Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-26
GREAT DISASTER IN MEXICO.
Two Cities Destroyed by Floods and
Over 1eO Liycs Believed 60 DE g.Osf.

ST. LOUIS, June 2o.--A dispatch from the City Of
Mexico says: "Telegraphic communication, which
has been Interrupted for several days by the
foods, has been restored, and the particulars OF
the terrible disaster on the line OF the Mexican
Central Railway. particularly at Leon ana silao.
are Obtained During the past ten day the table
visited by unprecedented rains. livery mountain
rivulet along the Central Railway for
structiye torrent; and the valleys present the ap-
pearance OF lakes Many cities and towns have
oeen inundated, ana Leon and sllao have been
OF the disaster in the North was q telegram from
Silao dated the 18th instant II said: at COM
menced raining heavily here yesterday afternoon,
and continued all night rasibg the slaO river out
of It's banks, and passing Through the streets with
irresistible force. Most OF the houses here being
water they began 10 fall. About 325 houses have
been destroyed. The station buildings are occu-
pied by homeless people, VINO are unable 70 obtain
anything TO eat except watermelons and fruit found
noating In the water"
Hundreds Lost In Leon.
On the 10th II was learned that hoods had been
more destructive In Leon than In silao. IL seems
that on Monday, lSth the river broke over It's
dy Ses and flooded the city. Monday night brought
one OF the most terrible scenes ever witnessed.
People believing themselves secure from the hood,
went 10 bed In those parts OF the town where the
water had not found It's way. The steady down.
fall OF rain increased the dow OF the river and
rapidly extended its channel until over half of
Leon was under water. Houses tumbled In rap
idly and the loss OF life commenced as the build
ings fell the unfortunate sleepers were either
crushed TO death or drowned night OF terror
followed mammoth lake extended It's length
and breadth 10 all points OF the compass. The
loss Of LIE up to this writing had reached into
hundreds.
SEVEN HUNDRED PERSONS Persisted.
There Is a strong stencil from heaps or rubbish
that once formed houses There are also bodies
noating Ia the water. one hundred ana eleven
bodies nave been recovered without moving any
ruins OF houses wherein are supposed 70 be hum
dreds Of bodies buried. The destroyed houses are
estimated at 1000 and the loss at s2.000.U0Q
Many other towns1haye been badly damaged, but
loss OF life is only reported from silao and Leon
The Mexican Central has suffered severely.
The state or GuanaJuato and the federal govern
ment are doing much TO succor the victims OF the
Hood. Furthermore, subscriptions OF money. food,
and clothes are being sent from here. The last
reports from Leon are heart-rendiDg. The whole
population are busiy working into the ruins OF the
fallen houses. The estimate OF loss OF life and
property are given as the smallest reported, and
are certainly within the bounds OF truth. The
very last statement just received places the NUM-
Der OF houses destroyed In Leon at ., PA and the
homeless families 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 OF 200.