1906 — Dec 3, Rain, Detroit Copper Mining Co. Dam fails, flash flood, Clifton, AZ –18-20

lornajarrettblanchard December 3, 1906

–18-20 Blanchard estimated range.[1]

— 60 Baltimore Sun Almanac for 1907. 1-1-1907, p. 172.[2]

–15-20 AP. “Clifton May Never Rebuild. Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-7-1906, p. 1.

— 18 Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Clifton is Swept by Big Flood.” 12-5-1906, p. 1.

— 18 AP. “Details From Clifton Flood.” Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-6-1906, p. 1.

— 18 Briggs. History of the Copper Mountain (Morenci) Mining District…[AZ]. 2016, p. 34.[3]

— 18 ComeToClifton.com. “Floods.” 2018. Accessed 7-6-2019.[4]

— 18 Western Mining History. “Clifton, Arizona,” 2010.

— 14 Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “The First Report.” 12-6-1906, p. 1.

— 14 The World Today. “The Calendar of the Month,” Vol. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109.

Narrative Information

Hjalmarson: “A larger flood [than one in 1891] occurred on December 3, 1906… Eighteen lives were lost, and damages were estimated at $1 million. Some of the loss of life and damage was from flooding along Chase Creek.” (p. 30)

The World Today: “December 4 – By the breaking of the Detroit dam, fourteen lives lost at Clifton, Arizona.” (The World Today. “The Calendar of the Month,” Vol. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109.)

Western Mining History: “The greatest flood occurred on December 4, 1906, when it rained continuously for thirty hours. This gave the people forewarning of what might happen and most of them took refuge on higher ground. Nevertheless, eighteen people were killed by this flood.” (Western Mining History. “Clifton, Arizona,” 2010.)

Newspapers

Dec 3: “Phoenix, December 4.–Continuous rains in the watershed during the past week have resulted in a flood coming down Salt river. It is supposed that the crest is passing the Roosevelt dam site, seventy miles above Phoenix, late this afternoon, with a volume of 20,000 feet per second. Twenty-five miles above Phoenix the Verde river is adding 14,000 feet a second….

“By telephone reports the contractors were well warned and are prepared to repress the flood. The machinery all has been removed from the canyon and the only damage feared will be loss of time necessary to get the water and debris from the excavation after the flood and to rebuild the crest of the cofferdam, which has been swept away.” (Associated Press. “Heavy Rains Cause Flood.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. 12-4-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 3: “Several inches of rain fell in Globe during the forty-eight hours ending last evening, but so far but little damage has been reported, owing probably to the steadiness of the downpour. Last evening at about sunset the heavy gray clouds which hung over the city for two days broke for the first time and the sun shone for a few minutes. Superintendent Mallard of the G.V.G. & N. railway reports that the track in some places has been softened by the rain, but no damage has been done, so far as know. It was expected that considerable damage must have been done at Roosevelt, but it was impossible to secure telephone connection with that place yesterday afternoon or last evening.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Heavy Rains, But No Damage Reported Yet.” 12-4-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 4: “El Paso, December 4.–A special to the Herald from Morenci, Ariz., says: Eight lives are reported to have been lost in a great flood at Clifton last night. The Detroit Copper company’s concentrator dam broke, sending a wall of water down Chase creek. Wires are down between Morenci and Clifton and no definite new can be obtained until messengers return to Morenci from Clifton. The central telephone station at Clifton has been abandoned, having been pronounced unsafe.” (Associated Press. “Clifton is Swept by Big Flood…Eighteen Thought Dead.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. 12-5-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 4: “Phoenix, December 4.–It is reported here tonight that fifty people have been drowned in the floods at Clifton Ariz. Attempts to confirm have been futile, as all wires are down.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Cannot Confirm Report.” 12-5-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 4: “Special to the Silber Belt. Phoenix, Ariz., December 4.–Sixty people are reported to have lost their lives in the flood which has swept over Clifton, in Graham county. Superintendent Bicknell of the Maricopa & Phoenix railroad received this report this afternoon. Fully half of the city is reported destroyed. Many of the finest buildings are reported to have been swept away….

