Norwich bulletin., 1909-08-30

re-establishment OF communication
with the flooded section of northern
Mexico today, previous reports con-
cerning loss OF life and property dam
age are confirmed
Death, Desolation, Darkness.
Semi official advices state that four
hundred dead bodies were recovered in
Monterey at noon today. Last night
in Monterey was one Of death, desola-
ton and darkness. The flood waters
of the Santa Catarina river continued
on the rapid course throughout the
night. and to add to the horror of the
situation rain commenced to fall and
caused untold suffering to the thou
sands of homeless poems who had con-
gregated on the various plazas.
Z Flood Swept Everything Before 1t.
The destructive flood, due to the
continued fall of rain for the past
ninety-six hours, swept everything be-
fore it and hardly vestige is left of
what was a few days ago conglom-
Grafton of small huts swarming with
families belonging to the poorer class
es. The number of dead, which can
not be accurately estimated for days
perhaps weeks-is variously placed at
from 400 to 1000. The victims were
from the poorer classes. The food
reached its crest between / and
O'clock SATURDAY morning.
Many Entire Families Perished.
Many families were swept to death
with hardly chance for their lives.
With the onrush of the waters pande-
nonium reigned and as the victims
were swept from their homes on the
tops Of which many had sought shell
ter never anticipating that the water
would reach an unprecedented height,
pitifuf appeals for assistance could be
heard by those on higher ground, but
aid Of any kind was impossible.
Private Homes Opened to Sufferers.
Last night every effort was made by
kind hearted people to shelter homeless
women and children. Private homes
were thrown open to the sufferers. The
police station many hotels and clubs
az well as the rooms of several organ :
izations were placed at the disposal of
the authorities. Though most of the
women and children were thus cared
tor. many men we're compelled to sleep
IN the open in the various plazas. Both
Zaragoza and Hidalgo plazas were
alive with people throughout the night
and vast throng congregated I'm this
vicinity. which is on high ground, to
watch. the food as 1t swept onward
~ Many Bodies Recovered.
Already many bodies have been re-
covered. but It is impossible to state
the exact number. A mi-reIiable
authority says the police records show
that four hundred bodies had been re-
covered up to noon today Scores of
other bodies are believed to be still
lodged at various points along the
stream, and 1t may be weeks before
they are recovered.
PitifuI Scenes Reported.
Pitiful scenes are reported among
the women and children. Many women
have been separated from their hus-
hands, mothers tfrom their children,
without knowledge Of the whereabouts
Of one another.
Hotels and Business Houses Warned.
At IL o'clock this morning rain was
still falling and to add to the disaster
the Santa Catarina had worked out for
itself q new channel, dividing into two
O manner that another and modernly
oenftructed part Of the town was
threatened.
II In said that warnings had been
sent out TO many of the hotels and
business houses throughout the center
Of the city to be prepared for the
worst and to take preventive meas
ures
This warning would not necessarily
maan that there would be any loss Of
life, but that the first floors of various
buildings might be flooded and entail
q large financial loss.
The modern portion of the city is
considered to be high enough to escape
the ravagss Of the food, but in view
Of the fact that the rise of the waters
has been unprecedented 1t has been
considered best to issue a general
warning. ....,t.
Damage Will Reach Millions. =
It is thought that the damage will be
tar In excess OF first estimates as sent
out In last nights report. Monterey
smelter, one Of the largest in Mexico,
suffered great loss from the deluge of
rain. This loss is variously estimated
At from si,ooo.ooo to s2,0oo,oOo.
Other Losses.
This Monterey steel plant the only
plant Of its kind in the republic, which
cost originally $4,000, 900 to construct,
is reported to have been damaged to
the extent of from $4,000, 900 to $1,000
900. The electric light and street rail-
way system of Monterey, modern in
every respect, constructed about three
years ago by a Canadian company in
which the Mackenzies Of Toronto are
heavily interested, was. damaged to the
extent OF approximately $4,000
The Monterey water ani sewerage
system suffered a loss estimated at
1,000, 900 or more.
$12,000,0o0 the Highest Estimate.
This damage, together with the loss
resulting from annihilation Of approx
mately five thousand adobe huts and
some structures of more pretentious
appearances, will bring the financial
loss up TO approximately $1,000, ,000
Some estimates run as high as $12,-
100000.
Both the electric light and street
railway systems and the water works
and drainage system were dominated
by Canadian capitalists. A hard fight
was made by Canadian companies to
secure concessions for the installation
of these modern improvements a few
years ago and their loss will be keenly
felt
Little effort to recover bodies OF the
drowned has yet been made the chief
thing done under the chaotic condi-
fions prevailing being providing of
shelter and food for the living.
American Families Moving to High
Ground.
Many vehicles today We're busy car
rying the effects OF residents TO ground
high enough to avoid any possibility
of overflow. This is especially true of
American families, many of whom re-
side at downtown hotels a along the
Plazas Zaragosa and Hidalgo. Many
OF these families have removed TO re-
mote sections Of the city, though the
locality Of their hotels is thought to
be safe from inundatiop.