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<br />a freight train was 'due, and owing to the bridge being the
<br />low point, of a sag in the roadbed and (to) the high speed
<br />of the train the engine and most of the cars plunged into a
<br />swirling torrent of w2ter before the engineer realized the
<br />situation. The engineer, ,fireman, and brakeman went down
<br />with the engine, which was completely buried."
<br />
<br />"A few days later ****search )vas begun for the
<br />missing engine. Long ,metallic rods were driven in the sands.
<br />In some, places, pits were started but soon abandoned because
<br />of the'heavy, underflow, and the location of the ****locomotive
<br />appeared hopeless when it was estimated the bedrock formation
<br />was probably 50 feet below the channel of the Kiowa. (It never
<br />was recovered.)"
<br />
<br />The magnitude of the runoff from this storm was never
<br />
<br />computed.
<br />
<br />2. May 30-31, 1935 Flood
<br />
<br />The most severe storm on record for Kiowa Creek is
<br />that of Memorial Day, 1935, which caused the loss of 9 lives,
<br />~he destruction of all bridges over the stream, and much damage
<br />due to the overflow. Earlier in the month there had been two
<br />periods of general rainfall, May 12-22 and 26-29, during which
<br />2 inches or more or rain fell. As a result the soil was par-
<br />tially saturated, increasing the runoff due to the Memorial
<br />Day rainfall. During this storm there were two periods of in-
<br />tense rainfall causing two distinct floods, the second being
<br />much the greater.
<br />
<br />The Denver Post of May 31, 1935, quoted an account
<br />of the second flood on Kiowa Creek, as given by the telephone
<br />operator at Elbert:
<br />
<br />The water came with a roar ****Within a few minutes
<br />the water had risen to 8 feet around the exchange (a quarter
<br />of a mile from the creek). Down in the lowlands it was 15
<br />feet high ****House after house was ripped from its foundations
<br />and swept down the creek. Thirty-seven houses and stores were
<br />destroyed--more than half the town. (Later reports reduced
<br />this number to,15).
<br />
<br />The County Seat Tribune in Kiowa, contained the
<br />following article on May 31, 1935.
<br />
<br />"One of the worst disasters that ever occurred'
<br />struck thi~ community Thursday when a cloudburst south of El-
<br />bert caused a flood to rage through the streets of Elbert,
<br />bringing destruction on all sides and. later, also devastating
<br />the town of Kiowa."
<br />
<br />liThe business houses and residences completely de-
<br />stroyed and washed away in Elbert were: Burnside's pool hall,
<br />
<br />3
<br />
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