New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-29
EIGHT HUNDRED DEAD
IN GREAT FLOODS IN
NORTHERN MEXICO.
Loss of T1celue Millions of Dollars
IN and Near Monterey, Which
Is Partly Submerged.

Monterey. Mexico. Aug 2s.-Eight hundred
persons drowned. fifteen thousand homeless. and
property damage to the extent of s12.OOOOOO are
the results OF food which struck this city be-
tween l and o'clock this morning
The scene in the food swept section OF Mon
terey tonight is one OF utter desolation. Four
city blocks on the south side have completely
disappeared.
For seventy two hours rain has fallen in I'M
precedented volume throughout this section. and
the Santa Catarina River rose gradually all day
Friday, the crest of the flood reaching Monterey
early to-day At first IL thought that there
would be loss of life, but the water had
height never before attained and swept build
ings from their foundations by the score The
electric light plant put out of commission
last night and the complete darkness
added horror. Cries of the drowning could be
heard. but the OnIookers were powerless to rem
der aid.
When daylight came the scene was indescrib-
able All through the flooded district groups
could be seen huddled on the tops OF the two
story buildings. entirely surrounded by a tumuI-
tuous. seething mass OF water One by one
these houses disappeared with their human
freight.
Nothing could live in the wild current of the
Santa Catarina River, which was running at
the rate OF twenty miles an hour. During the
mained stationary. and IL was noon before fall
OF four feet began. BY o'clock this afternoon
the river was back in it's banks. only TO go out
of them again at o'clock because of the con-
tinued dOwnpour of rain.
The great steel plant at Monterey suffered a
loss of nearly S1OOOOO0 by the flood and the
smeIter of the Mexican Lead Company Is cut Off
from the city and submerged. II is estimated
that the loss at this plant will be more than
S3OO0OOo.
The Santa Catarina River runs almost di-
rectly through the centre Of Monterey Along
its right hank is located the suburb OF San LuI-
sito. inhabited by the poorer citizens. II was in
this section that the greatest loss of life oc-
CURED. for most of the suburb Is composed OF
one story adobe houses When the food waters
struck these buildings they collapsed as though
composed of paper and buried their inmates
beneath mass of debris in such a manner that
they had absolutely no opportunity to escape
and were drowned.
Many families having experienced other floods
remained in their dwellings until compelled to
seek refuge on the roofs. but too late for they
found themselves entirely surrounded by water
and absolutely at the mercy OF the raging sea
For many months throughout the year the
Santa Catarina River is dry bed absolutely
devoid of water. but during the rainy season IL
becomes an important stream. For the last
loItN-elSHI HouIS SuCn a deiuEe OF rain had
fallen that the stream reached unprecedented
proportions. and as it's waters rose IL completely
inundated the poorer section of the city
Monterey. which is city OF approximately
10000 inhabitants is in a valley between huge
mountains and is traversed by the Santa Cata-
rina River.
Mexico City. Aug. 2S.-ScOres are reported
dead. several thousand homeless and part of the
city of Monterey washed away by a cyclone and
food early this morning.
The storm struck inland from of the Gulf
over the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon
after devastating part OF the Isthmus of Tehuan-
tepec.
II is reported that the city OF Bagdad state
of Tauiaulipas. has been badly damaged. Nine
bridges and more than fifty miles of track have
been washed out on the Pan-American Railway
Two Indian villages in Tamaulipas have been
wiped out. and the lighthouse at Tampico swept
away
No damage was done to the shipping in the
harbOrs of Vera Cruz and Tampico. The tele-
graph lines have been crippled in the states Of
Ciuanafuato Coahuila. Vera Cruz. Nuevo Leon
and Tamaulpas