Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-31
MEXICAN FLOOD STORY
GROWING IN HORROR
Number Of Dead Now Estimated al
From Twelve Hundred to
Two thousand.
PROPERTYlGS TOTAL $50, 100000
Whole Villages Have Been Swept
Away, and Eighteen Blocks OF
Residences and Business Houses
are Missing in MISUNDERSTANDING
Threatens the Stricken City.
fBy Associated Press.)

MONTERREY, MEXICO, Aug. 30.-
With eight hundred bodies recovered
and buried in Monterey up to night
fall. two thousand is now the estl-
mate of the city authorities of those
who lost their lives throughout the
valley or the Santa Catarina river.
The number of homeless. many des-
titute, is placed at 1900. and 10000
The Santa Catarina river at Monterey
has subsidized sufficiently TO permit
passage into the district lying TO the
south and visit to that section byia
correspondent of the Associated Press
reveals an appalling condition.
People who had been saved from
the flood Of Saturday morning mad
been without food until today when.
by means of some cables, a small
quantity of bread and beans was got
ten across The river was still run
ming swiftly and in order to get
across it was necessary to wade
through half mile of water so as to
avoid the strong current, which would
still sweep man from his feet.
Evidences of Terrible Destruction.
Once or 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
district were as though they had new
or existed and in the remaining portion
of the district bodies were being tax
en- from the ruins ard buried by
marty of gerdarmes sent across for the
purpose.
Repcrts from the country up and
down the valley are meagre and hard
to obtain, as all telegraph commuhi-
cation has been cut in those dlrec-
tons, but from what has been learn
ed the number of dead has been
p,eaced at 1000 and the homeless at
between $1,000 and 10000 persons.
Most of those people are in destitute
circumstances and relief is badly
needed. Reports from down the river
state that many bodies have been re-
covered but there are many that Will
never be accounted for, as the Santa
Catarina bed is filed with quicksands
and MANY of those lost have no doubt
disappeared in these sands
The authorities are doing all in
their power and the federal govern
ment has sent $4,000 in money ana
provisions.
New York Firms Contribute
Contributions have been received
from New York firms which have
agencies liz this city, and which nave
authorized their representatives 10
contribute literally TO the fund FOR re-
lief.
MANY houses have fallen from the
effects of the continued rains which
have occurred in this city curing the
70 hours ending at noon Sunday Dur
ing this time 81 and rs inches OF rain
fell IN Monterey and up the santa
Catarina valley.
One Of the buildings destroyed was
the San Francisco church, which was
the Oldest building in the city. nav
ing been built in 1872. The barracks
@. the rurales was washed away ana
much military equipment was lost
The railway situation remains IN
changed. although il Is expected
train will ge: out tomorrow
several Land Slides Occurred
On the Parcdon branch OF me
Mexican Central several lands sides
have occurred and a serious wash
ont AT Durasno y kilometres south OF
this city, has taken place. II was al
this point that the international train
vas wrecked Friday night by the en-
CINE going through a culvert- wire
communication has been badly upset
since Friday night and the company
reports tonight that they are 500 mes
sages behind. Many 81 the messages
are from friends making inquiries al
over the United states. The ran
road property loss - estimated oy OF
fcials Of the lines At si.eoo.0oo. which
added to the loss IN this city makes
nearly SCI. 100000 Of property damss-