The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-29
Destruction OF the City OF Alnmox-
Thousnn nds of Lives Lost.

Thousands of Lives Lost.
The city of Alamos, situated in the
Southern portion of Sonora, Mexico,
has been swept out Of exis tence by a
visitation Of nature-namely, com
bined attack Of two great furies,
wind and water. The terrible event
occurred during the great sea storm,
lasting from the 18th to the 18th
ultimo. The New York Herald pub
fishes the following details from n
private letter:
On the 18th it commenced to rain.
and on the 1Gth n genuine rain and
wind set in, lasting until the 18th
1t seemed rs if the very flood gates of
Heaven had opened. and that IL
second deluge was upon the world.
The wind, too, roared with dreadful
fury, and all the elements seemed
combined for somo dreadful carnage.
We little thought what was in store
for our beautiful city. But soon the
tale was told and the destruction
complete, or almost complete. The
storm lasted until late in the evening
of the 18th. During its continuance
it appeared as if no human being
could live within its reach. The
Alamos river was swollen to great
height, and in its wild, headlong
course, carried everything before it.
Houses were swept away like so many
straws, and whole blocks of buildings
were thrown down like SO many
trees. The wind was no less terrible
than the water. Houses were un-
rooted and blown to skaters; tiles
and like materials were scattered
through the air like chaff, and strong
trees were uprootcd. as if they had
been corn-stalks. The best part of
the city is totally destroyed. About
tho only buildings saved, worthy of
mention, are the mint, the church,
and the old State College. These
stood on high grounds, and this ad-
vantage, with their solidity, saved
them.
The loss of life has been quite
large. Sixty dead bodies have been
picked up. Some of them were
mangled fearfully, and could scarcely
be recognized. Many of the bodies
were found miles down the river.
Undoubtedly the number found will
be largely increased by other unfor-
tunate ones. L have written Won
these few lines hnrriedly. but do not
attempt to describe or explain this
most extraordinary phenomenon of q
seventy-two hours whirlwind and
deluge.
The ruined city of Alamos was the
Athens Of Northwestern Mexico, or,
ut least had that reputation. It's
women were reputed to be the love
lest and most intelligent throughout
the republic. and its citizens were
highly spoken of as contrasted with
those of other populations. There
was a great deal of wealth, refine
ment and luxury among the better
classes. 1t was a sort of sanctified
Jerusalem, where the proud Spanish
blood and brain held ascendancy and
would not be poisoned with contact
with Indian and negro mixture.
Alamos, as city, had fame before
the great metropolis of New York
was known. 1t is old among the
many old towns of Mexico. Sur
rounding it have been some of the
richest mines in the world, and from
which tho city has had it's chief sup
port. At the time Of its destruction
it contained population of about
1000 souls, though geographical die
tionaries place the number at 10, 600,
which is ut least 5000 too many.
Unhappily for its people, the mum
Der is lessened through a terrible
misfortune, and the "City of Pop
lar Groves" has fallen to the dust
(even as man falls) in its strength.
JAPAN.-The Mikado left Kioto on
the 4th of November and passed