Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-04
LOSS OF LIFE IN MEXICO
Number Of Dead at Guansjuato Estimated
from 200 to 1000.
PROPERTY LOSS OVER A MILLION
storm Broke saturday Afternoon
without warning and Many Per-
sons Were Drowned I'm
the Plaza.

GUANAJUATO, Mexico. July 3.-Loss Of
life variously estimated at more than 200
and less than 1000 persons and property
damage to the extent of over 100000 have
been caused by the flood which has swept
over the town as the result Of cloud
burst Federal telegraph service has been
restored and the authorities are rapidly
bringing order out of chaos.
Great suffering is prevalent, but aid is
being received from surrounding towns and
sembance of normal conditions, 1t is
believed, will soon be reached. Burial Of
the dead is progressing rapidly, although
many bodies are thought to be among the
ruins of houses and are difficult to locate.
The disaster that has come upon this
city Is unparalleled in it's long history, dur
ing which many floods have been recorded
in times past. Guanajuato owing to its
situation, in a great ravine or gorge, has
been subjected to floods sweeping down
from the mountains and much loss of life
has been recorded. but the present storm,
which began Friday night and continued
through Saturday, was unprecedented.
Beginning of the storm.
Before o'clock Saturday afternoon
clouds banked up threatening and black in
the northeast, and in less than twenty
minutes rain came down in torrents, and
the water surged down the streets with
great violence. Part of the river, which
was built over with masonry, burst
through, augmenting the flood, and the
scene became one Of terror and consterna-
ton. The people made haste to gather
their valuables and flee, and many did so
at the risk of their lives, for the streets in
the lower part of the city were filled with
rushing waters and the roar Of wind and
rain added to the general panic. with
one rush the mighty flood burst its bonds,
foundations of solid masonry were under
mined and many buildings fell with a
crash. Their inmates in many cases were
crushed beneath the falling masonry.
Many Drowned on Plaza.
From the center of the city the flood
rolled TO both sides of tile town and the
people madly rushed out to flee to the
mountains, many being caught and swept
away. At the time when the storm seemed
likely to abate and before its great in
tensity was felt there was crowd OF
merrymakers in the Tiaza. Gaming opera
tors had scarcely tim9 to set up their tables
and place their soney thereon when the
flood rushed down from the hills sweeping
away booths, money and tables. Many
people were then and there drowned Each
man fought his way out Of the food.
trampling down whoever came in HIS way
and thus many women and children
perished. large number of people had
sought refuge in the church of San Diego
but were crushed to death under it's falling
walls. The priest, who was addressing
words of hope and consolation to the peo-
pie. was killed Four hotels and some large
shops were demolished or badly injured
and some of the noblest mansions were
demolished or badly injured and some OF
the mansions in the city were wrecked
with their rich furnishings. The large
building occupied by Dwight Furness as
the American consulate was flooded to the
second story windows.
street Car Line wrecked.
| The street car line between this city
and the town of Marafo was wrecked
| much or the track being washed away
while the mules were drowned
| The second floor of the Hotel ITnion Is
under five feet of water. The governor OF
the state and city authorities have worted
| day and night trying to preserve order
and to control the bands of thieves who
are harrasing their lives in the work OF
| pillaging shops and mansions. The old
| electric plant was destroyed, but the new
| plant was saved.
The bodies Of the people drowned are
being taken to houses in the higher streets
| The famous La Ola dam is intact
The money loss is hard to estimate and
may reach over a million dollars. MANY
people are still camping in the mountains.
Five Hundred Dead.
The number of dead is now estimated
at about 900. over 200 bodies have ALREADY
been recovered. The property loss will
pass $l,5O0,OOO.
railroad connection is completely de-
| stroyed and very few reports are coming
through on the one telegraph wire which
| is left and working under great difficulties
| The government has subscribed S35 600 tr
the relief fund. The mines were not dam
! aged.
Train Goes Through Bridge,
| MEXICO CITY, Mex, July s.-The bride,
on the Mexican Central railroad betweer
Irapua and Siloa fell as the southbount
passenger train was passing early Sunda,
morning The baggage and third-clas,
coach fell into the river. Seven passenger
were killed and thirty-four injured NJ
first class passengers were hurt