The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-25
Ringing a Midnight Alarm
from the Clock Tower.
A FLIGHT FOR LIFE.
Brave Deeds Done by Guards, Civilians
and Noblemen.
MARRING A PARADISE OF BEAUTY.
lBY CABLE TO THE HERALD.1


tated the valleys of the Mundo and Segura.
Rarely has a more terrible story been narrated
in modern times Murcia is little known to
travellers in Spain, for the Mediterranean
steamers touch at Alicante, to the north of
it, and at Cartagena, to the south of it, and the
capital of the ancient kingdom and modern
province of Murcia stands inland, on the Segura,
half way between them. 1t lies in a huerta
(plain) dotted with cosey farm houses and green
with dropping palm trees. The roads that lead
to it, from Elche, run through the most tropical
portion of the country. Dates hang in thick
screens The underwood is composed of pome-
granate trees, where the bright red fruit shines
among the leaves or waves in bright festoons.
The pale yellow clusters Of the citron trees
quantity contrast with the vermilion pome-
granates. The town is full of Moorish remnis-
cences. The architectural designs of its cathe-
dral, the bas-reliefs and heavy stone statues in
it's passages, its horseshoe-formed windows, its
slender spire, recall the days when the town was
one Of the chief Moorish possessions in Spain
and was known as Mursiah.
BEFORE THE FLOODS.
The present summer had been unusually hot
Even this torrid region had known no such
heat for generation. For months not a cloud
had been seen; not a drop of rain had fallen.
Blood-red skies blazed like procession of
torches. The very dust had not had power to
raise itself from the road. The river had been.
as the Spaniards say, bled, and to such degree
that it's life seemed extinct. Carriages would
drive along it's empty bed, through banks of
tall bamboes, and the bridges they should
have passed over rose above them, like tri-
umphal arches. Heat ruled all. On Tuesday
last few people ventured into the streets during
the daytime; but in the evening there was
general movement of carriages and foot passen-
gers toward the Alameda, which stands high,
and from which the view extends, over the river
and the campagna, far as the hills. Here all
was life and animation. There were bare-legged
Bcdouins in their white burnooses, African Jews
in long embroidered kaftans, Spanish women in
their becoming black mantias and ladies' of
higher rank in bright colored shawls. Military
music played and troops of children danced in
circles, and the benches were filled with gossip
ing groups. The gaslights shone brightly under
the dark trees. From the valley rose the sound
of castanets and the drumming of guitars.
TROPICAL STORM.
1t was about ten o'clock when the approach
of the mistral, cold and biting wind, was felt
from the direction of Cartagena. The sky
clouded over. In an instant there was u gath
ering up of fans and mantillas, and the crowd
turned hastily homeward. The Plaza. was de-
serted. Soon the storm bowling over the
town and amid the streets, and tore through
the houses. 1t increased in violence every
minute. The rain seemed to be falling in
broad sheets of water. No such tempest had
been seen within the memory of the inhabi-
tants. Shortly after midnight the serene
(wntchman) was going his rounds, fighting
his way through the binding downpour, when,
as he passed over the bridge that leads to the
Plaza and divides the town into two portions,
he saw black stream of water rushing be-
tween the arches. He found that the river was
rising rapidly. 1t had already ovcrfiowed the
banks and was stealthily climbing over the
stone parapet which protects the frontage. The
Waterman knew that time was to be lost.
lie hurried to clock tower which gives signals
of fire and Of other catastrophes to jewellers by
tho water side and set the bell in motion. The
note of warning was heard above the
noise of the thunder storm. Instantly
tho inhabitants rushed into the streets
Few of them had time to do more
than snatch up little clothing. Down the
main street. the Gale del Caballcros, rushed
atfrghtcd women. Bands of swarthy Gitanos
swarmed from the gipsics' quarters. Peasants
in their blue velvet jackets stood helplessly in
the Glorleta (hc principal promenade), too
frightened to heed the violence of the storm
The authorities at once proceeded TO organize
assistance for that part of the town which was
already lying beneath the level of the flood.
THE STORY OF AN EYE WITNESS.
"As we walked about" says one of the suffer
crs, sin that dark night, amid that deluge of
rain, we could hear the distant roar of the water
tearing past in the Segura, until low, rumbliug
crashes told of the inundation breaking into the
streets" Suddenly all the gaslights went
out. Then everybody knew that the