The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-08-30
Late Reports Say That 1900
Lives Are Lost and Property
Loss Will Reach an Appal-
ling Figure Before End.
FOUR HUNDRED BODIES
RECOVERED DURING DAY
Rain Continues to Fall During
the Day. River Breaks Out
Two Channels and the En-
tire Town is Threatened,
SOLDIERS GUARD BODIES

T ARED0, Tex, Aug. 29.-Twelve
~ hundred people were drowned in
yesterdays flood at Monterey, accord
ing to telegram received from there
late tonight Communication with
Monterey was resumed at 1890
o'clock.
More than 400 bodies had been re-
covered this evening. The property
damage is between five million and
twelve million dollars.
The flood waters of the Santa Cata-
rina river continued on their rapid course
throughout the night The rail fell in
torrents and brought great suffering to
the thousands of homeless persons who
had congregated on the plazas.
The flood reached its crest In the early
part of the day, and many families were
swept away to death with hardly
chance to fight for their lives. With the
rush OF the water, many were swept from
their homes, on the tops Of which many
had sought shelter. never anticipating
that the water would reach such an un-
preCedented height. Pitiful appeals for
assistance could be heard above the roar
Of the waters by those on higher ground,
Last night every effort was made to
shelter the refugees, and the greater part
OF the women and children were cared
Tor. Accompanying the rescue work is
at various places along the stream, and
It viii be weeks before all are found.
Some, doubtless, never viii be seen.
Many Families Divided.
Many families have been divided BY the
disaster, and the grief of the survivors is
pitiful.
At Il o'clock today rain was still fall
ing and the Santa Catarina had worked
out for itself a new channel, dividing into
two raging. streams and separating in
such a manner that another and mod
ernly constructed part of the town was
threatened.
Monterey smelter, one of the largest in
Mexico, suffered a loss estimated at from
ST. 600 900 to 100000. The Monterey steel
plant, the cost of which was $4,000 900, was
damaged from s. 100000 to $4,000. 900.
The electric light and street railway
system, constructed about three years ago,
was damaged about 81, 100000.
The water and sewage systems suffered
a loss estimated at about 81, 000, 900 or more.
This damage, together with the loss re-
sulting from the destruction of about
5000 houses, will make the financial loss
approximately SLO0,000.
Canadian Capital Lost.
Both the electric light and street rail-
way systems and the waterworks and
drainage system were dominated by
Canadian capitalists, and their loss will
be -keenly felt and may mean financial
ruin to many.
While there is no scarcity of food and
the city is amply able to care for its
destitute, there is fear of shortage in
the near future. Not a train has entered
Monterey today.
All wires over the National railway
were down all last night and until late
today, when a line was restored.
The bodies, as fast as recovered, are
placed along the banks of the river on
the higher ground to await Identification.
The bodies are guarded by soldiers, who
escort any searcheT for a missing friend
or relatives along the lines of dead. Ar
likely will be made tOmoT-
row to inter the dead. 1t is estimated that
the river has risen fifty or sixty feet.
It is understood that an appeal for
aid has gone out from Monterey. One |
statement is that Consul General Hanna
has appealed to the authorities at Wash /
ingtOn requesting that a general appeal |
be made by the federal government.