Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-10-04
NICARAGUA SHAKEN.
Most of the Dwellings Houses in the
City Of Granada in Ruins.
Fhe Town Nearly Deserted-Fears of an
Eruption In the Extinct Volcano OF
MOuaha rho-Hearv Dnn,a1e

The Town Nearly Deserted-Fears of an
Eruption In the Extinct Volcano Of
Momba cho-Heavy Damage.
There have been ominous warnings Of con-
WILSON'S of nature going on under the surface
Of portion of Granada, Nicaragua, during the
past several days which has driven people of
Granada from their homes The earthquakes
began their rumblings on Sunday in the To-
cality and have since resulted in the injury
Of nearly every house in the city of $4,000
souls.
Granada is built at the base of the great VOL
cano, Mombacho, which has been consideie ed
as extinct for centuries, no eruption having
taken place in it since the discovery Of the
country. But there is now daily dread lest
the >ng-elosed crater should open and bury
the tvwn in lava and ashe'.
The first evidence of the earthquake dis
turbance which have been going on beneath
Granada was given on Sunday when one oithe
tairest days of the year was broken in upon
by trembling of the earth and an ominous
rumbling noise as OF dist ut thunder proceed
Ing from the volcano. Several series of trem-
bling were then felt, but not any of them sui
hcent TO do harm to dwellings. although it
created panic among the inhabitants. A
heavy shock came next morning that caused
great injury to nearly every house of the city,
and was felt at Managua, Rivas, Massaya, and
other towns sixty aud seventy miles distant
from the volcano Mombacho. Other shocks
equally heavy followed, though no damage
has been done outside of the city, where there
is hardly house with wall Uncracked or with
tile roof uninjured and partly thrown into the
street
A common sight is to see whole families,
headed by father or brothers, carrying bun.
dies of bedd ng and the most necessary of
household goods every member bearing q Hart
OF the burden. Those vino have been unable
to get away have passed the nights sleeplesely
and iearfully on cots placed at doorways, in
the streets, or public places where groups of
campers are huddled together, away from the
danger of falling walls.
Up to the present time 100 persons have
left the city by the railroad trains alone. the
Government running the trains out of town
as rapidly as the facilities will permit In ad-
dition TO that number, 1900 have gone by
other means, seeking refuge in neighboring
haciendas, the railroad facilities having been
insufficient for the task of effecting an exodus,
The depot is crowded with men, women and
children, theaged and infrm the invalid from
q bed of sickness, with bundles of beddingand
most necessary clothes, urged forth by the
widest fears, many anxious to get even room
to hold on to the train to be taken from the
place.
On all hands the most pitiful sights are seen
of those whose houses have been partly de-
stroyed, and as the quivering of the earth is
again felt and that ominous, distant rumbling
from the volcano is heard the weak and help
less cast anxious glances toward the erater's
crest to detect any beginning of the greater
calamity they fear. The population Of the
city has now been reduced, il is estimated, to
5000, the remains of city Of 1900 popula-
ton four days ago.
Although the calamity has been feat enough
and caused great panic, there have been no
eases yet of falling walls or OF any deaths CON
sequent upon the earthquake shocks. The
Government has done all in its power to keep
order and prevent the plundering of deserted
houses. Two hundred soldiers have been sent
from Manaqua, and hen any one is caught in
the act of stealing justice is promptly admin
istered in the form of fiogging.