Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-09-03
MORE THAN $4,000 PEOPLE
HOMELESS AT MONTEREY.
Rsinstorm Was Binding = Property
Damage to Extent of $12,Ooo,ooo Is
Inhicted-Houses Carried Away
Devastation Is General Through wide
Area Along the Santa catarins River

of $12,OOO,OOO, is the result of food
which struck the city between and
clock Saturday morning.
The rain fell in torrents and its
binding fury made the work of rescue
more difficult. The San Luis district
was soon cut off from the main part
Of Monterey by swirling torrent. A
bridge across small stream, the Santa
Catarina river, was swept away just
as a crowd from the foodswept dis
trict had rushed upon it. The loss of
life here was great.
Houses Swept Away.
When the bridge was carried down
the San Luis district was cut off from
the city proper and flooded area on
the other side prevented the escape of
the people. Houses fioated down the
stream and many of the frantic inhab-
itants chung to them. The whole sec
ton was thickly settled.
Industrial plants along the Santa
Catarina river were washed away, fac
tories were flooded, warehouses swept
into the food. In the higher sections
of Monterey severe damage was done
Water is high over the tracts in the
railway yards, and long stretch OF
track of the National railway has been
washed out.
Federal, state and municipal officers
are organizing relief parties and pre-
pairing to aid the sufferers.
Although the water has not yet sub
sided, many bodies have been recovered
and have been taken to the undertakerf
in the higher parts of the city, where
they are now being prepared for burial
Bodies in Treetops.
Many of the bodies were washed
down the river and have been swept
far into the country. Reports from
outlying districts indicate great loss
of life has occurred and heavy damage
has been DONE No details have beer
received, but it is feared the devasta
ton is general throughout both Nuevt
Leon and San Luis Potosi.
Rain is still falling tonight, although
the worst of the storm is over.
Bodies washed down the stream wer'
found in treetops.
Many farms located along the rive
just below the city have been devas
tated and it is feared the people wh'
lived on them lost their lives.
High water in the better part of thu
city has done great damage, and ever
the more fashionable stores and resi-
dences were flooded. Monterey has
large percentage of Americans in it
population, but as yet no report of los
of life in the American colony has BEEF
received.
Scene of Desolation.
The scene in the food,swept section
of Monterey tonight is one of ute
desOlation. Four city blocks on tn
south side have been completely de
stroyed
For 72 hours rain has fallen in u1
precedented volume throughout this sec
ton, and the Santa Catarina rose grad
ually all day Friday, the crest of tn
Hood reaching Monterey early today
At hrst it was thought there would b
no loss of life, but the water had reacf
ed height never before attained an
swept buildings from their foundation
oy the score The electric light plan
was put out of commission last nigh
and complete darkness was an adde
horror.
Crles OF the drowning could be hear'
out the onlookers were powerless
render aid. When daylight came tn
scene was indescribable. All throug
the flooded districts groups could b
seen huddled on the tops of two-stor
buildings entirely surrounded by
setting mass of water. One by on
.nese houses disappeared with the
human freight. Nothing could like
tae wild current which was running {
The rate of 20 miles an hour.
during the early afternoon the rivt
was back in its banks, only to go oil
VI them again at o'clock because {
'Ho continued downpour of rain.
inc great steel plant at Montere
Suered loss of nearly 100000 b
.ne Hood, and the smelter of the Me,
,csn Lead company is cut off from IL
ivy and submerged. 1t is estimate
% sa a"o the loss at this plant will be ov,
Inc Santa Catarina river runs almo
ufectly through the center of the Gil
Ia Monterey. Along its right bank
iuSated the suburb of San Luisito, i
10 aSolted by the poorer classes. It w
- TINS section that the greatest 10
at me occurred, for the greater pa
AL. ,ne suburb is composed of one-stol
fS.a ueS' When the food waters struC
ror 0e buildings they collapsed as thong
Imposed of paper and buried the
ma IS'eS beneath mass of debris
M d manner that they had absolute
Opportunity to escape.
ss %Sny families remained in the
On ei ~ until compelled to seek refuI
- Ne. .ne roofs, but too late for the
s,a thy for they found themselves e
my my surrounded by water and at &
" of the raging stream.
N NO Americans Drowned.
tos O Americans were drowned. II
tbss. situation in the city is serious,
ete are NO rail oo,,,.t:. 1o@+ III