The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-11-20
The Floods In Spain.

The Floods In Spain.
In the night of October IA it seems
that a fearful thunder-sto broke over
this region, (about Murcia,) and in a
few hours the waters of the rivers rose
rapidly, and the torrents came pouring
down the sides of the Sierra. Very
soon the villagers were aroused from
their sleep by the dread cry that the
flood was coming. Above the patter
of the rain, and despite the thunder and
lightning, the dull roar of the rushing
element was heard by the few who were
fortunate to escape in time. This was
not the fate of the villages of Nondner-
mas and Era Alta, some three miles
from Murcia, as the Segura river swept
over them SO swiftly that the houses
were razed, and most of their inhabit-
ants perished in that dark and terrible
night. Further down in the valley lie
the larger villages of Beniajan and
Torreaguera, and the peasants had to
take refuge in the houses possessing
two stories, or on trees and rising
ground, while the water was surging
around them, and sweeping away their
cattle, their crop s and most of their
earthly goods. Alcantarrilla, situated
on higher ground, seemed an island in
the immense expanse of flooded vale,
above which lowered few trees, and
here and there, the remains of an en-
bankment. The force of the flood was
such that it swept clean away seven
hundred yards of railway embankment
between Murcia and Alcantarrilla, de-
stroying every telegraph pole for miles
around.
The waters of the Segura passed over
the dikes and shortly after midnight
entered the suburbs of San Benito and
San Lorenzo, causing frightful panic
in the town of Murcia. The authorities
instantly took measures to get the peo-
pie out of their houses, many of which
soon began to be wrecked by the force
of the waters. The bells of the churches
tolled the alarm signals, and the fright
ened inhabitants rushed about in the
darkness to find that the roads in every
direction were flooded, the station sur
rounded, telegraphic communication
cut off, and Murcia in the midst of a
sort of lake that had been her lovely
vega the day before. 1t seems that the
authorities, civil and military, the
Bishop and Alcade did their best to sue
cor the threatened suburbs, but for
nearly twenty-four hours it was utterly
impossible to extend any assistance to
the country districts. Civil guards and
police were nearly carried away several
times in endeayoring to explore the
roads, and much had to be done to save
life even in the town. Before evening
set in on the 18th the civil Governor of
Murcia was able to report that he had
given asylum in churches and public
| h,,,l t% av,l hoI
sent bread and wine to the poor resi-
dents. who had refused in many cases
to abandon their homes though the
water reached the first floor. In boats
or in carriages, with water over the
wheels, the gallant Governor and
Bishop went about giving aid and COM
forting the depressed people. hear
that many terrible scenes were wit
messed, as some houses fell upon their
tenants before help could arrive. The
Governor of Murcia has reported 140
bodies recovered up to last night in
and around Murcia- 1t is expected that
hundreds will be discovered in the Vega
farms and homesteads who were sur
prised in their sleep. In the four vii
lagos of Beniajan, Nonduermas, Era
Alta and Torreaguera the victims al
ready accounted for exceed $50, and
many others were rescued in a pitiable
condition from exposure and battling
with the flood until relief came. In
these rural districts few are the fami-
lies that have not to deplore the loss of
one or more of their members, general
ly little children. Many of the peas
antry are utterly ruined. The material
losses to the agricultural classes cannot
be calculated.
Orihuela was not much better treated
than Murcia, and its authorities say
that it was also surprised in the middle
of the night. All its streets but two
were entirely inundated. The water
rose to two metres in many parts of the
town, and in the cathedral covered the
altars, doing much damage. The civil
guards and soldiers had to wade or ride
with water to their saddles in order to
assemble in places where some relief
could be organized. Twenty houses
were destroyed on the first day, and
many others had to be evacuated under
imminent risks. Fortunately most of
these towns were provided with boats
or barges, which were of great assist
ance in carrying food to the besieged,
and in getting others out of windows,
or from the roofs where they had taken
refuge, and were loudly crying for help.
In the streets where the water had not
penetrated the refugees were quartered,
and churches were turned into tempo
rary asylums for the women and chill
dren. In Orihuela fewer victims are
reported, and only in the country around
have the gendarmes discovered many
bodies floating about and in the cot
tagcs. The extent of the damage done
in Lorea, HELM, Caravaca, and other
places was not ascertained for more
than forty-eight hours. as the Govern
ment had no direct means of communi-
eating with the flooded districts. The
first intelligence of this great calamity
reached Madrid by message which
the Governor of Murcia sent to the
King and the Home Office. The Gov
erners of Alicante and Carthagena then
began 10 wire by the coast lines that the
country between them and the Segura
valley was flooded, and that they were
sending up as far as the trains could go
large forces of soldiers, civil guards
and sailors with boats and launches.
Thus, indeed. both Orihuela and HELM
were promptly assisted, but two days
elapsed before the authorities ventured
to risk lives in exploring the valleys.
The waters then began to fall almost as
rapidly as they had risen, leaving be-
hind them a thick coat of mud and
detritus over the inundated country
Cor. London Standard.
Kisses.
Kisses, saws the Boston Transcrtpt,