The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-30
RUIN LIES In
FLOODS WAKE

A4OVD ~ w xA&AAS
(Centi,.ed nom Page 0ne)
moment antipfcating that the water
would reach an unprecedented height.
pitifui appeals for assistance could be
| heard rising above the roar OF the on
| rushing waters by those on higher
ground but who were powerless to rem
der aid of any kind.
Refugees are Sheltered.
| Last night every effort was made by
| the kind hearted citizens to shelter the
women and children. Their homes
were thrown open to the sufferers. the
police station. many of the hotels and
| private clubs as well as the rooms of
several organizations were placed at
the disposition of the authorities and
for the greater part the women and
children were cared for. However,
many OF the men were compelled to
sleep In the open in the various plazas.
Both lara Coca and Hidaldo piazas
were alive with people throughout the
| night and a vast throng congregated
In this vicinity which Is on high
ground. in order to witness the RAM
page OF the miniature Niagara as 1t
swept onward after completing its
work of destruction.
Already many bodies have been re-
covered but II IS impossible to accur-
ately state the number. 1t IL learned
| from q semi-reliable source that the
police records show that 400 bodies had
been recovered up to noon today. Yet
scores are still believed to be lodg ed
at various pointsyalong the stream and
It may be weeks before they are re-
covered, and many will never be found.
Pitfful scenes are reported among
the women and children. Many women
have been separated from their hus-
bands; mothers from tn cir children.
without knowledge OF the whereabouts
of one another. and scenes of the most
| profound grief are witnessed on all
hands. as mothers husbands and chill
dren lament for tn cir loved ones.
| River In New Channel.
At IL o'clock this morning rain was
still falling and to add to the disas-
ter Santa Catarina had worked out
for itself new channel, dividing into
| two raging streams ana separating in
| such a manner that another and mod
ernly constructed part of the town was
thr eatened.
1t was said that warnings had been
sent out to many of the hotels and
business houses throughout the very
center Of the city to be prepared for
the worst and to take preventive
measures. This warning would not
any loss of life. but that the first floors
of the buildings might be flooded and
entail q large financial loss through
damage to stocks of merchandise.
The modern portion of the city Is
considered to be high enough to es-
cape the ravages of the food, but In
view OF the fact that the rise of the
waters has been unprecedented it has
been considered the better part Of dis
erection to at least warn any thr eat
ened territory.
1t Is thought the damage will be far
in excess Of first estimates. as sent
out In last nights reports. The Mon
terey SIN elter. one of the largest in
| Mexico, suffered loss by water, from
the deluge of rain. and not as a result
OF the rise In the river, that Is vari-
ously estimated at from 100000 to
81, 600, 600.
The Monterey Steel Plant. the only
| plant of Its kind In the republic, which
cost originally s10.000.000 to construct,
the extent OF from 100000 to ST.
000.0 900. The electric light and street
railway system Of Monterey, modern
In every respect. which was construct
ed about three years ago by a Cana.
dian company, in which the MacKen-
zies Of Toronto are heavily interested,
was damaged to the extent Of approx
l
| The Monterey water ami sewerage
system suffered a loss estimated at ST.
| 100000 or more.
| Five thousand Homes Gone.
This damage, together with the loss
resulting from the complete annihila-
ton of approximately 5000 jaca1s or
| huts. adobe houses and some struc-
lures of more pretentious appearance,
| together with their contents, all ruin
ed by the inflow of water, will bring
the financial loss up to approximately
$1,000, 900.
While details are necessarily meagre
as to the financial loss and loss of
life, rumors are current variously
| placing the monetary losses at from
$1,000. 900 to $4,000. 900. while the loss
| of life is placed at anywhere from 400
| to 1000 persons.
| Both the electric light and street
railway systems ana the waterworks
and drainage system were dominated
by Canadian capitalists.
A very hard. stiff fight, was made
| by Canadian companies to secure con-
cessions for the installation Of these
| modern improvements a few years ago
and their loss will be keenly felt and
may possibly mean financial ruin to
| many individuals.
Among one of the finer residences
threatened by the flood, 1t is reported.
| but SO far as can be learned the flood
waters did not reach the section of
the city where the governor resides.
| Chaotic conditions still exist today.
| There has been little effort made at
recovery of cadavers; those who lost
their lives were suddenly swept away
into the maelstrom and nothing could
be done for them. However. every eff
fort has been made to succor the needy
by providing shelter AMI food for the
men. women and children.
| Seek Higher Ground.
There has been a stream of moving
all day today on the part Of the many
residents OF the city who are seeking
homes on ground high enough to avoid
any possibility of an overflow. This Is
especially true of the American fami-
lies. many of whom reside at the down.
| town hotels situated along the plazas
Zaragoza and Hidalgo. Many of these
families have removed to remote sec
lions of the city, although the locality
is thought to be beyond the pale of
| possible inundation.
The police, rurales and soldiers
played a prominent part last night and
to- lay In guarding and caring for the
city. All the police reserves wero
| called Into service. the rura!es were
| busy and detachments of troops from
| the headquarters of General Trevino