New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-27
DEATH BY RAIN AND FLOOD.
DESTRUCTIVE INUNDATIoN In MEXICO.
SEVEN HUNDRED PEOPLE PERISH IN THE FLOOD
HOUSES DESTROYED By THE HUNDREDS
THE PEOPLE HOMELESS AND
DESTITUTE.

DESTITUTE.
st. Louis Jure ga special dispatch from the
CITY Of Mexico says:
Photographic communications which has been inter-
rupted for several days by the floods, has been re-
stored and the particulars OF the terrible disaster on
the line of the Mexican Central Railway particularly
at Leon and silao, obtained During the past
ten days the table lands between here and Zacaecas
have been visited by unprecedented rains. Every
mountain rvuIet along the Central Railway for more
than 200 miles has been converted into destructive
torrent and the valleys present the appearance OF
lakes. Many cities and towns have been Inundated,
and Leon ard silao have been partially destroyed
The first ntmatIon received in this city Of the
disaster in the north was telegram from Siao, dated
June 1s. II said: 1t began raining heavily here
yesterday and continued all night raising the sao
River out OF its banks breaking at the north end OF
the town and passing through the streets with IT.
rslstble force Most houses here being OF adobe, as
soon they saturated with water, they began
to fall About 325 houses have been destroyed. The
station buildings occupied by homeless people,
who unabb to obtain anything to eat except
watermelons ard fruit found floating In the water
1t still continues raining"
On the 2Oth It learned that the floods had been
more destructive in Leon than in siao. On the 18th
the river broke its dykes and finally flooded the
city. As the rain fell tho river rose rapidly, its
volume Of water flowing into the town, gradually
wearing away the foundations of buildings which be-
gan to fall as night came
SCENES OF TERROR AND DESTRUCTION
Monday night brought to that city one of the most
terrible scenes witnessed in any country People
believing themselves secure from the food, went to
bed in those parts of the town where the water had
not found its way. The steady downfall Of rain In
creased the flow OF the river and rapidly extended
Its channels until over half OF Leon under wafer
Houses tumbed in rapidly, and the loss Of life began,
unparalleled IN the history Of any of the great In
undations of modern times AS the buildings fell
the unfortunate slcepers either crushed to death
or drowned One whole night of terror followed
Men, and children fed to the streets In their
nightcothes, some to find shelter on higher ground
and others to be swept away by the food. On Tues
day rain still falling mammoth lake ex-
tended Its length and breadth to all parts Of the
compass. Where tho houses had stood the night pre-
vous, water sureing In ifs flight so lower ground
The loss Of life. up TO this writing, had reached
into the hundreds All night It poured, until Wednes-
day morning saw the lake surrounding the city un-
diminished in size, with steady rain falling In
the afternoon, however, II ceased raining and the
waters began to reccde The people recovered from
their fright, though water still covering por-
ton of the city. 1t is estimated that 700 persons
pcrished.
There Is strong stencil from heaps of rubbish that
there must bc bodies buried under them. There are
also bodies sti floating in the water One hundred
and eleven bodies have been recovered without NOV
Ing any ruins OF houses wherein supposed to be
hundreds Of bodies buried. The destroyed houses
a c, estimated at 2OOO and the loss at 81, 100000
AT LEAST 7oc LIVES LOST.
Many other towns have been badly damaged, but
loss of life IS only reported from silao and Leon The
Mexican Central has suffered severely Several wash
outs occurred between Aguas Calicntcs and Lcon but
they have been repaired and trains are running
from Fl Paso far south Leon, to IrapuatO, a
distance Of thirty-nine miles
The State Of Guiana juatO and the Federal Govern
ment doing much to succOr the victims Of the
food. The last reports from Icon heartreuding.
The whole population buslly working into the
ruins Of the fallen houses. Nearly every body has lost
relatives or friends and those who have not have
seen their earthly possessions disappear In night
The estimates OF loss OF life and property given
the smallest reported ard certainly within the
bounds of truth Tho last statement just received
places the number Of houses destroyed in Leon at
2224 and the homeless families al more than 1000
More than $50 bodies have been recovered from the
ruins. and there is probability that the entire
Der will fall short Of 700.