The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-30
BROWNS I,4OO.
Great Flood Sweeps Through
the City of Monterey.
Already $50 Dead Bodies Have
Been Recovered.
A LOSS OF s12,OOO,OOO
A Number of the biggest Manu-
featuring Plants Damaged.
Five Thousand Dwellings Have
Been Swept Away.

! Mexico City, Mexico. Aug. 3o.-A con-
seryatiXe estimate of the damage
wrought at Monterey by the flood places
the dead at i,40o and the property loss
at $4,000, 900. The river has gone down
and the danger is over.
Up to the present time 600 bodies have
been recovered. One entire quarte, of
the city of Monterey was destroyed and
$4,000 persons today are homeless. The
water mains are useless and the city
is consequently without drinking wa
liter. neither is there light nor street car
Service. for the power plant has been
seriously damag ged.-
It will be impossible to resume train
service for week and the city is
threatened with a food famine. The
slaughter houses have been destroy
Ten thousand persons are being fed
on bread, coffee and soup by the muni
cipal authorities and the American
consulate is giving food to all who ap-
ply.
Thousands of persons have taken
refuge in the cathedral and the church
es- Many adobe structure, soaked by
the rain are falling and there has been
some additional loss of life from this
cause.
The railroad situation is deplorable.
On the branch of tile international
are a score of washouts. The iron
bridge at San Juan has gone out and
10 miles of the track of the Matamoras
branch have been washed out. There
are dozen waashouts between Mata-
moras and CuevaS. and the big iron
bridge over the Rinconaga between Sal
t:llo and Monterey is gone. The total
loss to the railroads probably will ex-
ceed $4,000
Eighteen Blocks Washed Away.
IT. IL y
business houses were entirely washed
away in Monterey. The more wealthy
people of the city, together with the
American residents are contributing to
the mayors fund which Is being ex-
PENDED for food.
The greatest loss of life is said to
have been caused by the giving away
of the reservoir dam. Monterey is sit
rounded on three sides by steep noun
tains. The waters rushed into this
valley down the bed Of the Santa Ca
tarania river This stream is ordinarily
the flood its banks were fully three
quarters of a mile apart. 1t is estima-
ted that IS inches of rain fell.
The federal authorities here are busy
with the organization of relief meas
ures. Benefit theatrical performances,
bull fights and fairs are being planned.
Subscription lists are being opened all
over Mexico City and other cities of
the republic are. responding to Monter-
ey's urgent call for assistance
Rain Fell in Torrents.
The rain 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 Sunday. and many fam
lilies were swept to death with hardly a
chance to fight for their lives. With
the on-ruSh of the water many were
frnT1 fI1oiT hnT on he n
which many had sought shelter, never
anticipating that the water would reach
an unprecedented height. Pitiful ap-
peals for assistance could be heard
above the roar of the waters by those
on higher ground, but who were pow
erless to render aid of any kind
Accompanying the rescue work the
search for bodies is being pushed as
rapidly as possible. Scores are lodged
at various places along the stream, |
and will be weeks before all are