MEXICO DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9583, 1 September 1909, Page 5

MEXICO DISASTER.

HEAVY DEATH ROLL. THOUSANDS OF PERSONS HOMELESS. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT FOUR MILLIONS. United Press association-Bv Electric Telegraph Copyright, Keceived August 31, 9 a.m. MEXICO. August 30. Reuter's Agency reports that there are 1,200 dead and 15.000 homeless at Monterey. The damage is estimated at four million pounds sterling. Over 17 inches of rain fell on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The greatest losses occurred on Saturday, when the great buildings began to crumble and fall. Many of the roofs were crowded with hundreds of people, most of whom disappeared. Ninety women and children took refuge in a schoolhouse, but the rising water drove them from floor to floor. While two priests wero blessing them the walls of the house collapsed, and all were drowned. ONE-FOURTH OF MONTEREY DESTROYED. WATER FAMINE FEARED. Received August 31, 9 40 p.m. MEXICO, August 31. One thousand four hundred perished at Monterey. One-fourth of the city has been destroyed. The water mains are useless, consequently there is no drinking water, and a famine rs reared. Thousands have taken refuge in the Cathedral, churches and schools. Many buildings are soaked with water, continue to collapse slowly, adding to the death roll. The collapse of the reservoir dam was the chief cause of the fatalities at Monterey, which lies in the centre of a cuplike valley with steep mountains on three sides. The waters rushed down, swelling the river. Subscriptions are pouring in from all parts of Mexico.