“In addition to the foregoing dispatches, the Silver Belt received information through the Western Union Telegraph company that the operator at Solomonville, who had communication with Clifton by telephone for a while yesterday, stated that according to reports he had received, eighteen lives had been lost in the flood at Clifton. He was unable to ascertain the names of any of those drowned, nor the extent of the property damage done to the city. He reported, however, that almost the entire business portion of Clifton had been devastated by the flood.

“It is believed that the reports of heavy loss of life as contained in the dispatches from Phoenix were considerably exaggerated and that the figures give at Solomonville are correct. Up to 4 o’clock this morning the Silver Belt was unable to receive further information from Clifton, but it is expected that full details will be received today….” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Reports Sixty Drowned.” 12-5-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 5: “El Paso, Texas, December 5.–A special to the Herald from Clifton gives the first authentic news of the flood. It says that the river is now receding rapidly and the weather clearing. No further damage is apprehended. Two bodies have been recovered from the wreckage in Chase creek. The number of deaths cannot yet be told. Joseph Bhron, who was rescued from the flood after his wife had lost her life, was taken to the hospital in a critical condition, but will probably recover.

Looters Fatally Shot

“Three Mexicans who were caught in the act of looting and who refused to surrender to the officers when called upon, were shot and fatally wounded.

One House Escapes

“The flood in Chase creek was caused by the breaking of the Detroit Copper company’s dam, impounding a vast amount of tailings, which came down with a seven-foot breast of water. Only one big house in Chase creek escaped and many were entirely destroyed. The property loss is appalling.

North Clifton Wrecked

“North Clifton is badly wrecked and nearly all of the residences in that section were destroyed or badly damaged. The Becker-Franz Mercantile company was damaged to the extent of $10,000. The Coronado railway suffered all the way from Clifton to Metcalf. It will be several weeks before trains will be running. The first train out of Clifton started today, but it is doubtful if it will reach Duncan….So many restaurants and hotels have been destroyed that it is almost impossible to find a place to eat or sleep, but there is no shortage of provisions, as many stores escaped the flood.

“It is reported that the Arizona Copper company will remove its plant to some other location, but no announcement has been made by the company. The president and several directors are there now.

Bridges All Out

“All trains are held and the railroad bridges are so badly damaged that it will be impossible to use them for some time. The Herald office was swept away and the Era plant was put out of business for several weeks. The Era building was flooded to a depth of six feet and the plant badly damaged.

“Solomonville, December 5.–As a result of thirty hours of steady rain in southern Arizona at Clifton, where the storm was especially heavy, hundreds of people took to the mountains for safety. Owing to disabled wires, details are hard to obtain. It is know that eighteen are dead as result of the flood in Chase creek, the victims being principally Mexicans and other foreigners living in squalid huts which were inundated.

“The town is built in three sections, Chase Creek, North and South Clifton.

“The catastrophe was caused by the breaking of a reservoir in the mountains above precipitating a vast flood in Chase Creek. The principal streets at the base of the stream were completely destroyed and it was here that the fatalities occurred. The flood came down in a head several feet high, engulfing the people without warning.

Dead Mostly Foreigners

“The dead are mostly foreigners and their names have not been learned. Two Americans are known to have perished.

“North and South Clifton are swept by the waters of the San Francisco river.

“The new school building was washed away, as were the floors of many houses. The railroad bridge is tottering.

“All information is sent out from a telephone office which is surrounded by water.

“The loss to the Arizona Copper company’s smelting works is very heavy. The Arizona & New Mexico Railway company is also a heavy loser, the yards and shops being inundated.” (Assoc. Press. “Details From Clifton Flood.” Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-6-1906, p. 1.)

____

Dec 6: “The following message was received late yesterday afternoon by the Silver Belt from Morenci via El Paso and Phoenix, being transmitted by telephone from the latter city, and was the first direct information received here of the flood:

“Morenci, via El Paso and Phoenix, December 5.–Early reports of flood damage at Clifton are fully confirmed. Fourteen lives are know to have been lost and several hundred thousand dollars damage to property is considered a conservative estimate.

“Most of the damage in the town has been done to the east side, where many stores and business houses have been ruined. The building of the Gila Valley bank is seriously damaged. The Casino club hours and bowling alley is completely wrecked.

