The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-16
TIE SPANISH FLOODS.
Terrible Desolation Wrought by
the Raging Torrents,
Two THOUSAND PERSONSDROWNED
And Thousands of Others Left
Homeless and With no Means of
Making A LivIng-Horses, Cattle
and Breadstuns All Destroyed
Measures to Relieve the Distress.

MADRID, Sept 15.-The floods which
have caused so much damage, and
which are already known to have re-
suited in the loss OF thousands of lives,
have been general in the south OF Spain.
The damage done is simply terrible in
its extent. In the province OF Toledo
the rush OF water from the Consuegra
river was SO sudden and unexpected
that hundreds of people were drowned
in their beds.
The aspect OF the town is positively
frightful Four hundred bodies have
already been recovered, and at least a
hundred corpses can be seen floating IN
the swollen rivers.
The oyerhowing OF the Consuegra
threatens to cause further damage
Two-thirds OF the houses practically de-
stroyed are still standing, but their
foundations are sapped and they
threaten to fall at any time, The fami.
lies saved from drowning are camped
near the dwellings formerly occupied by
them, and are in the great distress from
want of food.
An estimate, Classed as a moderate
one, and which is within rather than
over the actual number, places the total
of the death list at 1000.
Large numbers OF corpses still rest
where they were found. Unless they
are soon inferred an epidemic OF fever
is feared. The municipal government
authorities are exertlng themselves to
the utmost in order to serve the dis
tress existing. So for as possible the
bodies of the drowned are being
gathered from the streams, mud banks
and ruins and are being buried in
trenches dug for their reception. Along
the river banks near some OF the most
severely visited districts heart-rending
occurrences are witnessed hourly as the
survivors OF almost exterminated fami-
lies recognize their dead and try TO save
them from consignment to the common
death trench.
The utmost praise is due to the
troops, physicians and clergy and sis
tiers Of charity, who in this emergency
have shown themselves to be capable OF
almost superhuman exertions on behalf
Of the sufferers from this most disas-
trous flood.
Unhappily the worst is not yet
known and months OF terrible priva-
tions and extreme suffering are before
the utterly impoverished survivors.
The crops are gone, the cattle swept
away, houses and household furniture
ruined and all that would enable them
to earn their bread has vanished be-
meath the torrents OF water which have
rolled over towns and villages, fields
and farms.
When the government delegate in
charge OF the first consignment OF bread
from the army bakeries arrived in the
flooded country he was beset by the
furnishing inhabitants, young and old,
male and female, the majority half
naked or clad in rags, most OF them on
their knees with hands uplifted praying
for succor.
The villages Of Puerto, Lapiche and
Villafranca, in the provice OF Ciudad
Real, have been severely ravaged by the
floods, and at Almina over 500 houses
were washed away and large number
of people drowned.
Accounts from Consuegra are apdll-
ing in the extreme. The town is a heap
of ruins, surrounded by vast expanse
OF water, leaving visible here and there
floating wreckage OF all kinds. With
unceasing exertions the authorities are
restoring something like order. The
police have suppressed pillage. 1t is
estimated that 5000 head OF horses and
stock have been drowned.
The Queen has subscribed $4,000
more to start national relief fund.
The Bank OF Spain has subscribed
$1,000 and contributions arc coming
from all quarters.
Many gloomy scenes are witnessed at
Consuegra. Carts are kept going from
house to house collecting the dead. The
bodies OF sixty persons were found in a
public hall where they had overtaken
BY the flood in midst OF u wedding feast.
The mayor OF Censuegra puts the fatali-
ty there at 5000. Tho officials have
telegraphed for lime to prevent an out
break OF disease.