The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-10-15

The GsatenaIa Earthquake.
IA coRREsPoNDENT Of the Panama Star
aid Herald, writing from Antigua, Guat:
emala, gives the following account Of
the last earthquake in that country:
On the Sd Of September, at $50 p. M,
without any previous warning, strong
earthquake shook the ground violently
in direction from west to east. The
movement was series of strong vertical
and horizontal impulses combined. The
wave-like fluctuations on the surface
rose and fell at least foot. This, acting
along with the aforementioned vertical
movement, made it almost impossible to
move about without being thrown to the
ground. Nevertheless, every one in the
house managed to get out into the court
yard, expecting every moment to see the
wall come tumbling down upon us. Be-
ing taken by surprise, | can scarcely say
what happened in the first seconds, but
soon recovered equanimity enough to
note the direction of the shocks by the
swinging of the lamp which hung in the
portico of the Hotel de Concrete, where
l was staying, and any other phenomena
that might occur. Every object around
me was in motion. 1t gave me the feel
ing as if / stepped into a hole and then
Istumbled against an elevated body which
prevented me from recovering my equi-
librium. Added to all this there were
the piercing cries of the populace, the
creaking and cracking of walls, loud
sounds like thunder from the earth be-
meath, the rattling noise of tiles, houses,
and walls falling, which altogether formed
| hideous concert which can never be
forgotten. If you consider that the dark
ness Of the night made this all the more
impressive; that every visible object was
in violent motion, and that it was neces-
sary to balance ones self with the
| greatest care to avoid fall, you will
not be surprised that my observations of
| the first moments of this catastrophe are
rather scanty. A strange perplexity
seemed to paralyze all the mental facul-
ties. think, however, l am correct in
| estimating the duration of the first strong
shock to have been from twenty-five to
thirty seconds. The contents of large
water-tank in the courtyard were thrown
| out in broad sheet of water Wild
screeches and screams continued even
after the first terror had a little subsidized
lat once saw that our policy was to
keep quiet and away from the walls
Long after the first shock had passed
there was still the noise Of walls falling
more or less distant. Suddenly arose the
sound Of hundreds of voices chanting {.
hymn to the Creator for mercy The
solemn melody had strange effect on
my excited nerves and feelings. Many
shocks followed during the night, of
varying intensities, every one of which
gave rise to new alarms and new implora-
tions for mercy The night seemed an
| age in length Fortunately no rain fell.
AT daybreak l went through the town to
see the extent of the mischief DONE |
judge about two dozen houses that were
inhabited have been destroyed, causing,
us far as | could learn, the loss of thirty
two lives. The number of houses dam
aged which will have to be taken down
will be found considerable Many Of the
old ruins of 1918 have suffered new dam
ages. In Guatemala, the capital, shocks
! were felt, but slight. This fact, taken
along with the direction of the earth
| quake, and its increasing effect being il
a direct ratio to the distance
from the "Volcan del Fuego," makes it
probable that this mountain caused all
the nocturnal disturbance above de
scribed The Indians say that three vii
| lagos at the foot of the volcano have been
destroyed, though this wants confirma-
ton. During the confusion and disaster
OF the earthquake many narrow and
| wonderful escapes are related, as usual
For instance, a mother was killed, but
the child she held in her arms was un.
hurt. Another woman got hold Of her
child and her old mother, but in getting
out Of the house the old woman was
killed, and SO on. Even during the ter
| rOr of the first shock there were not
wanting perverse men who appeared
with long knives for the purpose of
stealing and numbering, and tried to do
so, but fortunately the political chief of
Antigua proved to be the right man for
the occasion. He took measures at once
| to put down such pests of society, and
saved the people of Antigua from murder
| and plumber. The authorities did their
| duty on this trying occasion, and de-
serve public thanks. All the squares
and open places of Antigua are covered
with tents and other modes Of shelter.
The Inhabitants look with fear to the ap-
proach Of night, expecting repetition
Of the earthquake at the same hour The
children alone seem to enjoy this new
mode Of life, regarding it, probably, as a
nice picnic. Happy childhood Even
carriages and carts serve as temporary
abodes. 1t will take some time before
the people of Antigua, Guatemala, re-
cover serenity of mind enough to 90 to
| sleep in their tottering houses. Impress
sions of a strong shock Of earthquake
are not easily forgotten or dominated by
force of will.
The Increased Use of the Members.
WE doubt if the human body has ever
in any instance attained the acme of its