“Many people are encamped on the mountainside and the water may enforce the removal of the greater portion of the town to higher ground. Wires out of Clifton are down.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “The First Report.” 12-6-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 6: “Morenci, December 6.–The Clifton flood was the most disastrous ever known here, over half the town being demolished. About twelve houses and ten other buildings were swept away and between fifteen and twenty persons drowned, mostly Mexicans.

“The water in the river is still very high. The high water mark was two feet higher than ever before. Many people lost their houses and slept on the hillsides around fires last night. The Chase creek district was almost wiped out. Great damage was done by the breaking of the concentrator dam in Morenci.

“The Coronado railroad between Clifton and Metcalf was almost entirely washed out, and it will take four weeks to repair the damage to the track. Several Mexicans were shot for looting stores and houses. The smelter and works of the Arizona Copper company were badly damaged. The Herald printing office is a complete loss. The Copper Era printing office was buried half way in mud and concentrator tailings.

ʹDobe Buildings Collapsed

“Nearly all the adobe buildings in the city collapsed. Franz’s store, the Gila Valley bank, the Clifton hotel and several warehouses, all adobe, suffered partial collapse. The damage is estimated at close to a million dollars.

“The town will probably now be moved to higher ground.

“The Arizona & New Mexico railroad was badly washed out and it will take several days to get a train out. Telephone and telegraph wires are all down.

“The Patterson addition is still under water and has been almost entirely ruined. The rain lasted four days, melting the snow in the mountains. It is said that fifteen houses have been destroyed in Metcalf, but no one was drowned. Morenci was not damaged. The Gila river is now booming, and it is feared that more damage will be done along the railroads.” (Associated Press. “Clifton May Never Rebuild. Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-7-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 7: “Solomonville, Ariz., December 7.–Reports from the flood-stricken city of Clifton indicate that while the water has subsided the town is paralyzed by deposits of mud and smelter sediments. It is still impossible to reach many sections and no definite list of the dead can be obtained. It is now know that the calamity was principally caused by the breaking of a reservoir up Chase creek.

Big Store Flooded

“The first rush, which came soon after dark Monday night [Dec 3], formed a dam of wreckage and threes fierce currents over the town. The store of the Arizona Copper company, carrying a half million dollars’ worth of stock, was flooded five feet deep. The smelter works built over the stream were wrecked. Other large firms suffering heavy losses were the Gila Valley bank, Becker-Franz Co., S. J. Forbes and Hosfield & Hagerauer.

Track Under Slime

“Six miles of the track of the Coronado branch is destroyed. The tracks of the Arizona & New Mexico railway are under three feet of slime. The city is under strong guard to prevent vandalism. Much suffering among the poorer classes is becoming manifest, business is at a standstill and one telephone wire is the sole connection with the outside world.

No Bodies Recovered

“No bodies have been recovered and the complete death list can never be ascertained. An estimate places the damage at $200,000. A great deal of pillage is now going on and several Mexicans have been shot. The town of Metcalf, north of Clifton, was also damaged but no lives were lost. The two newspaper offices were buried in the mud.” (Associated Press. “May Never Know All of Victims.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-8-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 8: “Solomonville, Ariz., December 8.–Conditions in the flood-stricken city of Clifton are now somewhat improved. Clear and mild weather now continue to the advantage of the refugees. The work of clearing away the mud and debris is progressing slowly. The city is still without water, lighting and telephone service, and walking over town is difficult and dangerous.

Find Six Bodies

“A party of searchers found a human arm protruding from the ground, and digging away, recovered the bodies of six unidentified Mexicans. It is certain that the death list will be large, although but two Americans are known to have perished.

“A strong guard is still maintained and four men have been shot for looting. Efforts will be made to run a train out of the train tomorrow.” (Associated Press. “Recover Six Clifton’s Dead.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-9-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 18: “The people of Chase creek, who lay their troubles to the breaking of the dam of the Detroit Copper Mining company, where many thousand tons of tailings and water were stored, have held several meetings since the flood to devise means for the recovery of their losses from the company, says the Copper Era….[A] committee was…appointed to interview the company in regard to recompensing the people for their losses….C. E. Mills, manager of the company, arrived and was asked to participate in the meeting, which he did, but no definite conclusion was arrived at. On the following day the committee, or a part of it, visited Morenci and viewed the dam, and discussed the matter with Mr. Mills, but still without arriving at any conclusion as to a settlement. On Saturday night [Dec 15] another meeting was held at which the committee reported. Another committee…was appointed to serve legal notice upon the company that it would be required to pay for all damage done by the breaking of the dam. This committee was also empowered to employ attorneys, if necessary.

