Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-15
Terrible Inu Gdation Great Destruc
tfOn OF s.ife and properly ut Gam
peche, MexfcO-Sad scenes.
ampcche Espiritu Publico.l


From the Campeche Espiritu Publico.l
The capital of this State has been dis
turbed By fearful inundstioB. Its la
mentable results will be felt for some
time. For seven days past the rain has
fallen from the afternoon until midnight; !;
but on the 26th, above said, it COM
menced to rain with such abundance that
the akalches Qow lands) poured forth
their currents upon the town with con-
siderable impetuosity. At p NJ. the
water commenced to rise violently on
the wards of San Francisco, Santa Anna,
Guadaloupe and San Roman. having
reached on the same night, at 10 @ clock,
the hight of two metres on the inland
gate, inside the walls, and four metres
outside. The whole town was aroused by
the cries and lamentations of the un-
happy people of the wards, who implored
for aid on seeing their lives threatened,
not only by the water, which rose fast,
but by the violence of the current, which
carried off every object. Boats were i'm
mediately provided by the civil authsri .
ties and the citizens TO save the lives OF
those outside the walls, but all efforts
were impatient iu these moments
against the force of the current. Only
a few boats could reach Santa Anna, and
the streets of the inland gate inside the
walls, and thus we're saved large num-
Der of families who had climbed to the
walls, trees and house tops. Some poor
wretches, exhausted by fatigue, or not
being able to resist the current, let go
their hold and perished with their chill
dren. The water had thrown down some
walls and several straw and stone houses.
The people could be seen rushing every
where, searching for boats TO aid the suf'
ferers, and lighting fires to facilitate the
means OF salvation, as the night was
extremely dark. The families outside
the walls were somewhat relieved by the
boats which had reached them, and by 3
O. clock am, on the 9th ult, the moon
had commenced to shine, thus making
the situation less painful. The spectacle
was touching and sorrowiul one;
everywhere could be seen the unfortu-
mates, who had saved their lives With
great difficulty, contemplating the loss of
their property, thsir clothes, and what is
more vet, their children and their
parents, After daylight on the 2Tth, the
picking up of bodies was commenced.
The cemetery Of San Roman was COM
ple,ely destroyed. The stone walls and
the tombs were carried away by the see.
The psople Of Csmpeche conducted
themselves in heroic manner in the
moments Of great anguish, and once
more gave proof of their charitable
hearts and their interest 10 the good of
humanity. The same can be said Of the
first battalion of Cazsdores aud the regu-
lar artillery
The overflow almost squslled the great
storm Of the 7th Of September, 1907,
which almost destroyed the city OF Cam
peche. ...
The cemetery Of ssn Roman presented,
on the 2slh ult, picture worthy OF one
of those paintings snsisd BY photography
itself Tae wall in front Of the edifce,
and on the eastern side, was forced out of
its cemtuts by the water iuolosed in the
cemetery, which entered BY small door
ia the southeastern angle, carrying the
rubbish 10 the sea shore, distencs of
some twenty metres. 1he sepulchres,
made of stone and about metre in
dep,h, we're carried eff by the current,
and the remains scattered, even some
bosies Sh:ch had been inferred recently,
along tie shore Of san Rousu, the cur
reut making great excavations and OBJ
structions from where the water precip-
i,ased itself with such impetuosiiy and
noise 50 horrible that Il seemed 70 Us 20
soak like VhEaFs ISIS.
% The saue Sasd Of san Roman, 60
de- s,eworabie nieht Of the 2slh, the
water disehsrsea al ils force throngh
one OF the streets near 30 the orioge,