The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-30
I,4OO DIE IN
MEXICAN CLOUDBURST
CONTINUED from Page one,


Scene 10 IndssoribabIc.
When daylight came the scene was
indescribable. In all the flooded sec
tions groups could be seen budding
on the top OF two-story buildings. en-
| tirely surrounded by a tumbling, seeth-
ing 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 twen-
~ miles an hour. During the early
morning hours the water remained
stationary and IL was noon before a
fall Of four feet began. BY 1 o'clock
yesterday afternoon the river was back
in its bank, only to so out OF them
again ar o'clock because OF the con-
tinued downpour of rain. 81 -
Monterey in Darkness. t'@
Mexico City. Aug. 3O.-The Associa-
ted Press correspondent at Monterey
wires that 500 persons have been
drowned as a result OF a food in the
Santa Catarina river, which stlIl con
tinues. Fifteen thousand people are
homeless and the damage Is not lees
than $12,000,000. The city is In dark
ness. ."a
Among the losses are: The Monterey
Steel Co., 81. 900 900; the Mexican Smell
ter e. Lead Co., S3,O0O,00O. The city
begs aid from the United States.
a message to the railroad officials
say that there are no lights and no
water at Monterey, the water mains
having been destroyed. The Santa Cat-
arina river divided the city proper
from the suburb of San Lusito and The
latter probably has been destroyed. The
| bridge is now under the torrent.
Spectators Watch HsIpIessIy.
Several blocks Of houses occupied by
the poor were carried away while the
spectators on the opposite side OF the
river watched hopelessly. The city
authorities are trying to give aid to
the sufferers but with little success.
A special message 10 the impartial
from Monterey says that the deaths
there are estiamted at 1000 The en-
tire suburb OF San Lusito has been
washed away. A later special says that
the water has reached the center OF
the city and that the property damage
will be very great
The Associated Press correspondent
at Monterey In a later dispatch says
that the Santa Cataripa river has
broken through its banks and flooded
a large portion of the territory on
both sides No Americans were
drowned
The flood situation in the city IL
very serious as there are no rail con-
nections left. The flood has destroyed
the water mains and the .ity's aba
tors.
American Consulate Damaged.
Laredo, Tex, Aug. 30.--It Is learn
ed from reliable source that the
American consulate in Monterey was
damaged to the extent OF $1,000 by the
flood. There was much Inconvenience
caused to the employees at the ronsu-
late but no loss OF life.
Monterey is a city Of approximately
10000 and is located 16s miles south
of Laredo
400 Bodies Recovered. :
Laredo. Texas. Aug. s0.--About 900
bodies have been recovered hut hun
dreds still are believed to be lodged
at various points along the stream and
II may be weeks before they are re-
covered and many will never be found.
Pitiful scenes are reported among
the women and children. many wo-
men being separated from their hus-
bands and mothers from their chill
dren without knowledge of the where
abouts OF each other. and scenes OF
most profound grief witnessed on all
hands.
At l o'clock this morning rain was
still falling and to add TO the disaster
the Santa Catarina had worked out
for itself a new channel, dividing II
into two raging streams a q separate
ing in such a manner that the entire
town was threatened.
The latest estimates of the financial
loss involved range from $7,000,000 to
s12000.000. II is practically certain
that the minimum figure mentioned
will be reached and IL Is possible that
the maximum is not exaggerated.
While yet there is not scarcity Of
food and the city is amply able TO
care for Its destitutes, there is fear
the line of the National railroad will
have a shortage in the near future
There have been several washouts all
along between Laredo and SaltilIo
Mexico, and not a train has entered
the city of Monterey. either from the
north or the south for the past seven
ty-two hours. The through south
bound train from Laredo has been tied
up at Monterey for that period OF time.
While semi-ofticial reports state
that up to noon today 400 bodies have
been recovered, there has thus far
been no attempt 10 inter the dead.
They are being placed along the banks
OF the river on the higher ground.
where an improvised morgue has
been constructed Gnd there await
Identification
The bodies are guarded with sold
iers who escort any searcher for
missing friend or relative along the
line of dead and IN many cases where
the worst fears of the seekers are
realized the guards have uglAg orr
deal on their hands caring f3r the
hvstaricaf