Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-11
SALVADOR SHAKEN
By an Earthquake Destroying Life
and Much Property
WHOLE TOWNS ARE WIPED OUT.
A scsns Of Terrible Sublinity-Rrighisnsd Citinni
Sought Safety From Falling Houses IN Open
Ground Outside the 0y-fhs Awful Con
yalsicns Of tie Rarth-Icrm1
Seismic Disturbances.

SAN SALVADOR, VIA GALVESTON,
TEXAS, September 10.-Millions OF dol
lars worth OF property and may lives
we're destroyed In this Republic oy
earthquake yesterday.
Whole towns were wiped out, and so
far as advices received here indicate
hardly q city in the country, except
those along the coast, escaped the aw-
full effects Of the convulsion.
There have been indications for sew
eral days past that seismic disturbance
of more than usual power might be ex-
pected, The volcanoes OF San Salvodor'
San Miguel and Izalco have been unusu-
ally active, aud deep subterranean rum
blings and slight earth termors have
been felt.
Such things are not uncommon here,
however, and while there was a feeling
of uneaslness here last night there was
no great alarm felt.
At Just five minutes before two
o'clock this morning the earth began 10
shake. The wave had a strong vertical
and oscillatory movement
People rushed into the streets In their
night clothing, and while the shock
lasted only twenty seconds, before u
had passsd away there was panic
stricken mob making Its way to the
open country outside the city.
The scene was terribly snblime. Men,
women and children were shrieking and
uraying In the streets; walls OF houses
cracked, tottered and fell; there was a
deep, continuous rumbling as II OF
heavy thunder; the sky was overcast
and the air was filled with fne, pene-
trating dust, While the shock lasted
the earth rose and fell in long waves,
and strong men were unable TO keep
their feet.
The panic stricken people 1ocked 10
the omen ground outside OF the city;
TEMPORARY shelters were thrown up
wherever possible, but nearly all the
men and a great many OF the women
and children had only the sky for q
cover.
All through thes morning there have
heen slight shocks, but none approach
ing In intensity that which had oeen SC
The inhabitants are afraid TO return
to their houses, and are making them.
selves as comfortable as possible In their
temporary camps until the commotion
subsidies.
President Ezeta is doing everything
he can TO stop the panic and care for
the homeless people until ID is consider.
ed safe for them TO go back TO their
homes.
The towns throughout the country
have suffered more severely than the
capital even. Analqulto and Comasa-
qua have been completely destroyed.
Cojutepeque, Santa Tecla, San Pedro
and Masahuet were so badly shaken
that they are practically ruined, while
the shock was plainly felt and damage
was done by II at Santa Anna and Suslm-
tepeque, fully sixty miles from here.
II is impossible at this writing TO form
any idea as to the number OF lives which
have been lost. Two people were killed
here, though there were many almost
miraculous escapes from death. 1t Is
feared, however, that there have been
many people killed In the sIualler towns.
The loss of property Will run well
into the millions.
This is the third time within less than
forty years that San Salvador has been
destroyed by earthquake shocks.
In April. 1854, not single house was
left in the city 1T for habitation and
over three hundred lives wcre lost The
dust and debris from the falling build
ings filed up all OF the wells aud drink
ing places.
Again In March, 1873, the city was
shaken to the ground. Over $1,000. 90
worth OF property was destroyed then
and upward OF fifty lives were lost.
So IL seems that destructive seismic
disturbances visit the country az In
tervals OF nineteen years.