New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-14
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THOUSANDS OF LIVES LOST.
TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKES IN COSTA RIGA.
FOUR TOWNS DEsTRoYED-THosE not KILLED
LEFT HOMEIEss--THE SCENE or THE DisAs-

| reached here of an appalling earthquake in Costa
Rica. Advices thus far received state that four
towns have been destroyed These arc Alajuela
| San Ramon, Grecia and Heredia. In Aajueia alone
several thousand lives were lost Those left alivo
| there homeless.
| Cos a Rca is the southernmost of the republics of
Central America, lying between Nicaragua at the
north and the United States of Colombia at the
SOUTH 1t is %, 600 square miles IN extent, or less
than half as large the State of NewY0rk, and It's
population numbers only 10000 persons. about
one-half of whom whites. 1t is traversed longi-
| tudnally by the Andes mountain range, which
there contains many volcanic peaks, among them
being Chiriqui 1926 feetj Turrialba u2,5OO
| feet, and Los VOtOs (0s40 feet The low
! lands on the northeast coast are covered with
dense forests, and have been only par
| tally explored. The capital is San Jose. The four
towns reported destroyed by the earthquake are on
| the southwestern side Of the mountains Alajuela
is city of 5000 inhabitants, and is the capital OF
the province of The same name. II is an important
| station the Pacific coast terminus of the only
| railroad i'll the country, running from Port Limon,
on the Caribbean Sea. to Punta Arenas, the Gulf
| of NicOya. on the Pacific. Hereda is the seat Of
government of the province of Heredia. 1t has
| nearly 10000 inhabitants, and is situated In tho
south astem part of the Republic the head or
| the Gulf of Dulce.
In common with the entire Pacific coast Of Amer
lea, and indeed with all the shores of the Pacific
Ocean, Costa Ricl is a volcanic region and Is SUBJ
ject to frequent earthquake shocks. This fact is
indicated by the ancient Indian name of Central
America, Cuscatlan, which signifies &" the land that
swings or shakes like hammock" There were
severe earthquakes in San Salvador in 1870, aid
more than century atterward, on March ID, 1873,
the capital city Of that Republic, San Salvador, was
entirely destroyed by three successive shocks. Tho
loss of life however, was small fewer than 300
persons being Xxi He'd: There have been numerous
earthquakes In the West Indies and in California,
in recent years, but the most disasti GUS shocks
have occurred along and near the South American
coast at Quito. CalaO, Conception, Valparaiso aud
other points, The City of Conception has been LAID
i'll ruins four times, sutlerng from 800 shocks IN
two weeks in February, 1885. In August 1868,
africa, Peru, visited by severe earthquake aud
tidal wave, by which the United States steamer
Wateree and several other vessels were carried far
Japan and the Sandwich Islands have frequently
been visited by violent shocks. SO, too, have the
countries OF southern Europe, where occurred tne
sTOymg 10000 persons in six minutes, and OF Gala
bra, III 1888 causing the death of 100000 persons.
Many severe shocks have been felt on the eastern
shores of the Mediterranean. also. In Judea, in 81
B. c., 10000 persons perIshed the City of Antioch
was several times DESTROYED $50 900 persons being
terrible destruction of lie and property ut Sco IN
April last Is still freshly remembered.
A TALK WITH CONSUL JACOB BAIZ.
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF TWO CENTRAL AMERICAN
STATES DOUBTS THE ACCURACY OF THE REPORT.
A TRIBUNE reporter found Jacob Baiz, Con-
sui in NewYork OF the Republics of Guatemala and SAL
vador his house in Fifty-thrd-s last evening. In
To inquiry concerning the situation aud char
of the reported to be destroyed by earth
quake in Costa Rica, Mr. Baiz said:
"Only two of the towns AaIuela and Hercdia OF
any size or importance The other two villages
of scattered, thatch-rooed dwellings In the vicinity Of
the two larger towns, which are only ten miles apart.
| haa 4t1aftn nf oIa ~
and Alajuela of nearly 5000. These two
towns alike in every way. Aajuela il the second
place in Importance in the eountrySan Jose the capt.
ta being the metrOpois-and Is the terminus OF the
railroad that starts from Cartgo the centre OF the
country, northwest for twenty miles to San Jose
then nearly west for ten miles TO Hereda, and next
about miles little southwest 10 its terminus
SO Alajuela somewhat less than thirty miles little
northwest from Cartago which Is the centre Of the vol
cac district that Is subject to earthquakes. Tho
region all about 1t is mountainous, there being
mountain 5000 feet high, which the cart road to
the Pacific coast The town is well built, for that
country all the houses being story In height and
made OF adobe, most OF them having tile ROOFS
1t is surrounded by the coffee plantations, the
cultivation of which forms the only Industry Of
the district They extend Hereda, and they
subdvided into many small estates they form little VII.
lagos like the two, san Ramon and Grecia reported as
destroyed Coffee raising Is In fact the only industry OF
Costa Rca there being outside OF this business only
Government l don't think there will De- much loss in
coffee as this year crop has been gathered The
try these towns is very highly cultivated all
the arabic land Costa Rca, which Is the richest
try in proportion to its population In Central America,
its name meaning rich coast Costa Rca coffee is
better known In England than In America the best
grade is all sent to England English
chants, on account OF their liberal treatment
Of the Costa Rica merchants, practically control
the trade there being English bank In San Jose, and
one English firm having fleet OF twelve vessels In tho
coffee trade, which sail from London around Cape Horn
to Puna Arenas, the Pacific at the end OF the cart
road from Alajuela. This Is the firm OF william c.
Lachur Son & CO. The English bank. called the Anglo
Rca Bank f. of the best monetary institutions
In Central America. As said don't think there win
be great loss II the reports OF the earthquake true,
but what loss there is viii fall the Costa Rca mer.
chants mostly"
You doubt the accuracy Of the reports of the loss
YES, I do. don't believe, If it Is, found
the loss Of hfe will reach twenty My reasonsf
b. Saced In iy news about central Ameea that comes
from Panama II is all brought down the coast By the
has come over the mountains from AlsJuels the only
means Of communication being the cart road spoke or
into story. Then Alauea aud Hereda are not IN IN?
earthquake district proper which about ana
while they have had few slight shocks the dwelngsin
the district about the tive towns are precisely the sama
they were y years ago % EySn S Ind IN cat1gS ar ago they
and never hear OF any that occurred before my time
either Moreover II very strange that such ter
the volcanic district should utterly destroy TWO large
Jose Is from Hereda, without inuriDg IL. especially
Jose is between Heredia and the volcanic district
around Carriage. Aud even II they did have terrific
series Of shocks in the two towns mentioned, 1t seems
impossible that thousand lives could De lost in one OF
ly built the streets are extremely wide' and about each
II there were many people made homeless and destL
tutc by such disaster there would tney be well taken
lpg