“A committee to appraise the losses and to present them to the Detroit Copper company was then selected…claims were subsequently filed and were then presented to the company.

“The sufferers as a whole are in favor of a fair settlement rather than litigation, but will stand together to the end, even if it be necessary to carry it to the supreme court of the United States.

“It seems to be the prevailing opinion that the company will do the square thing, but if not there will be something doing in a legal way very shortly.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “Chase Creek Wants Damages.” 12-18-1906, p. 3.)

Dec 23: “While removing the sand from the railroad yards near the car house Friday afternoon last [14^th] the body of a woman was found which was afterward recognized as that of Mrs. Josephine Throm, says the Copper Era. The body had been buried in the sand and debris from the night of the 3d until the afternoon of 14^th, but was easily recognized by many people. Even those who uncovered the body at once recognized it as the earthly habitation of the spirit of Mrs. Throm and later it was generally recognized by all who viewed it….

“Justice Neff summoned a coroner’s jury, which on Monday returned a verdict to the effect that deceased came to her death through the breaking of the dam of the Detroit Copper company, which loosened an immense amount of tailings and water upon the flooded districts of Clifton. This verdict was not a surprise to the people of Clifton, who had apprehended it from the time the body was found.

“The responsibility of the company in the construction of the dam will now be brought before the next grand jury. It is said by those who have visited the dam that it was constructed entirely of tailings, with no retaining wall of any kind. Such a dam could not be expected to withstand a flood of any magnitude.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “Body Is Recovered.” 12-23-1906, p. 7.)

Sources

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “Body Is Recovered. Remains of Woman…” 12-23-1906, p. 7. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-23-1906-p-7/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Cannot Confirm Report.” 12-5-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-05-1906-p-1/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “Chase Creek Wants Damages.” 12-18-1906, p. 3. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-18-1906-p-3/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Heavy Rains, But No Damage Reported Yet.” 12-4-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-04-1906-p-1/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Reports Sixty Drowned.” 12-5-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-05-1906-p-1/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “The First Report.” 12-6-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-06-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Clifton is Swept by Big Flood…Eighteen Thought Dead.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. 12-5-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-05-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Clifton May Never Rebuild. Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-7-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-07-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Details From Clifton Flood.” Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-6-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-06-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Heavy Rains Cause Flood.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. 12-4-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-04-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “May Never Know All of Victims.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-8-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-08-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Recover Six Clifton’s Dead.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-9-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-09-1906-p-1/

Baltimore Sun Almanac for 1907. 1-1-1907, Google preview accessed 7-6-2019 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=mBoXAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Briggs, David F.. History of the Copper Mountain (Morenci) Mining District, Greenlee County, Arizona (Contributed Report CR-16-C). Arizona Geological Survey, November 2016, 79 pages. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: http://repository.azgs.az.gov/sites/default/files/dlio/files/nid1695/cr-16-c_morenci_0.pdf

ComeToClifton.com. “Floods.” 2018. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: http://www.cometoclifton.com/history/floods.php

Hjalmarson, H. W. (USGS). Flood of October 1983 and History of Flooding Along the San Francisco River, Clifton, Arizona. (Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4225-B, prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation). Tucson, AZ: U.S. Geological Survey, January 1990. Accessed 2-21-2017 at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1985/4225b/report.pdf

Western Mining History. “Clifton, Arizona,” 2010. Accessed 3-18-2011 at: http://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/arizona/clifton/

World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109. Google preview accessed 7-5-20019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=cZjNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] There appears to be a consensus that at least eighteen people died due to the flood. The AP report noting 15-20 deaths noted the true number would never be know in that most of the victims were poor Mexicans. Given descriptions of the flash flood, we view the high-end of the AP range of twenty deaths very conceivable. This number does not include the 3-4 Mexicans “mortally shot” for alleged looting.

[2] We note in the newspaper coverage below early speculative loss of 50 or 60 lives, later corrected by the press.

[3] “Although many sought refuge on higher ground, eighteen lost their lives that day [Dec 3, 1906].”

[4] “….18 people were known to have lost their lives.”