FLOODS IN SPAIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 351, 9 January 1880, Page 3

FLOODS IN SPAIN.

"It was in the middle of the night that the Serenos (watchmen) perceived the waters rising rapidly and approaching the parapet that protects our suburbs. The Serenos raised an alarm and, thus, over the noise of the rain and thunderstorm, the Murcians heard the bells ringing the dread alarm. The inhabitants rushed into the streets and formed affrighted groups, whilst the authorities moved about to organise help for the part of the town lying below the flood levels. As we walked about in the dark night amidst a deluge of rain, we would hear the distant roar of the water tearing past in the Segura, until low, rumbling, crashes lold of the inundation breaking into our streets. Suddenly all our gaslights went out, and we were aware that the water had Bwept into the works. From street and square came the cry, ' The water is rising.' It was a fearful moment, because all the struggling suburbs of San Benito and San Laurexo, before half the people could get out of their beds, had water over the lower-floors of the houses, and in churches, institutes, and public buildings. It swept along to the railway station, tearing up shedg and embankments, destroying rails and telegraph posts. During the terrible hours of the night our authorities and the admirable Civil Guards worked with a will to rescue women and children. By torchlight, knee-deep, and often up to the waist in water, the gallant fellows waded in the suburbs, seizing half-diownea and frightened fugitives, cheering up others at the windows and on the roofs until boats, barges, and even carriages could be used to save the dwellers from abodes that threatened ruin. Several times in the night we heard the crash of falling houses and timbers, and above the noise rose the wailing and shrieks of the unfortunate beings that could not escape, and were soon smothered in the ruins and torrent. Acts of heroism were performed by the authorities, by the boatmen, and by the Civil Guards. One guard five times braved the torrent, with water to his chest, and each time came back with a child, and when he was going for the mother and last little one the house was gone I One nobleman iv his cariiage saved dozens of people, until the horses, dead beat and half-drowned, could no longer pursue their work of charity. As fast as the rescued came in they were taken into private dwellings, into Government House, and the Bishop opened his palace to several hundreds, providing them with soup and wine. When the day broke — gloomy, and with sky overcast—the Murcians lorgot the horrors of the night as they gazed on the Vega, or ralher on what had been the day befojv a lovely, tropical, garden-like plain. Far as the eye could reach, the waters had spread, and wei-e surging about and carrying along debris of farms and cottages, dead animals, and not a few human ho lies. The villages and farms bad shared the same fate, and no intelligence' could be got of the survivors, as the roads were impassible, the jailway line destroyed for miles, and telegraphs had ceased to cxibt. Patrols of Civil Guards and volunteers of all classes sallied in coache3 and tartanas, or were well mounted, and very soon returned to suy that the retiring waters had left a thick coat of mud and detritus on the once cultivated huerta. Era Alta and Norduermas were a heap of ruins aiound their churches and a few larger houses, some of the inhabitants of which had escaped by spending a night ou the routs in the storm, surrounded by the flood. Beniajain, Lorque, and C«rravaca had equally suffered, and as to the hamlets of the Vcg:i thuy contained nothing but ruins and dead bodies. In forty-eight hours, 160 were brought in and laid by 142 others taken from our suburbs. Jhe stench was such, in many parts of the Vega, that neither the Civil Guards nor the authorities thought it would be prudent to attempt any exploration for the victims. Never had Murcia ami the va.-leys around experienced such a catastrophe since the Hoods of IG9I and of 1802."— Exchange.