The Lincoln County herald., 1868-12-17
TERMS or ApvEa ,,ssso.
Frighifal Calamity In Mtxico--De-
stsuelioa OSriAe City Of Alanes~s
Thossands.Nf Lives Lest. W. M

Thossands. .ef Lives Lest. 'a PEI!
The city Of Alanos, sitaated 10 the
southern portion Of Sonoro, Mexico, hss
been swept ont Of existence by q vista
tion Of namely combined attack
Of two great furics, wind and water. The
terrible event occurred during the great
sea storm, lasting from tho 18th TO the
18th ult. The New York Herald pub.
fishes the following details from private
letter: Z '''
On the 18th IL co,nmneed to rain, and
on tho 10th . genuine rain aud wind
storm set in, lasting until the 18th. II
seemed as If the very .6oodgates Of heaven
had opened and that second dcluge wss
upon the world. The wind too, rosred
with dreadful fury, and sll the elements
seemed combined Tor some dreadful car.
mage. We little thought what was in
store for our beautiful city. But soon
tho tale was told and the destruction com.
plcte, or almost complete. The storm
lasted until late in the evening Of the
18th. During its continuance It appeared
us If no human being..could live within
its reach. The Alanos river was swollen
to great hight. aud in ITS wild headlong
course, cuvried everything before it.
Houses were swept away like so many
straws, and whole blocks OF buildings were
thrown down Ike 20 many rotten trees.
The wind was no less terrible than tho
water. Houses were unroofed and blown
to skaters. tiles and like material were
scattered through the air. like chsif; and
strong trees we're uproottd as If they had
been cornstalk. The best part Of the
city is totally destroyed. About the
only buildings saved worthy Of mention,
are tho mint, the church aod the old
State College. these stood on high
grounds, and this advantage with their
solidity, saved them. Dr.. Hiil, an Amer.
lean resident, had three houses carried
away, and is . loeer to the amount Of
about $4,000. Mr.. T. Robson 3ours,
an American doing q banking business
here, had his banking house swept away.
Others have suffered severely. The loss
Of life has been quite large Sixty dead
bodies have been picked up. Some Of
them we're mangled fearfully, and could
scarcely be recognized. Many Of the
bodies we're found miles down the river.
Undoubtedly, the number found will bs
largely incseased by other unfortunate
ones. lhave written you these few lines
hurricdly, but do not attempt to describe
or explain this most extraordinary pho
nomenon Of a scventy-two hours whirl-
wind and deluee.
The ruined city Of Alamos was the
Athens Of Northwestcrn Mexico, or, as
least, had that reputation. Its women
we're repu,cd to DO the !ovcliest and most
intelligent throughout the republic, and
its citizens were highly spoken of a. con.
trnsted with those Of other populations.
There was great deal Of wealth, refine
ment and luxury among the better classes.
It was sort of sanctiGcd Jerusalem where
the proud Spanish blood and brain held
ascend deucy lsnd wouhl not bed peitos ossd
with contact vith Indian and negro mix.
lures. Alamos,. As a city, had Tame
before the great metropolis Of New YorE
was known, II is old among the many
old towns Of Mexico. Surrouudisg Il
have bsen soma Of the richest mines In
the world, and from which the city has
had its chief support. At the time Of its
destruction 1t contained population Of
about. 1000: souls, though gee ,.apbieal
dictionaries place the number at 10000,
which is at icass 5000 too many. Un.
happily for i,s people, the numbes h
lessened through . : terrible misfortups
and the "City Of Poplar, Groves" has fil.
len 10 the dust (even, % iran fills) In its
strength. ''s''' as 'pd'i"a' '''t