Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1912 — DENVER SWEPT BY STORM; TWO DEAD [ARTICLE]

DENVER SWEPT BY STORM; TWO DEAD

Five Hundred Left Homeless When Creek Overflows. PROPERTY LOSS $2,000,000 Mysterious Telephone Message Warns People Along Swollen Stream In Time to Escape Rushing Waters. Denver, Colo., July 16.—One thousand persons homeless, two dead, two missing and fifteen ipjured and property losses estimated at more than $2,000,000, is the known sum total of a cloudburst that swept down through Cherry creek into this city and out into the South Platte river. It is believed the flood has reached its crisis, however, and all further danger to be temporarily at least over. While the foregoing list of casualties is believed to be practically complete, accurate figures on property damage still are incomplete and may run considerably higher. Individual estimates vary greatly and run as* high as five millions. Practically the entire wholesale and warehouse districts were flooded. Semi-official damage figures compiled are: City streets and sewers, $500,000; stocks in wholesale district, at least $1,000,000; tramway business and residence property, $500,000. The Denver chamber of commerce and the United Charities, have taken charge of raising a relief fund to give aid to the flood sufferers, of whom more than five hundred are homeless. Twenty-Five Babies Orphaned.

The big city auditorium is a refuge camp commanded by Fire Commissioner McGrew and Chief of Police O’Neil. Five hundred homeless men, women and children gathered there and were fed by the city. Twenty-five babies, from six months to six years old, whose parents are believed to have been lost, are in the care of the police matron. Had it not been for a note of warning sounded over the telephone to the city hall just before the crest of the flood reached the city, many could not have escaped death. The message, from as yet an unidentified person, was repeated along the course of the creek and some of the dwellers were able to flee, many in their night clothes. That many were caught in their sleep is the general beliaf. The crest of the cloudburst was preceded by a storm with a wind velocity of 48 miles an hour. In two hours a hard rain filled the sewers to overflowing, the tramway lines were out of commission, hundreds were marooned in the parks around the city and fifty miles of city roadway were destroyed. Hundreds of Homes Ruined. Hundreds of homes were in ruins. Mayor Arnold with volunteer relief parties directed the rescue work. Dazed families huddled in yards or marooned on roofs mingled appeals with the voices of their rescuers until gathered in. Hundreds of spectators, cut off from retreat by the flood, before they realized their danger, were rescued by volunteers, who dove into the flood and carried them ashore. Wagon after wagon was driven into the flood to return again and again with women and children in drenched night dresses. Those who insisted on saving effects were dragged from their homes.