Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-07-04
A DELUGE IN MEXICO.
Several Entire Cities Swept Away
by Swollen Rivers.
SEVEN HUNDRED PEOPLE DROWNED
Miles of Territory Turned into a Sea-
Thousands of Persons HomeIess--One
Hundred and Fifty Bodies
Recovered-Relief for
the Sufferers.


was restored to-day 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 ten days the table lands
between here and Zacatecas have been
visited by unprecedented rains. Every
mountain rlvulet along the Central
Railway for more than 200 miles has
been converted into destructive tor
rent, and the valleys present the ap-
pearance of lakes. Many cities and
towns have been inundated and Leon
and Silao have been partially destroyed.
The first intimation received in this
city of the disaster in the north, was
telegram from Silao dated the 18th inst.
It said: cit commenced rainin heavi-
ly here yesterday afternoon and con-
tinued 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, as soon as they were saturat-
ed with water, they began to fall.
About 1926 houses have been destroyed.
The station buildings are occupied by
homeless people, who are unable to OBJ
tain anything to eat except watermelons
and fruit found floating in the water.
The rain has been general and the
whole country around Silao is flooded.
Several dykes have given way. It still
continues raining"
On the Goth it was learned that the
floods had been more destructive in
Leon and Silao. 1t seems that on Mon
day, the 18th, the river broke over its
dykes, and notwithstanding all efforts to
check its course it made rapid Roadway,
and finally flooded the city. AS the rain
water flowing into the town, gradually
wearing away the foundations of build
ings, 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 town where the water
had not found its way. The steady
downfall of rain, with the extensive
waterbed of the outlying country, in
creased the flow of the river and rapid
ly extended its channel until over half
of Leon was under water. Houses tum-
bled in rapidly, having been worn away
by the water, and the loss of life COM
menced, unparalleled in the history of
any Of the great foundations of modern
times. AS the buildings fell the unfor-
tunate 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 on higher ground and 9TH
ers to be swept away by the flood. On
Tuesday morning rain was still falling
and there had been no perceptible de-
crease in the stream of water. A NAM
moth lake extended its length and
pass. It's monotonous appearance
was occasionally broken by half
submerged houses and high
lands cropping above its any
thing but placid surface. The town
had a wrecked look. Where houses
had stood the night previous, water was
surging III it's flight 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 at the time.
reached into hundreds, but the threat
ening danger had closed the channel Of
sorrow and the hushed voices denoted
nothing more than fear for the future.
All night it poured, until Wednesday
morning saw the lake surrounding the
city undiminished in size and with steady
rain disturbing its surface. In the after
noon, however, it ceased raining and the
waters commenced to recede. The
people recovered from their fright,
though water was still covering por-
ton of the city. 1t is estimated that
200 persons persisted.
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 any
ruins of houses, wherein are supposed
to be hundreds of bodies buried.
The destroyed houses are linn
tied at 200 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 suffered very
heavily Several washouts occurred
between Agnus Calientes and Leon, but
tucy have HOW U0cu IS pdlIOu cuo WALLIS
are running from Ell Paso as far south
as Leon, to Irapuato, distance of
thirty-nine miles.
The state of Guananjuato and the fed
eral government are doing much to sue
cor the victims of the flood, and sub
scriptions of money, food and clothes
are being sent from here. The last re-
ports from Leon are heartrending: The
whole population are busily working IN
to the ruins of the fallen houses. Near
ly everybody has lost relations or
friends and those who have not have
seen their earthly possessions disappear
in night.
The estimates of loss of life and prop
erty given are the smallest reported ard
are certainly within the bounds oftruyh.
The very last statement just received
places the number of houses destroyed
in Leon at 1924, and the homeless fam
lilies 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
700.