The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-27
AWFUL CATASTROPHE.
Details Of the Great DeIuge in
the Mexican Republic.
SEVERAL HUNDRED PERISH.
Heartrending Scenes in the Flooded
Districts-CitIcs and Towns In
undated-over Seven Hun
dred Lives Lost.

Cry OF MEXICO, June 25.-Telegraph'
ic communication, which has been in
terrupted for several days by the floods,
have been restored and the particulars
OF the terrible disaster on the line OF
the Mexican Central Railway, particu-
larly at Leon and Silao, are obtained.
During the past few days the table lands
between here and Zacatecas have been
visited by unprecedented rains. Every
mountain rivulet along the Central rail-
way for more than 200 miles has been
converted into a destructive torrent and
the valley presents the appearance OF
lakes. Many cities and towns have
been inundated, and Leon and Silao
have been partially destroyed. The loss
Of life up to this writing had reached
into hundreds, but the threatening dan.
ger had closed the channel ofsorrow and
the hushed voices denoted nothing more
than fear for the future. All night 1t
poured, until Wednesday morning saw
the lake surrounding the city undimin-
ished in size, with steady rain disturb
ing its surface In the afternoon, how
ever, it ceased raining and the waters
commenced to recede. The people ~
covered from their fright, though water
was still covering q portion OF the city.
It is estimated that 700 persons per-
ished.
On the Goth 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, Notwithstanding all
efforts to check its course, it made rapid
headway and finally flooded the city. AS
the rain fell the river rose rapidly, its
volume OF water flowing into the town,
gradually wearing away the foundations
OF buildings, which commenced to fall
as night came on.
Monday night brought to that city
one Of the most terrible scenes ever
witnessed in any country. People, be-
lieving themselves secure from the
food, went to bed in those parts OF
town where the water had not found
its way. The steady downfall OF rain,
with the extensive water bed OF the out
lying country, increased the flow Of the
river and rapidly extended its channel
until over half OF Leon was 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 inundations OF
modern times. As the buildings fell the
unfortunate sleepers were either crushed
to death or drowned. A night Of terror
followed. Men, women and children
fled to the streets in their night clothes,
some to find shelter on higher ground
and others to be swept away by the
food.
On Tuesday morningrain was still fall
ing, and there had been no perceptible
decrease in the steam OF water. a NAM
moth lake extended its length and
breadth TO all points OF the compass. Its
monotonous appearance was occasional
ly broken by half-submerged houses and
high lands topping above its anything
but placid surface. The town had a
wrecked look. Where the houses had
stood the night previous, water was surg
ing in its flight to lower grounds.
Groups OF people who had been forced
by impending danger to seek flight with
out 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 at the time.
There is strong stencil from heaps Of
rubbish that once formed houses, and
one IS led to believe that 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 my
ruins OF houses, wherein arc supposed
to be hundreds OF bodies buried. The
destroyed houses arc estimated at 2, 900
and the loss at s., 100000.
Many other towns have been badly
damaged, but loss OF life is only reported
from Silao and Leon. The Mexican
Central has suffered very severely.
Several washouts occurred between
Agnus Calientes and Leon, but they
haYe now been repaired, and trains are
running from FL Paso as far south as
Leon, to Irapeato, distance OF thirty
nine miles. The management Of the
road has from the first displayed extra
ordinary energy, and at present all the
available workmen throughout the ad-
joining country are now employed in
the work OF repairing.
The State Of Guananjute and the Fed.
ieral Government are doing much to
succor the victims OF the flood. Furth-
ermore, subscriptions Of money, food
and clothes are being sent from here.
The last reports from Leon are heart
rending. The whole population are
busily working into the ruins Of the
fallen houses. Nearly everybody has
lost relations or friends, and those who
have not have seen all Of their earthly
possessions disappear in Il night.
The estimate OF loss OF life and pro-
perty given arc the smallest reported,
and are certainly within the bounds OF
truth. The latest statement received
places the number Of houses destroyed
in Leon at 1924, and the homeless fami-
lies at more than 1000. More than $50
bodies have been recovered from the
ruins, and there is no probability that
the entire number will fall short of7OO.
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