Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-29
RumOr that Large Part Of Mexican
City Has Been Washed
Away.
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE RUM0RED
One Report Places Number of Deaths
at One Thousand.
TRAIN SERVICE IS SUSPENDED
Wires to Laredo Are Down and News
of Disaster Meager.
RIVER RISES SUDDENLY
Many Adobe Huts Along It's Banks
Are Dissolved by the Flood
and Their Occupants
Drowned.
Inc Report Places Number of Deaths
at One Thousand.
TRAIN SERVICE IS SUSPENDED
RIVER
RISES
SUDDENLY

LAREDO, Tex, Aug. 2s-word reached
this city late this afternoon Of one of the
most disastrous floods ever known In
Northern Mexico. It was caused by the
overflow of the Santa Catarina river Ac-
cording to the rumors, many lives were
lost, some estimates being as high as 1000.
The financial damage is estimated at any
where from S1,OOOOOO to $1,000, ,OOO For the
last forty-eight hours a veritable deluge
Of rain has been falling, which, together
with the flow Of water from the adjacent
mountains into the Santa Catarina river,
so swelled that stream that It reached a
width Of a mile and a half and completely
overflowed certain portions of the city Of
Monterey, wrecking houses and causing
loss of life 1t is believed that the rumor
placing the lives lost at 1000 is a gross
eKaggeratlon. due to the unsettled condi-
tions prevailing. However, It is certain
that the flood was the most terrible in
the history Of the oldest inhabitants and
that the loss of life will be great
Not train has reached this city thus
far today and telegraphic communication
Is crippled to such an extent that the
exact location of some OF the trains is at
the present time unknown.
In the city Of Monterey telephone COM
munication is impossible, the electric light
plant is half under water and out Of com
mission, the entire street car service OF
the city, which depends upon the electric
plant for its power is paralyzed and the
water works has been damaged to such an
extent that the water supply of the city
is crippled
Information reaching here through re-
liable sources states that so severe was
the flood that the Inhabitants in the vi
cinity of the flooded stream barely had
time to flee for their lives; that the onrush
of waters carried away their homes and
chattels and in many cases drowned the
occupants Of the small huts used by the
natives. 1t is said that conditions are
chaotic and that the places are crowded
with homeless natives.
Buildings washed Away.
The buildings Of Monterey, like those Of
many other old Mexican cities, are, In most
cases. built Of adobe These buildings, when
struck by the floods. literally dissolved, and
In many instances their inhabitants are re-
ported to have been caught in the falling
material and rendered helpless and drowned
1, like rats in a trap
Flood conditions extend as far south as
saltillo, although no great damage beyond
that to roadbeds is reported south Of Mon
terey.
Telegraphic communication to the north is
partially interrupted, but II was learned
tonight over q working wire that there has
been no loss Of life reported to the south
OF Monterey The reports reaching Laredo
as to the life loss in Monterey are so varied
that 1t is impossible to state with certainty
what the catastrophe will really amount to.
Inquiry was made tonight at the offices
of the National railway to learn II any
| light could be thrown upon the life loss
In Monterey but that office was In ignor-
| ance of the situation, It having lost all
wires to the south late last night
Monterey is a city of approximately
| 10000 inhabitants and is. located I6s
| miles south of Laredo. II is set in a
valley between huge mountains and is
! traversed by the Santa Catarina river.
Among some of the plants that were
more or less damaged are:
| The electric light plant. the water
works. the yards of the National Rail-
way of Mexico, also several warehouses
of private individuals in that vicinity,
the smelters and steel plant, which lat
| ter are reported TO be badly damaged by
! the water.
| According to advices from the federal
| telegraph authorities, wires south are
| paralyzed. only one wire working south
| of Laredo, and communication with
| Monterey was secured over this wire via
Ciudad Porfirio Diaz and Chihuahua, q
eircuitous route.