American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-08-10
From the New Orleans Picayune.J
CAMARGo, MEXICO, July 10th 1874

CAMARGO, Mexico, July 10th 1916.
The city of Camargo-or what is left ofit-
stands on the south side of the river San Juan,
and three miles only from the Rio Grande Its
population has been as high as 5000; but pre-
vions to la creCiente, as the people call the re-
cent dreadful flood, it had fallen to 5000 and is
now much less even than that number. Many
of the inhabitants, who have lost ALL will never
return, choosing higher ground in the vicinity
on which to rebuild their jacaleS, as their houses
or tenaments are termed.
The extent the freshet, or the rapidty with
which the waters of the San Juan rose, have
not been exaggerated. In this place alone no
less than eight hundred and sirty houSeS-among
them some ofthe best houses were either much
injured or totally destroyed, the frightened in
habitants hocked to the hills in crowds when
they saw that the place must inevitably be in
undated, The houses Immediately around the
Plaza, including the church and the dwellings
of the priest and alcade, were injured but little
although the waters gave even those thorough
soaking. To compute the entire loss sustained
by Camargo were impossible; it would not
amount to as much as many might suppose, for
hundreds of the houses were all little value; yet
the amount of suffering, as most of the people
have lost their all, has beed frightfu.
resorted to by the superstitous old women to
stay the progress of the dreaded flood. One old
crone, when the water lacked but few inches
of running over the banks, rushed to the river
with a small image Of our Saviour and the Holy
Virgin, and loudly implored them to stay the
progress of la Crectente. An American near
told her to quit her flummery, 90 TO her house,
and save as much OF her property as possible.
She beckoned him away, and called more loudly
than ever on the mute images in her hands TO
arrest the flood. Again she was told to leave,
but not until a heavy surge of water reached
her, accompanied by crumbling in Of the
banks, did she receive sufficient ACCOMPLISHMENT
that her prayers were of no avail. Then she
turned and ian as fast as she could and well
was it for her that she did 50, for in ten minutes
more the water reached her house The only
persons who remained in the place were the
few American residents, who lived in canoes
while the city was under water. Nearly oppo-
site where am now writing is large mesquit
tree, in the top Of which they built a roost
which still remains.
The weather here is unexpectedly hot during
the middle of the day, with little air stirring
as was the case at Reynosa. On the march
from that place to this the Infantry suffered
dreadfully, especially this side of Laguna del
PajuTiiuS, or Lake of the Little Birds, there
being no water ON the road and the sun pouring
his hottest rays directly upon their backs
Several fell to the ground exhausted by the
heat, while others were SO much overcome
that it was necessary to give them places in
the forage wagons. McCulloch's Rangers did
not suffer to the same extent, being all we'll
mounted but this thing of campaigning
in Southern latitude during midsummer
is not SO particularly pleasant under any
circumstances. TIE be sure by sounding the re-
veile at half-past 2 O'Clock in the morning and
starting at 8, much ofthe march is through with
before the sun Is yet up; but starting off at
such an unreasonable hour and being obliged to
lay about during the heat of the day without
shade, for we have no tents, comes rather hard
to the American people-or portion OF them
at least Bivouacking and all that sort of thing
may sound very we'll in ballads, but when it
comes down to the stern reality of the thing it
is distinctly different matter.
There is no news stirring-no intelligence as
yet OF the movements or whereabouts of Cana
les and Carrabajal. So soon as | can get the
names of the different officers of the American
force here, which comPoses the advance guard
ofthe army of invasion, will give you the
list G. w. X.