The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-09-03
FLOODS DEATH ROLL
MAY EVENTUALLY
REACH 1000 MARK
HUNDREDS or BODIES HAVE AL
READY BEEN RECLAIMED
AND IDENTIFIED.
WOR OF RESCUE CONTINUES
Poor Are The Greatest Sufferers But
The Rich Have Also Sustained
Bio Losses-Authorities Act Very
Promptly.

LAREDO, Tex, Aug. 31.-While con-
ditions are gradually being brought
back to normal as fast as willing
workers can bear out results, 1t will
by many days before Monterey will
resume it's wonted tranquility.
The various organized relief corps
are busily engaged, each looking after
its especially appointed task. Com
mittees and subcommittee are seeing
to the various details of rescue and
relief work Commissions are in
charge of the mournful task Of endeav-
oring to secure identification of the
dead bodies as they are brought in by
searchers, while other committees are
charged with the onerous duty of see
ing to the sheltering and feeding of
thousands Of accomplishing, homeless
who wander distracted about the
scene of the flood, hoping against hope
that they may be able to encounter
missing loved ones or at least recover
their bodies and give them Christian
burial.
Too much can not be said in praise
of the authorities for the prompt steps
they have taken to overcome the cha
otto conditions that existed for fully
two days after the crest of the flood
had been reached and after so great
number of lives had been drowned out
by the raging waters. Prompt meas
ures taken to house and feed the
homeless have proved effective, and
very few, if any, have been permitted
to go hungry. Soup kitchens have
been established at four different
places throughout the city, where
substantial soup as well as coffee and
bread, is doled out to the needy.
While the poor are the greater suf-
ferers, the flooded district principally
having been located on the fats along
the east side of the banks of the Santa
Catarina River, they are not alone in
their losses, for the rich as we'll were
more or less Inconvenience and were
compelled to leave their residences,
especially in the neighborhood OF the
Zaragoza Plaza and along a line In
north to south direction. They did
not suffer the loss of furniture, as did
the poorest element, but the fact that
they were in some Instances compelled
to move out and seek quarters in two
story buildings, rarity in a tropical
town. inconvenience them to great
degree.
1t is necessarily almost impossible
to accurately state the number of dead
at this time. This will only be posi-
BILE when conditions right themselves
and the waters completely subside.
Thus far it is accurately known that
slightly over 400 bodies have been re-
covered. OF this number about 30 per
cent have been identified. The bal
ance who are housed in the temporary
morgue established in the police head
quarters. will be inferred by the city
by friends or relatives. Some of these
bodies are already showing signs of
decomposition and will have to be in
tered almost Immediately.
Press reports have estimated the
loss of lives at anywhere from 400 to
1900, but private individuals venture
figures even more astounding.
prominent capitalist in Monterey.
Pedro Trevino, who is identified with
many prominent establishments in
that city, has hazarded the assertion
that the death roll will eventually
reach 1000 However, it is thought
this estimate may be exaggerated, ow-
ing to the excitement and chaotic con-
ditions existing in Monterey.
There are several little pueblocitos,
or small villages, containing from so
to 100 inhabitants, located along the
banks of the river to the south OF
Monterey, and these have been COM
pletely wiped out and their inhabi-
tants drowned. 1t is on this ground
that Mr.. Trevino places his estimate
of the loss of life at higher figures
atotaH