The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-27
One of the Most Terrible Scenes
Ever Witness by Man.
Hundreds Of Houses Destroyed
While Their Occupants Slept.
Men. Women and Children Swept
Away by the Mad Waters.
1t Is Estimated thn. 1900 Persons Per-
ished-The Towns OF Leon and
silao Suffer tho Greatest
Misfortune.

ST.. LOUIS, Mo-, June 26.-A special dis
patch from the City OF Mexico says
Telegraphic communication, which has
been interrupted ior several days by the
floods, has been restored, and the particu-
lars OF the terrible disaster OH the line Of
the Mexican Central railroad, particularly
at Leon and Silao. are obtained. During
the past ten days the table lands between
here and Zacatecas has been visited by UNI
precedentcd rains Every mountain riv-
ulct along the Central railway for more
than 200 miles has been converted into
destructive torrent, and the valleys pre-
sent the appearance Of lakes. Many cities
and towns have been inundated, and Leon
and Silao have been partially destroyed.
The first intimation received In this city
Of the disaster In the north, was tele-
gram from silao dated the 18th inst. II
said:
at commenced raining heavily here
yesterday afternoon and continued all
night raising the Silao river out Of Its
banks, breaking Of the north end Of the
town and passing through the streets with
irresistible force and volume. Most OF the
houses here being OF adobe, as soon as
they we're saturated with water they began
20 TALL. About 325 houses have been de-
stroyed. The station buildings are occu-
pied by homeless people, who are unable
TO obtain anything 10 eat except water
melons and fruit found floating in the
Ia. al. nj
| the whole country around Silao is flooded.
Several dikes have given kway. 1t still
continues raining."
On the Goth inst. II was learned that the
floods had been moro destructive in Leon
than In Siao. Itsecms that on Monday,
| the 18th inst, the river broke over Its
bikes, and Notwithstanding all efforts TO
check It's course II made rapid Roadway,
and finally flooded tho city. As the rain
fell the river rose rapidly, tho volume OF
water flowing into the town, gradually
wearing away tho foundations OF build
ings, which commenced TO TALL ms night
came on.
Monday night brought 10 that city one
OF the most terrible scenes ever witnessed
In any country. People believing their
lives secure from the flood went TO bed in
those parts OF town where the water had
not found It's WY. The steady downfall
OF rain, with the extensive water bed OF
outlying country increased the How OF the
river. and rapidly extended the channel,
until onc-half OF Leon wns under water.
Houses tumbled in rapidly. having been
worn away by the water, and the loss OF
life commenced, unparalleled In the his.
tory Of any OF the great foundations oil
| a. L.. Nil A
unfortunate slcepers were either crushed
20 death or drowned.
One whole night Of terror followed. Men
women and children fed 10 the street in
their night clothes some 10 find shelter on
higher ground and others 10 beswept away
by the flood. On Tuesday morning rain
was still falling, AMI there had been no
pcrcoptiblc decrease In the stream OF water.
A mammoth lake extended It's length and
breadth 20 all points OF the compass liz
monotonous appearance was occasionally
broken by hall submerged houses and
high lands cropping above Its anything
but placid suriacc. The town had weird
look. Where the houses had stood the
night previous water was surging In Ia
fight 10 lower grounds.
Groups ef people, who had been forced
by impending danger 70 seek flight with
out clothes, were Standing In the rain cry
ing and deploring Their losses. All houses
which the food left intact were openec
10 tho unfortunate, who were provided
with everything that was available nj thu
time.
Tho loss Of life up 10 this writing ha
reached into the hundreds, but the threat
ening danger had closed the channel o
sorrow, and tho hushed voices denoted
nothing moro than fear for the future
All night II pourcd until Wodncsda.
morning Jaw tho Lake surrounding the cit!
undimishcd In size, with a steady rail-
disturbing It's surface. In the afternoon
however. Il ceased raining, aud tho walen
commenced 10 rcoclc. Tho people 70
covered from their right though waite
was still covering portion OF the city. i
"a estimated that TO- persons porishod.
There Il ssrong stencil irom heaps @
I rubbish that once iounod houses, and on
\ IL led 10 believe that there must be bodic
. under them. Thor are also bodies sii
. floating ON the watrr. One hundred an
A eleven bodies had b,cn recovered withou
moving any ruins oi houses. wherein ar
supposed 10 DO hun'ircds OF bodies buried
: The destroyed houses are estimated Q
/, 1000, and the loss n s2.000,O00.
Many other towns have been badl
. damaged, but los Of life Is only rcportc
from Siloa and Leon. Tho Mexican Gen
: trail has suffered very severely. Sever
. washouts between AQUA Calicntes an
Leon, but they hayc now been repaired
J and trains arc running from N paso ~ "a
J. south M Leon, 10 lrapuato, distance ,
y thirty-nino mica The management ,
the road has from III frst displayed extrl
ordinary energy, an nj present all N
available workmch throughout the adjoii
ing country are now employed In the wor
2 Of repairing.
The State Of Guiana uato and the FEEDER
4 government are dblne much 10 succor N
% victims OF the lpod, Furthermore, sul
a. scriptions Of money, food and clothes nj
: being sent from thcfc. The last cpor
from Leon are hgaTlfcnding. Tho Who
y population are bnkyworking into The ruiz
Of tho fallen house Nearly cycrybod
n. has lost relations orifcnds. and those VII
e have not have scon their earthly posse
sions disappear IDA Hight.
The estimate ollols u life and propcri
h. given arc the srrallcst reported, and n
certainly within the bounds Of truth. III
% very latest siateuaept Just received plac'
% the number Of hdhsts destroyed In lee
M , ool and tho hOmplQas families NJ mo