Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-24
SWEPT AWAY BY FLOODS
Consuegra' Spain, Literally a
City of the Dead.
THE HELPLESS LEFT TO PERISH
Apathy and Selfishness
Cause Many Deaths.
The Water Rose Is Feet--People Refused
to Loan Their Carts--A Gendarmcs'
Thrilling Narrative.

Thrilling Narrative.
MADRID, Sept. 16.-The corre-
spondents of the Spanish and foreign
newspapers who have been able to reach
Consuegra describe it as "a city of the
dead"
On every side are signs of destruc-
ton. Death carts pass slowly from house
to house and from street to street, gath
ering body here and body there; and
conveying their loads to the trenches
dug for their reception. The survivors
stand in groups about the ruins of their
former homes.
The depth of the flood can be gauged
from the fact that the water rose IS feet
in the Church of st. John the Baptist.
An estimate made of the damage to
property in and about Consuegra places
the loss at S2,500,000, not including the
money and valuables buried in the ruins.
The survivors are only able to give
vague and confused accounts of the
flood. They say that no apprehension
was felt until the waters seemed to make
sudden rush forward, overwhelming
everything.
An idea of the force of the waters can
| be formed from the fact that the flood
IlIIbu lTOll iuc STouuu CutiIt
| good sized suburban residence and car
ried it eight miles.
Most Of the dead are buried without
identification.
Further distressing particulars in re-
gard to the flooded provinces continue
to be received at long intervals, each ad
ditional report showing that the extent
of the disaster has in no way been ex-
aggerated. The latest information is
from Jaen, capital of the province of
the same name. The governor of that
province telegraphs that the whole COM
mune of Aubeda is submerged, that the
| damage is enormous and that there
has been considerable loss of life.
A gendarme at Consuegra, who was an
eye. witness of the disaster, says: "'rhe
storm was accompanied by terrific thun-
der and lightning. While was stand
ing near the Town Hall was startled
by hearing the mayor shouting from the
balcony of his residence to the guards to
run to the river, as the waters were
flooding the houses.
81 hurried with several comrades to
the lower part of the town. We found
the water in many places neck high.
With much difficulty we saved 30 per-
sons. The mayor presently arrived on
| thC cNCnC uAd QppIdltAt w ull DllsAcssliE,
carts to assist in transporting people to
the upper part of the town Only three
persons responded, although 2D0 pos
sessed conveyances. The same difficulty
was experienced in obtaining the ropes,
ladders, pickaxes, &C., necessary fer
rescuing people in danger.
1.-The callous indifference of those in
safety contributed to great extent 10
the enormous fatality. Even those
whose houses were hooded seemed in
capable of realizina their danger. In
vain we begged an4 prayed them 10
abandon their doomed dwellings Tho
storm having abated, they believed all
danger past, and stolidly refused 10
bulge.
Torrents speedily commenced to run
from the mountain gorges in all direc-
tions into the valley. Thus the day
passed, and at night many people, in
spite of warnings, retired to sleep in
their threatened dwellings.
"Soon the storm commenced again
with redoubled violence. The river
rose by leaps and bounds, and carried
everything before it with resistless fury.
1t was an awful sight to see the now
thoroughly terrified people climbing to
the roofs of their houses and shrieking
vainly for help, which it was impossible
any longer to render.
"The houses collapsed one after
another and were swallowed up in the
seething torrent. Daybreak saw hum
dreds of men and beasts struggling in
the water, clinging in despair to wreck
age and whirled along so rapidly that
they were in moment lost to sight.
at was useless to attempt to save
those who were seized in the foods re-
lentlest grasp. 1t was a sight that will
never be forgotten"
The misery existing at Consuegra is
intense. The inhabitants are compelled
to sleep in the open air, and the food
supply is of the meagrest descriptic,s.
The gendarmerie are often obliged 20
resort to force to compel the men to as
sist in the work of recovering bodies.
Sixteen robbers have been caught rifling
the clothing of corpses So far 945
bodies have been recovered. The search
continues.
The national relief fund has reached
100000. Students are collecting money
for the sufferers in the streets OF
Madrid.
The town Of Temleque, Province of
Toledo, has been converted into an
island by the flood, and communication
with the town is almost impossible. The
storm wrought immense damage In
Murcia, Saragossa and Malaga. The
railway works at Rouda were greatly
damaged, three persons were drowned,
and many cattle persisted.
The Gazette publishes by royal
authority request to Spanish agents
abroad to receive contributions for the
| food sufferera