the contents of the burning buildings.
The loss of property by this fire exceeded two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and embraced the principal business portion .of the town. Before the wreck of the burnt district was cleared away, while the ashes were still hot and smoking, the work of rebuilding began. The new structures were principally of brick, and the indomitable energy that characterized the pioneer caused a fine city to spring up, Phoenix like, from the ashes; and commercial transactions soon resumed their former bustling activity. Most of the losers in that fire are the prominent business men of Denver to-day.
The Cherry creek flood began about midnight on the 13th of May, 1864. It swept away a number of buildings and drowned fifteen or twenty people.
Said a lady: “ I heard a terrible sound rolling through the air, like a discharge of cannon. I threw open the door, and beheld a gigantic wave, like an approaching Niagara, reflecting on its crest the light of the moon. At first it was slow and majestic in its movements, then it came faster and faster, mounted higher and higher, tear-
69
70 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS.
ing up solid soil until it held in suspension nearly half its volume in sand. Trees were toppled down, houses fell and everybody rushed in fright away from the mad torrent.
“After the sorrowful tales were told and the gloom wore away, we found much to laugh at. One lady awoke her husband and asked him to get up and see what was the matter, ‘she heard a noise like the screaming of people.’ He said it was the wind and gave himself up to sleep; but she ‘refused to be comforted/ and aroused him again.
He said, ‘if I go to the door and look out, I suppose you will be satisfied.’ Stepping on the floor, he plunged knee deep in water; then, muttering a few crusty words about leaving the children’s bath-tub in the middle of the floor, he took another step, only to discover that something was radically wrong. They were saved from a watery grave by the gallant men on horses, who were dashing through the surging waves, rescuing families from their flooded homes.”
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