Keller-Miller company, stock
almost total loss.
Mrs. Long, stock almost total
loss.
Postoffice and drug store,
total loss.
Stage Company, loss about $
1,500.
Robin's store, loss about
$200.
W. H. Bucher, former cashier
of the Sierra county bank loss about $ 2,500.
Residence and furniture of
Mrs. Crews, mother of R. H. Crews, of Albuquerque, about $1,000.
Wall of Water
The flood came down the main
street of Hillsboro a living wall of water at least six feet
high, as described by the horrified spectators who witnessed the
catastrophe. Nothing could withstand the rush of the waters, and
buildings in the wake of the tide crumbled before it. The fact
that the toll of death was not much greater than it was in one
of the wonders of the disaster.
The ladies of the Order of the
Eastern Star were holding a meeting in the Masonic hall, which
is on the second floor of an adobe building in the path of the
flood. The steps of this building crumbled, and it was a miracle
that the entire building did not give way, entailing the death
or serious injury of every one of the ladies in the hall.
Death of Thomas Murphy
It was here that Thomas
Murphy, pioneer citizen and one of the best beloved residents of
this community, met his death. Mrs. Murphy was in attendance on
the meeting of the Eastern Star, and her husband was on the
porch of the building waiting to take her home when the flood
broke.
Fearing that the building
would collapse, and thinking to get the women safely out of the
building, Murphy stepped off the porch into the street with the
purpose of going around to the rear of the building to the only
stairway leading to the upper floor, when the flood took him off
his feet and swept him away.
It was not until noon of
Thursday that his body was found two miles below the town of
Hillsboro, where it had been swept by the flood. When recovered
the body was perfectly nude. One leg was broken and the skull
was crushed. Mr. Murphy was buried with Masonic honors in
Hillsboro today.
Aside from the death of Mr.
Murphy, no other casualties or serious injuries as a result of
the flood have been reported.
The work of restoration is
going on rapidly in Hillsboro, and it is believed that it will
be only a few days before conditions are again normal. While
there has been much suffering, no appeal for outside aid has yet
been made.
Albuquerque Morning Journal, June 13, 1914
