Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-09-03
SCENE OF DEATH
AND DESOLAT|ON
RIVER ovERFLoWs AND FLOODS
PART OF THE CITY OF MON
TEREY, MEXICO.
LIST OF DEAD NUMBERS 1000
Thousands of Poems Homeless and
Suffering, Their Small Huts Hav-
ing Been Swept Away by the
Destructive Flood.

Monterey, Mexico.-With about 500
bodies recovered and buried in Mon
terey so far, 1000 is now the esti-
mated number of flood victims
throughout the valley of the Santa Ca
tarina river. The number of home
less. many destitute, is placed at be-
tween $4,000 and 10000. The Santa
Catarina river at Monterey has sub
sided sufficiently to permit a passage
into the district lying to the south and
a visit to that section by correspon-
dent of the Associated Press revealed
appalling conditions. Persons who
had been saved from the flood of Sat
urday morning had been without
food for three days, when on some
cables, a small abount of bread and
beans was gotten across.
Once on the south side of the river
evidences of the terrible destruction
wrought by the flood were to be seen
on every hand. Five blocks of the dis
trict were as though they had never
existed and In the remaining portions
bodies were being taken from the
ruins and buried.
The authorities are doing all in their
power and the federal government has
sent $4,000 in money and provisions
for the relief of the sufferers. Con-
tributions have been received from
San Antonio and New York City firms
which have agencies in this city.
The destructive flood, due to the
heavy fall of rain, swept everything
before it and hardly a vestige is left
of what was few days ago con-
glomeration of small huts swarming
with families belonging to the poorer
classes. The number of dead, which
cannot be accurately estimated for
days-perhaps weeks-is placed at
1900. The victims were from the
poorer classes.
The flood reached its crest between
1 and 8 o'clock a. m. Many families
were swept to death with hardly
chance for their lives. With the on
rush of the waters, pandemonium
reigned and as the victims were swept
from their homes, on the tops of
which many had sought shelter, never
! anticipating that the water would
reach an unprecedented height, pitiful
appeals for assistance could be heard
by the people on higher ground, but
aid of any kind was impossible.
1t is thought that the damage will
be far in excess of first estimates
Monterey smelter, one of the largest
in Mexico, suffered great loss from the
deluge of rain. This loss is variously
estimated at from $1,000,000 to $4,000
600. The Monterey steel plant, the
only plant of its kind in the republic
and which cost originally S10,0O0,000
to construct. is reported to have been
damaged to the extent of from $2,000,-
900 to S3,000,000. The electric light
and street railway system of Monte
rey, modern in every respect, con-
structed about three years ago by a
Canadian company, in which the Mac
kenZines of Toronto are heavily inter-
| ested, was damaged to the extent of
| approximately s1,000,0O0. The Monte
rey water and sewerage system suf-
| fered loss estimated at $1,0O0,O00 or
more. This damage, together with the
loss resulting from annihilation of ap-
proximately 5000 adobe huts and
some structures of more pretentious
appearance. will bring the financial
loss up to approximately $20,000,0O0.