detailed
the conditions at Pueblo as he was
"a SAA NAAN go ~AH dS ="
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 dis
trict of Pueblo looked like a sea OF
mud and water. The district which
/ know well from other flights over
the city was hardy recognizable on
accoun of the vast piles of debris.
M 4a4.z 49, ,,t 80
an island in a lake, but tha tracks
were completely submerged, and cars
could be seen floating about The
waters of the Arkansas were backed
up on the right bank for What ap-
peared to be several blocks and that
section Of the city between the depot
and the approximate vicinity of the
Vale hotel was submerged.
"All Of the outlying districts in the
lowlands appeared utterly devastated
and for miles around there was moth
ing but a vast expense of mud. dotted
here and there by houses perched at
some odd angle.
II did not leave my plane after /
landed in the city but a number of
residents told me of the horrible con
ditions and verified my observations.
They said that there had been nc
chance~to start a search for the dead
and the missing but that the police
lines were being formed fairly well
and that the situation which for
hours was one of panic and wanton
destruction by hooters was getting
more comfortable.
Bridges All Washed Out
Between Pueblo and Colorado
Springs all of the bridges as fas as /
could observe were washed out and
the flooded city was entirely cut off
to the north. Although 1 did not go
south of Pueblo / could not see any
bridges in commission in any direc-
ton out of the city.
When we got to Pueblo the city
was cut right in half by the food
and it appeared impossible for those
on one. bank of the Arkansas to
reach Wose ON the other. a. situation
which the refugees told me was Gre
ating 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"
In describing the flight from Dem
yer to Pueblo which was successfully
| accomplished in spite of advers fly
ing 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 a good luck. The only
towns we cited on the way down were
Castle Rock, Monument and Foun-
tain.