Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-06-27
Terrible Loss of Life.

4STTlOkc ALUSS Oh L1LGs
Advices from the City of Mexico state that
telegrapho communication, which has been
interrupted for several days by foods, has
been restored, and the particulars of the ter
rible disaster on the line of the Mexican
Central Railway, particularly at Leon and
Silao, are obtained. During the past ten
days the table lands between the City of
Mexico and Zaca.ecas have been visited by
unprecedentedra Every mountain rivu-
let along the Central Railway for more than
two hundred 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 partially destroyed The
first intimation received was telegram from
Silao, dated the 18th instant. II said cit
commenced raining heavily here yesterday
afternoon and continued all night, raising
the Silao river out of its bsnks, breaking at
the north end of the town and passing
through the streets with irresistible force and
volume. Most houses here being of adobe,
rs soon as they were saturated with water
began to fall. About 325 houses have
been destroyed. The station buildings are
bic to obtain any thing to eat except water
melons and fruit found floating ir the water.
On the 20th it was learned that the floods
had been more destructive in Leon than in
Silao. 1t seems that On Monday, the 18th,
the river broke over its dykes and flooded
the city, As the rain fell the river rose rap.
idly, its volume of water flowing into the
town, gradually wearing away the fouuda.
tions of buildings"
Monday night brought TO that city one of
the most terrible scenes ever witnessed in
any country. People believing themselves
secure from the flood, went to bed in those
parts OF the town where the water had not
found its way. The steady downfall Of rain,
with the extensive waterbed of the outlying
country, increased the flow OF the river and
rapidly extended its channel, until over
half of Leon was under water. Houses tum-
bed in rapidly, having been worn away by
the water, and the loss of life commenced,
unpsralled in the history Of any of the great
inundations Of modern times AS the build
ings fell, the unfortunate sleopers were eth
er crushed to death or drowned. One whole
night Of terror followed. Men, women and
children fled TO the streets in their night
clothes-some 10 find shelter on higher
ground and others to be swept away by the
flood. On Tuesday rain was still falling,
and there had been no perceptible decrease
in the stream of water. A mammoth lake
extended its length and breadth to all points
of the compass. It's monotonous appear
ance was occasionally broken by half sub
merged houses and high lands cropping
above its anything but placid surface. The
town had a wrecked look. Where the
houses had stood the night previous, water
was surgiug in its flight TO lower ground.
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 food left intact are open
to the unfortunates, who were provided
with everything that was available at the
time.
The loss of lives up to this writing had
reached into hundreds, but the threatening
danger had closed the channel of sorrow, and
fear of the future All night it poured until
Wednesday morning saw the lake surround.
ing the city undiminished in size, with steady
rain disturbing its surface. In the afternoon,
however, it ceased raining, and the waters
commenced to recede. The people recover
ed from their fright though water was still
covering portion OF the city. 1t is estimst-
ed that 700 persons pershed. One hundred
and eleven bodies have been recovered,
without moving any ruins of houses, where.
in are supposed to be hundreds of bodies
buried. The destroyed houses are estimated
at two Thousand, and the loss at 100000
Many other towns have been badly damaged,
but loss of life is only reported from Silao
and Leon. The Mexican Central has suf-
fered very severely. Several washouts oc-
Cured between Aguas Calientes and Leon,
but they have now been repaired, and trains
are running from Ell Paso as far soutn as
Leon to Irapuato. 9 distance of thirty ninc
miles. The last reports from Leon are
heartrending. The whole population are
busily working into the ruins of the fallen
houses. Nearly everybody has lost relatives
or friends, and those who have not, have
seen their earthly possessions disappear in
night The last statement received places
the number of houses destroyed in Leon at
two thousand two hundred and twenty four,
and the homeless families at more than one
thousand. More than two hundred and fifty
bodies have been recovered from the ruins.
Syrup of Figs