The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-09-02
1000 LIVES LOST
IN MEXICAN FLOOD
Many Thousand Others Are
Made Homeless.
CAUGHT LIKE RATS IN TRAP
Scenes Of Profound Grief Witnessed
as Families Are Separated
American Consul Appeals for
Aid-Fear Food Shortage.

LdreuO, Tex, aug. oU.-WlCn partial
establishment of communication
with the flooded section of northern
Mexico, previous reports as to loss of
life and property damage were con-
firmed. 1t is believed at least 1000
lives were lost Semi-official advices
state that 400 dead bodies had been
recovered in Monterey.
The property damage is variously
estimated from $5,O00,OO0 to $12,-
100000.
The flood waters of the Santa Cat.
arina river continue on their rapid
course and to add to the horror of the
situation the rain commenced to fall
and caused untold suffering to the
thousands of homeless poems who had
congregated on the various plazas,
their only homes in the extreme emer-
gency.
Rain Fails Four Days.
The destructive flood. due to the
continued fall of rain for So hours,
swept everything before it and hardly
vestige is left of what was a few
days ago conglomeration of small
huts swarming with families belong
ing to the poorer classes. The loss of
life cannot be accurately estimated for
days-perhaps weeks.
The flood reached its crest in the
early part of the hours between IL
and three o'clock and many families
were swept away to watery death
with hardly a chance to fight for
their lives. With the on-rush of the
water, pandemonium reigned and as
the poor wretches were swept from
their homes, on the tops of which
many had sought shelter, never for a
moment anticipating that the water
would reach an unprecedented height,
pitiful appeals for assistance could be
heard rising above the roar of the
onrushing waters by those on higher
ground, but who were powerless to
render aid of any kind.
Aid for the Sufferers.
Every effort was made in Monterey
to shelter the women and children.
Homes were thrown open to the suf.
ferers; the police station, many of the
hotels and private clubs, as well as
the rooms of several organizations
were placed at the disposal of the au-
thorities and for the greater part the
women and children were cared for.
However, many Of the men were COM
PEELED to sleep in the open in the vari-
GUS plazas. Both Zaragosa and Hid
algo plaZas were alive with people
throughout the night and vast
throng congregated in this vicinity,
which is on high ground, in order to
witness the rampage of the minia-
ture Niagara as it swept onward after
completing it's work of destruction.
Pitiful scenes are reported among
the women and children. Many wom-
en- have been separated from their
husbands; mothers from their chill
dren without knowledge of the where
abouts of one another, and scenes of
the most profound grief are witnessed
on all hands.
Fear Scarcity of Food.
While as yet there is no scarcity of
food and Monterey is amply able to
care for it's destitute, there is fear of
shortage in the near future.
1t is understood that an appeal for
aid has gone out from the city of
Monterey. One statement is to the
effect that Consul General Hanna has
appealed to the authorities at Wash
ipctOn reu,IpStiuG that q peneraI an
coal be made by the federal govern
ment through the medium of the
press requesting monetary assistance.
Dead Estimated at 1900.
Monterey, Mexico, Aug. 30.-An I'M
official estimate of the dead in the
santa Cataria river district is placed
at twelve hundred. The river is fall
ing rapidly to-day, being now within
its banks and rescuing parties are
leaving many points to recover the
bodies of the dead and give relief to
the homeless. The entire valley is
desolated Theh homeless are being
cared for by the state and municipal
authorities, and private homes have
been open to the refugees. Tho rain
that had been falling steady since
Thursday stopped to-day. Many vii
lagos have been swept away entirely
and the exact number OF dead may
never be known.