The Little River news., 1923-05-19
PROPERTY LOSS IN HOT
 SPRINGS OVER si,o00, 900
in City's Hist0ry-NO Lives Are Lost.

I1Ol 0pIluSS, May l0.-I1OI 0pIluSS tonight is recovering slowly from a storm and a resultant flood which last night swept through Central ave- nue, the main business street of the city, and a destructive fire during the height of the flood that threatened to destroy the business section. The total loss from the fire and water is estimated at well over $1,000,000. Miraculous escapes from the flood, sensational rescues, and the battle with the Marquette hotel fire during the worst of the storm stood as fea- lures of the worst disaster in the his tory of the city.
 Mrs. Katy Christianson, he only as a result of the storm, is in local hospital tonight, with little chance for recovery. Her skull is fractured
 She was in an automobile in the center of the street when the flood swept down. Efforts to take her from the car failed. She caught rope thrown to her, but lost her grip when she plunged into the waters.
 She had been swept three blocks when rescue party picked her up. She was revived with a pulmotor, and taken to the hospital.
 EopfroI t.n,uo :,
 Central avenue last night was a seething whirl of waters, poured down from the mountain sides and drained from two natural basins to the north, formed by the range of Reservation mountains, which take the shape of a giant horseshoe.
 Hot Springs, al city of approximate ly 14,000 nestles on the sides of two mountains, sloping down to a point scarcely wide enough to accomodate Central avenue, the city's main lbusi- ness street. Through this street, fed by two connecting streets, running fl om the end of Central avenue simi- lar to the wings of a "Y," the flood ragged and tore. Sections of asphalt pavement were tossed to the side walks through windows and doors.
 Witnesses and those engaged in res cue work said that many persons were swept with the flood for several blocks, only to be rescued by squad stationed at a point where the water having run it's course, receded. Oth- CTS, caught in the torrent, were caught by persons along the water line as they were swept by Approximately 100 automobiles were damaged or de- stroyed.
 Fire Breaks Out.
 Shortly after o'clock, when the crest of the flood had been reached the fire alarm sounded. Fire broke out first in the Grand Rapids furniture store at point where the waters reached a height of several feet. From there it spread rapidly to a filling station. The Oliver-Finnie grocery, the American express offices, the Rosenthal shoe store, the Dixie cafe and finally the Marquette hotel soon were roaring mass of flames. Dark ness fell, and the rushing waters heavy rain and the red glare of the fire over it all caused onlookers al- most to believe that the entire city was doomed.
 All public utilities, including light water and gas services, soon were out of commission At the most critical moment the waters were found tt have broken off two fire plugs, and the water pressure was Sone. Reme- dies were applied later, and the fire fighters, battling the elements and the fire, again went to work.
 The Commercial building, in which th9 various stores and establishments were located, and the Marquette hotel are a smouldering mass of ruins to- night. The Marquette loss alone is estimated at $250,000.
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