Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-07-05
LIVES SNUFFED OUT
Fifteen Hundred Persons Drowned by
the Great Floods Mt Leon and
SiaO, Mexico.
Both Places Submerged by the Over
flow and More Than Two Thousand
Buildings Washed Away.

Cry or MEXICO. II elegra phic commun
icatiop, which has been interrupted for
several days by the floods, has been re-
stored, and the particulars of the terrible
disaster on the line of the Mexican Cen
trail railway, particularly at Leon and
Silao, are obtained. During the last ten
DAYS the table lands between here and
Zacatecas have been visited by UMPIRE
cedented rains. Every mountain rivulet
along the Central railway for more than
200 miles has been converted into de-
structive torrent, and the valleys present
the appearance of lakes. Many cities and
to Rns have been inundated, and Leon and
Silao have been partially destroyed The
first intimatiOu received In this city of
the disaster in the north WAS telegram
from Sllao, dated the 18th instant. 1t
said;
1T commenced raining heavily here
yesterday afternoon and continued all
night, raising the SilaO river out of it's
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, 40 soon as
they were satu rated with water they
began TO fall About 325 houses have
been destroyed. The station buildings
are occupied by homeless people, who
are unable to ATTAIN anything to eat ex-
cept watermelons and ftuit found float
ing on the water. The rain has been
general a2d the whole country around
Silao is flooded. Several dykes have
given away. 1t still continues raining"
On the 20th it was learned that the
foods had been more destructive in Lson
than in Siiao. On Monday, the 18TH the
river broke over its dykes, AM notwith-
standing all efforts TO check its course it
made rapid Roadway and finally Hooded
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 com,
menctd to fall as night came on.
Monday night brought to that city one
OF the most terrible scenes ever witnessed
i'll any country. People believing them
selves 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 outlying country, increased
the flow of the river aud rapidly extend
cd its channel until over half of Leon
vas under water. Houses tumbled in
rapidly, having been worn away by the
water, and the loss Of life commenced.
As the buildings fell the unfortunate
sleepers we're either crushed to death or
drowned.
Men, women and children fed TO the
streets in their night clothes, some TO
find shelter on higher ground, ami others
20 be swept away by the flood. On Tues
day morning rain was sill falling, and
there had been no perceptibleI decrease
in the stream of water. A mammoth
lake extended is length and breadth to
all points OF the compass. Its mCnoto-
nous appearance was occasionally broken
by half submerged houses and high lands
cropping above its anything but placid
surface. Where the houses had stood
The night previous, water was surging in
lis flight to lower ground. All houses
which the food left intact were opened
10 the uufortunates, who were provided
with every thing that was available at the
time.
All night it poured, and Wednesday
morning saw the lake surrounding the
city undiminished in size. In the after
noon. however, increased raining and the
waters commenced to recede. The PEG
pie recovered from their fright, though
water was sUil covering q portion Of the
city.
Fifteen hundred lives were lost by the
inundation and 1000 bodies have been r.
covered. Leon IS city of 100000 lnhab
itauts and large part of it is in ruins.
There is a strong odor from heaps o.
of rubbi h that once formed houses, an(
one is led to believe that there must b'
bodies buried under them. The destroyed
houses are estimated at 1000 and the los
at $2.0J0,000,
Many other towns have been batl.
damaged bur loss of lie is only reported
from Siiao aud Leon.
The state OF Gaananjaato and th'
federal government are doing much Il
succor the victims OF the flood. Further
more, subscriptions of money, food, anC
clothes are being sent from here.
The reports from Leon are heart-rend
/ ing. The whole population are busily
working in the ruins of the fallen houses
/ Nearly everybody has lost relations OF
/ friends, and those who have not hav'
seen their earthly possessions disappea
IN night The Mexican collector o
customs at Paso del Norte received
an official dispatch stating that one hun
/ bred miles of the Mexican railosd is im
/ passable aud that it will be ten days be
! fore mails can get through and tSent.
days before freight can be moved.