Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-27
MEXICO's CALAMITY.
SEVEN HUNDRED LIVES LOST BY
GREAT FLOODS.


CRY OF MEXICO, June 27.-During the
past ten days the table lands between here
and Zacatecas have been visited by unpre-
cedented rains. Every mountain rivulet
along the Central Railway for more than
200 miles, has been converted into a de-
strutive torrent, and the valleys present the
appearance of lakes. Many cities and towns
have been inundated, and Leon and Silao
have been partially destroyed. TelegrapLic
communication, which has been interrupt
ted for several days by the floods, has been
restored, and the particulars of a terrible
disaster on the line of the Mexican Central
Railway, particularly at Leon and Silao.
are obtained. The first intimation received
in this city of the disaster in the north, was
telegram 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 in at the north end of the
town and passing through the streets with
irresistible force and volume. Most houses
here being of adobe, as soon 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 watermeions and fruit, found
general and the whole country around
Silaois flooded. Several dikes have given
way. 1t still continues raining"
On the 10th, 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 dikes,
and Notwithstanding all efforts to check It's
course, it made rapid headway and finally
flooded the city. As the rain fell, the river
80. a
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 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 water bed Of the
outlaying 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 history
of any of the great inundations of modern
times. 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 fled to the streets
in their night clothes, some TO find shelter
on higher ground, and others TO be swept
away BY the flood On Tuesday morning
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. The monotonous appearance
was occasionally broken by half-submerged
houses and high lands cropping above its
any but placid surface. The town had q
wrecked look. Where the houses had
stood the night previous. water was surg
ing to its flight 10 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 flood left intact, were
opened TO the unfortnnates, who were pro-
vided with everything that was available at
the time
The loss of life up TO this writing had
reached into hundreds but the threatening
danger has closed the channel of sorrow,
and the hushed voices denoted nothing
more than fear for the future. All night il
poured. until Wednesday morning saw the
lake surrounding the city undiminished in
size, with steady rain disturbing its surface.
In the afternoon, however, it ceased rain
ing, and the waters commenced to recede
The people recovered from their fright,
though water was still covering a portion
of the city. 1t is estimated that 700 per-
sons persisted. lM
There is a 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 removing any ruins of houses,
wherein are supposed to be hundreds of
bodies buried. The destroyed houses are
estimated at 2,0O0, and the loss at s., OOO-
COO
Many other towns have been badly dam
aged, but loss of life is only reported from
Siloa and Leon. The Mexican Central has
suffered very severely. Several washouts
occurred between Agus Calientes and Leon
but they have now been repaired, and
trains are running from El Paso as far
south as Leon, to Irapuato, distance of 80
miles. The management of the road has
from the first displayed extraordinary en-
ergy, and at present all the available work
men throughout the adjoining country
aretemployed in the work of repairing.
The State of Guatnanjuato and the Fed
eral Government are doing much to succor
the victims of the flood. Furthermore,
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 in the ruins of the fallen houses
Nearly every body has lost relations or
friends, and those who have not, have seen
their earthly possessions disappear in
night.
The estimate of loss of life and property
given are the smallest reported, and are
certainly within the bounds of truth The
very last statement just received places the
number of houses destroyed in Leon at
2,224 and the homeless families at more
than Loco. More than $50 bodies have
been recovered from the ruins and there
is no probability that the entire number
will fall short of 700.