Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-09
UNION AND AMERICAN
FRTGHTFUL CALAMITY.
Destruction of the city of AIanlOs, In
WexfCn

Destruction of the city Of AIaniOs,
Mexico.
The city of Alamos situated i
the southern part of Sonora, Mex
leo, has been swept out of existenc
by visitation of nature-namely,
combined attack of two great furies
wind and water. The terrible even
occurred during the great sea storm
lasting from the 18th to the 18th
ult. The New York Herald pub
fishes the following details from q
private letter:
On the 18th it commenced to rain,
and on the 10th genuine wind and
rain storm set in, lasting until the
18th. 1t seemed as if the very flood
gates ofheaven had opened and that
a second deluge was upon the world.
The wind, too, roared with dreadful
fury, and all the elements seemed
combined for some dreadful car
mage. We little thought what was
in store for our beautiful city. But
soon the tale was told and the de
struction complete, or almost com
plete The storm lasted until late
in the evening of tire 18th. During
its continuance it appeared as if no
human being could live within its
reach. The Alamos river was
swollen to q great height, and in its
wild, headlOng course, carried every
thing before it. Houses were swept !
away like SO many straws, and whole |
blocks of buildings were thrown |
down like SO many rotten trees. The
wind was no less terrible than the
water. Houses were unroofed and
blown to skaters, tiles and like ma
terial were scattered through the
air like chat; and strong trees were
uprooted as if they had been corn
stalks. The best part Of the city is
totally destroyed. About the only !.
buildings saved, worthy of mention,
are the mint, the church, and the old
State College. These stood on high
grounds, and this advantage, with
their solidity, saved them. DIR. Hill,
an American resident, had three
houses carried away, and is a loser
TO the amount of about $4,000.
Mr. I. Robinson Bours, an Ameri-
can doing 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 were mangled
fearfully and could scarcely be re
cognized Many of the bodies were
found miles down the river. I'm
doubtedly, the number found will
be largely increased by other unfor-
tunate ones. | have written you
these few lines hurriedly, but do not
attempt to describe or explain the
most extraordinary phenomenon of
n seventy-two hours whirlwind and
deluge
The ruined city of Alamos was the
Athens of Northwestern Mexico, or,
at least had that reputation. Its
women were reputed to bethe love
liest and most intelligent throughout
the republic, and its citizens were
highly spoken of and contrasted
with those Of other populations.
There was 4 great deal of wealth,
refinement and luxury among the
better classes 1t was sort of
Jerusalem, where the
proud Spanish blood and brain held
and would not be poi
soned with contact with Indian and
negro mixtures Alamos, as a city,
had fame before the great metropo-
lis Of New York was known. 1t is )
old among the many old towns of
Mexico. Surrounding it have been
some of the richest mines in the
world and from which the city had
its chief support. Al the time Of its
destruction it contained a popula-
ton of about 1000 souls, though
geographical dictionaries place the
number ut 10000, which is at least /
5000 too many Unhappily for its
people, the number is lessened
through observation-disclosures. and the
" City of Poplar Groves" has fallen
to the dust (eycn 80 man falls) in
its strength. 81