Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-09-04

which struck the city between and
9 clock Saturday morning.
The rain fell in torrents and its
binding fury made the work of rescue
more difficult The San Luis district
was soon cut off from the main part
of Monterey by swirling torrent.
bridge across a small stream, the Santa
Catarina river, was swept away just
as crowd from the flood-swept dis
trict had rushed upon it. The loss of
life here was great.
Houses Swept Away
When the bridge was carried down
the San Luis district was cut off from
the city proper and a flooded area ON
the other side prevented the escape of
the people. Houses hoated down the
stream and many of the frantic inhab-
itants chung to them. The whole sec
ton was thickly settled.
Industrial plants along the Santa
Catarina river were washed away, fac
tories were flooded, warehouses swept
into the flood. In the higher sections
of Monterey severe damage was done.
Water is high over the tracts in the
railway yards, and long stretch of
track of the National railway has been
washed out.
Federal, state and municipal officers
are organizing relief parties and pre-
pairing to aid the sufferers.
| Although the water has not yet sub
sided, many bodies have been recovered
and have been taken to the undertakers
in the higher parts of the city, where
they are now being prepared for burial.
Bodies in Treetops.
Many of the bodies were washed
down the river and have been swept
far into the country. Reports from
, outlying districts indicate great loss
of life has occurred and heavy damage
has been done. No details have been
received, but it is feared the devasta-
ton is general throughout both Nuevc
Leon and San Luis Potosi.
Rain is still falling tonight, although
the worst of the storm is over.
Bodies washed down the stream wer,
found in treetops.
Many farms located along the rivel
just below the city have been devas
y tated and it is feared the people WHIT
d lived on them lost their lives.
High water in the better part of. thu
T. city has done great damage, and ever
Il the more fashionable stores and resi-
y dences were flooded. Monterey has
large percentage of Americans in it
n population, but as yet no report of los
Y of life in the American colony has bee
i received
Scene of Desolation.
p. The scene in the flood swept sectio
IS Of Monterey tonight is one of ute
+. desolation. Four city blocks on tn
E south side have been completely dc
~ stroyed.
- For ~ hours rain has fallen in III
- precedented volume throughout this SCI
ton, and the Santa Catarina rose graz
' ually all day Friday, the crest of til
\. flood reaching Monterey early toda.
~ At first it was thought there would
" no loss of life, but the water had reacl
:. ed height never before attained an
=, swept buildings from their foundation
by the score The electric light plai
was put out of commission last nigl
: and complete darkness was an addt
40 horror.
Cries of the drowning could be hear
- but the onlookers were powerless
y render aid When daylight came Il
scene was indescribable. All throus
=, the flooded districts groups could
- seen huddled on the tops of two-sto
- buildings entirely surrounded by
10 seething mass of water. One by o
"a these houses disappeared with the
~ human freight. Nothing could like
the wild current which was running
the rate of 20 miles an hour.
During the early afternoon the riv
oe was back in its banks, only to go 0
'u' of them again at O'Clock because
rs the continued downpour of rain.
gh The great steel plant at Monter
ey' suffered loss of nearly 100000
NE the flood. and the smelter of the Ne
er' lean Lead company is cut off from [
nay city and submerged 1t is estimat
Hu that the loss at this plant will be OK
us SO 100000.
ON The Santa Catarina river runs aim
=" directly through the center of the G
ru' of Monterey. Along its right bank
i'] located the suburb of San Luisito,
habited by the poorer classes. 1t v
Sh in this section that the greatest i
of life occurred, for the greater p
Of the suburb is composed of one-st'
adobes. When the flood waters STIR
these buildings they collapsed as thou
composed of paper and buried til
inmates beneath a mass of debris
such manner that they had absolut
no opportunity to escape.
me Many families remained in th
an dwellings until compelled TO seek ref
on the roofs, but too late for til
safety, for they found themselves
~ tirely surrounded by water and at
lee mercy of the raging stream.
No Americans Drowned.
all No Americans were drowned.
yes food situation in the city is serious,