The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-06-30
Great Floods in Mexico.
Over I,5oO People Drowned or Buried
Under Falling Houses.

CITY OF MEXICO, June 26-The telegraphic COM
municaton, which has been interrupted for several
days by the floods has been restored, and the par
ticuars of the terrible disaster the line of the
Mexican Central Railway. particularly at Leon and
silao, are obtained. During the past ten days the
table lands between here and Zaeatecas have been
visited by unprecedented rains. Every mountain
rivulet along the Central Railway for more than 200
miles has been converted into destructive torrent
and the valleys present the appearance of lakes
Many cities and towns have been inundated. and
Leon and Silao have been partly destroyed
The first ntimation received in this city of the dis
aster in the north was telegram from Silao dated
the 18th inst. 1t said ut commenced raining heavily
here yesterday afternoon and continued all night,
raising the Silao River out of its banks breaking at
the north end OF the town, and passing through the
streets with irresistible force and volume. Most
houses here being OF adobe, they were
saturated with water they began to fall. About 325
houses have been destroyed. The station buildings
are occupied by homeless people, who are unable to
obtain anything to eat except watermelons and
been geneTa and th wbole conntrv apeund sao
is flooded Several dykes have given way. II still
continues raining"
been more destructive in Leon than in Silao. On
Monday the 18th, the river broke overis dykes and
Notwithstanding all efforts to check its course il
made rapid Roadway and finally flooded the city.
As the rain fell the river rapidly. its volume of
water flowing into the town, gradually wearing
away the foundations ofbuildngs which commence
ed TO fall as night came on.
Monday night brought TO that city one of the most
terrible scenes People believing themselves secure
from the food went to bed in those parts the town
where the water had not found its way. The steady
outlying country increased the flow of the river
and rapidly extended its channel until half of
Leon was under water. Houses tumbled in rapidly
having been worn away by the water, and terrible
loss life began AS the buildings fell the unfortu-
nate sleepers were either crushed TO death or
drowned.
one whole night of terror followed. Men, women
and children fed TO the streets in their night
clothes, some to find shelter higher ground aud
others to be swept away by the flood. On Tuesday
morning rain still falling, and there per-
ceptible decrease in the stream of water. A NAM
moth lake extended to all points of the compass.
Its monotonous appearance was occasionally broken
by halfsubmerged houses and high lands Cropping
above its anything but placid surface. The town
had o wrecked look. Where the houses had stood
the night previous water was surgtng in its fight to
lower grounds. Groups of people who had been
forced by impending danger to seek flight without
clothes were standing about in the rain crying and
deploring their losses. All houses which the flood
left intact were opened to the unfortunates, who
were provided with everything that was available
Tine loss of life had reached into hundreds, but
the threatening danger left little time for sorrow,
and the prevailing sentiment was fear for the
future. All night it poured until Wednesday morn
ing saw the lake surrounding tile city undminished
in size with steady rain disturbing its surface In
the afternoon, however, it ceased raining and the
waters began 10 recede The people recovered from
their fright, though water was still covering part
of the city. 1t is estimated that 200 persons per-
ished
There is strong stencil from heaps of rubbish
that once formed houses, and there must be bodies
buried under them. There are also bodies still
floating in the water. One hundred and eleven
bodies have been recovered, without moving any
ruins of houses, wherein are supposed to be hun
dreds of bodies The number of destroyed houses is
estimated at 1900, and the loss OF S2,0)00O0.
Many other towns have been badly damaged but
loss fife is only reported from Siiao and Leon.
The Mexican Central has suffered very severely.
Several washouts occurred between Aguas Calientes
and Leon but they have now been repaired. and
trains are running from FL Paso as far south as
Leon TO Irapuato, distance of thirty-nine miles.
The management of the road has displayed much
energy aud all the available workmen throughout
the adjoining country are now employed in the
work Of repairing. The State of Guanajuato and the
Federal Government are doing much TO suecor the
victims of the flood. Subscriptions of money, food,
and clothes are being sent from here. The last re-
ports from Leon are heartrending. The whole pop
ulation are busily working into the ruins of the fall
len houses. Nearly everybody has lost relations or
friends, and those who have not have seen their
earthly possessions disappear in a night.
The estimates loss life and property given are
the smallest reported, and certainly within the
bounds of truth. The very last statement, Just re-
ceived. places the number of houses destroyed in
Leon at 2,22l. and the homeless families at more
than 600 More than 1900 bodies have been re-
covered from the ruins In some districts the
drifting water is full of dead bodies, floating as
thick as drift wood, and the stencil pervading the
country is frghtful. Measures are being taken all
over Mexico to raise funds for the sufferers.