The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-01

Monterey, Mex. August 2S..-Eight
hundred persons drowned. $4,000
homeless and property damage to the
extent of $4,000. 900 is the result Of
food which struck this city between
and 2 o'clock. this morning.
The scene in the fiood-swept section
of Monterey tonight Is one of utter
desolati0n. Four city blocks on the
south side have completely disappear,
ed. n
For seventy-two hours rain has fall
len In unprecedented volume through
out this section and the Santa Cata-
rina River rose gradually all day Fri
day. the crest Of the food reaching
Monterey early today. At first 1t was
thought there would be no loss of
life. but the water reached a height
never before attained and swept
houses from their foundations by the
score. Tine electric light plant was
put out Of commission last night and
the complete darkness was an added
horror. Cries Of the drowning could
be heard. but the on-lookers were
powerless to render aid.
When daylight came the scene was
indescribable. All through the food
ed district groups could be seen hud-
died on the tops Of two-story build
inss. entirely surroupded by a mass
Of water.
One by one houses disappeared with
their human freight. Nothing could
live in the wild current Of the santa
Catarina River. which was rushing
at the rate of twenty miles an hour. :
During the early morning hours the
water remained stationary. and 1t was
noon before fall of four feet began.
BY Z o'clock this afternoon the river
was back In its banks. only to 20 out
OF them again at O'Clock, because of
the continued downpour OF rain
The great steel plant at Monterey
suffered loss of nearly million dol
lars by the. flood. and the smelter of
the Mexican Lead Company il cut Off
rom the city and submerged 1t is
tsmftsd that the loss at this plant
VII be over three million dollars.
The Santa Catarina river runs al
most directly through the centre of
Monterey. Along It's right banks is
located the suburb of San Luisito, in
habited by the poorer element. II
was In this section that the greatest
loss of life occurred.
Many pitifui scenes are reported.
One family ef the poorer class, hav-
Ing sought shelter On the roof of their
adobe dwelling. and refused to leave
their home in the belief that the wa
ters would soon subside, were drown
ed. The water came ON with a rush,
and before help could reach them the
entire family was swept from their
place of refuge. ~
The higher portion of the city was
crowded tonight with thousands OF
homeless Mexlcans. but as fast as or.
der could be brought ont of chaos
arrangements were made to care for
the women and children. Many pri-
vate homes, the police station, clubs
and organization halls, were thrown
open to succor the homeless.
l.2o0 Drowned at Monterey.
Monterey. August z9.-At noon to-
day 1t stopped raining for the first
time since last Thursday afternoon,
and some idea OF the horrors of the
flood of Friday night and Saturday
could be obtained. 1t was at first re-
ported that eight hundred lives were
lost In the disaster, but today it seems
that the number Of the dead will
reach 1900 and may be more. The
river has fallen considerably, and
while still high the danger is now
over. Seventeen and a half inches of
rainfall is the official record during
friday. Saturday and today. This rain
was steady downpour and at no
time approached the status of q cloud
burst. The river was higher than it
has ever been in the history of Mon
terey and at one time the plaza Zara-
gozo. the highest part Of the city, was
Hooded to depth of about one foot
This was early Saturday morning, and
only lasted until the approach on the
south side of the San Lusito bridge
was washed out.