New rail bridge over Boulder Creek taken in 1897 near Broadway.
Photo copyright by the Denver Public Library.
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"CLOUDBURST AT MAGNOLIA.
The Nellie Bly mill suffered considerable from the sudden downpour of water. The entire machinery of the mill was silenced by the rush of water into it, carrying along great quantities of sand. The water rose to a depth of over a foot on the roaster floor, nearly putting out the fires and half covered one of the engines with sand and gravel, wrecking it badly.

"The system of water works on the Keystone gulch, from which the company takes it water, was practically demolished, and will be entirely useless until repaired. The large ore bins for the storage of ore and which at the time were quite full, were only prevented from being completely demolished by the rushing waters, through the combined efforts of the entire mill force, who turned out in the worst of the down pour and diverted the water by means of ditches. The bins are now in a dangerous condition, and need at once new foundations.

"At one time, the Keystone mine was in imminent danger of being flooded by a tremendous stream which tore its way down the mountain sides. Mr. Seely, the superintendent of the mine, gave the danger signal and called all the miners from the underground workings, but fortunately the stream passed to one side of the shaft and a real calamity was narrowly averted. It will require several days to repair the damage done to the mill and to put the machinery again in good running order."

"The cloud burst carried away the dance hall and the back part of Coffee's store at Sunset and destroyed the road between that place and Ward. Ira Monell's mill at Salina was damaged to the amount of $500."

"The storm of yesterday tore up the road beyond Salina and made the passage of Four mile impassable. Considerable damage was done to property in Salina...... Boulder has not had such a dashing rain storm as that of yesterday afternoon for a long time. The lightening burned out the telephone of the Camera office. The rise of the creek in the south part of town was so rapid and of such threatening proportions as to cause great anxiety for two or three hours to the people living in that section." Daily Camera, August 20, 1896