The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-16
Subterranean Shocks and a Terrible
Calamity in Mexico.
The City Of Guadalajara Wis
tied Severely.
Alarm and Awe and a Town
in Ruins.
Seventy Persons Killed and a
Large Number Wounded.
GuApALAJAnA, Mexico, Feb. 20. 1879

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Feb. 20. 1874
On Friday, the 18th OF February at halFpast
eight O'Clock P. NJ, very severe shaking felt
IN this capital (Guadalaj ara), accompanied by
strange subterranean sound. The phenomenon
was so marked that 1t seemed as II the great
terraqueous mass vas about to pass from under
our feet and for the moment the falling In of
every roof was expected. In four minutes after
the shaking was repeated with equal force and
with the m ost tremendous noises, whereupon the
amszement and alarm had no limit The public
squares and every place where 1t was thought the
falling houses could not reach were taken posses
sion OF by the multitude, who were beside them
selves with panic.
ATMOSPHERIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FACTS.
few moments before the earthquake the
heavens were clouded and the atmosphere hot
and sunocating, ali OF which tended to horrify
more and more public Imagination. The shaklngs
were OF tremulous character. terminating in
osctllatory movements, and lasted about ten
seconds
PREVIOUS SHOCKS.
There 10 no doubt that Quad alajara has never
sunered earthquakes as strong as these just
passed through. and that fortunately we have not
many accidents to lament.
TIE LOSSES.
Nevertheless many buildings have suffered COD.
siderable injury. among others the INSTITUTE the
chapels Of Loreto, la MERGED, de Jesus, Llceo and
Mexlcalcuigo, while an arched roof was cracked
open In the Penitentiary, q tower cracked loose
belonging to the Cathedral &c. falling stone
from the Cathedral destroyed mans loot.
The theatre OF Degollado did not suner-a proof
that tne rumors in regard to Its bad construction
have no foundauon-although the persons W no had
gone to the theatre to the benefit of Mrs. Leonardo
were very much frightened. The whole night was
passed in watching. so strong was the conviction
that the phenomenon would be repeated.
THE EXTENT OF THE SUBTERRANEAN CONvULSIONS-
FIRsT CONSEQUENCES.
On the following day the telegraph announced
that toward the east as far as Leon, the north as
far as Chalchhuite the south as far as Zacoalco
and the west to the Pacific all the towns had felt
the earthquake with greater or less intensity.
especially those near the volcano Of CeborucO. In
The valley OF the river. near the hactendd OF Mr.:
PortillO, large rock Iell down. killing horse and
wOundlng man.
In San Crlstoba the affair has been very bao, as
nearly all oil The houses OF that town have been
destroyed and many, perhaps, been buried In the
ruins
% TO the 18th or 10th Of tue month, besides the
bruised and wounded the bodies Of
SEVENTY KILLED
have been taken from the runs.
As the town contains only 500 Inhabitants the
proportion OF the accidents to that number Is
horriying.
u one OF tho victims. 1t Is said he died yester.
day.
1t may be said OF San Cristooal that 1t has dis
appeared and that Its ruins. only exist The
families which have been saved are now living In
the open air Inuer trees.
correspondent says, under date OF February
San Crsstosai is s1tSatsa or rather was situated
1t the bottom OF the beautiful valley which CT Osses
the greater part Of the north or TINS state. the
waters OF the Grand River nearly touching tbs
1ounoatlon walls OF our houses, and was most
place or the hgn rocks upon the op
peared hanging over our heads. We lived tran.
gully. for our commerce vas not great. aud earth.
Quakes IN former years had never been severe
With us and had occasloned US no alarm.
On the 18th inst. at tweniy-hve minutes after
e'su' A RuxR11se souNp
came from the earth beneath us, the precursor OF
earsaGuaHe rae animals naa instinct
the horses turned down their ears and snor ed the
cattle which were lying downjumped up terrified
and assumed their attitude when tearing to be
eaten up by wolves; ali were prepared or the
danger which was about to come upon them. An
rumbing, ana then began the catastrophe. The
earth swung back and forth from the northeast TO
from the east to the west; 1t seemed, so to speak,
that the earth had been wounded by some electric
aScn ali EVEN Ss asf
seemed to be frightened, dashing from side to
side, Its current being lost
THE EARTH IN RAPID MOVEMENT.
happened to be In the edge OF the town and
proceeded .towdrd my home, but the rapid move
menL of the earth threw me down twice. ana
moment afterward was immovabiy fixed by a
terrible noise occasiOned by the FALLING Of the
houses aud the doleiul screams OF nearly all the
Inhabitants. cloud OF dust covered the whole
town and the air was suno eating
FINDING A HOME IN RUINS
ran with precprrate haste toward the spot
where my house Stood meeting in the way num-
Der OF men and women many OF them but par
Giay dressed, wildly gesticulating, alternately
calling upon God TO have mercy uOon them and
making use OF certain snpersiltl0us oratiOns. NY
heart almost sank within me as rusheu iUf ward
In the hope OF see ing my lamy, Tor to ada TO the
horrors Of the scene, the groans OF maLy persons
tended to prove that each neap OF ruins would
also be a sepulcnre. Arriving at the spot where
my mouse was found but a heap Of rubbish l
called Justify, so as 10 ascertain, II possible II
there was any one alive beneath, out received no
response. then ran of to another part OF the
town, and there discovered that my family, fortu-
nately, were away visiting at the time the house
fell, and were thus saved from destruction. Alter
some hours had been lost the wolk OF searching
for friends and relatives known 10 be beneath
the RUNS was commenced; but 1t IS Impossible at
this time to state exactly how many persisted,
partly because a great many people took to their
heels and ran into The forest ana partly because
the darkness prevents a perfect search for the
bodies. so lar, IN a few hours, tnirty-seven
bodies have been dragged OUT
VOLCANIC AGITATION.
It Is reported rom Ahuacatlan that little
while before the earthquake was elt the volcano
OF CebOruco was covered with reddish clOuus and
that continued subterranean noises were heard.
At ten O'cOck at night there was 4 shower OF
sand winch tasted for more than nve minutes.
At fifteen minutes past eight O'CLOCK yesterday
morning the volcano OF CeDOrucO was observed to
be throwing out ire with great activity.