Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-09-17
Pursued by an EVIL Fate.

San Salvador, the smallest but most
populous and one OF the most prosper
Gus OF the five Central American repub-
lies. is again in ruins, and for the ninth
time since its founding in 1928 by Senor
Jorge de Alvarado the city Of San Sal
vador is leveled by an earthquake.
Millions of dollars worth Of property
and many lives were destroyed in the
republic by this visitation. Whole
towns were wiped out, and so far as ad-
vices received from the capital indicate,
hardly city in the country, except
those along the coast escaped the awful
effects OF the convulsion.
There had been indications for several
days past that a seismic disturbance OF
more than usual power might be ex-
pected. The volcanoes of San Salvador,
San Miguel and Izalco have been un-
usually active, and deep subterranean
rumblings and slight earth tremors have
been felt.
Such things are not uncommon there,
however, and while there was feeling
of uneasiness there was no great alarm
felt
At Just five minutes before o'clock in
the morning the earth began to shake
The wave had a strong vertical and oscil-
latory movement. People rushed into the
streets in their night clothing, and while
the shock lasted only twenty seconds,
before IL had passed away there was a
panic-stricken mob making its way to
the open country outside the city.
The scene was terribly sublime. Men,
women, and children were shrieking and
| praying in the streets; walls of houses,
| cracked, tottered, and fell; there was a
deep, continuous rumble as Of heavy
| thunder; the sky was overcast and the
air was filed with a fine, penetrating
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 mob fiocked to the
! open ground outside the city; temporary
shelters were thrown up wherever pos
sible, but nearly all the men and great
many OF the women and children had
only the sky for cover.
All through the morning there we're
slight shoolss, but none approaching IN
! intensity that which had been so de-
structive.
The inhabitants were afraid to return
to their houses, and are making them
selves as comfortable as possible in the
temporary camps until the commotion
subsidies.
President Ezeta is doing his best TO
stop the panic and care for the homeless
people until il is considered safe for
them to go back to their homes.
The towns throughout the country
have suffered more severely than the
capital even. Anala4uito and Comasa-
qua were destroyed. Cojutepeque, Santa
Trela, San Pedro, and Masahuet were
so badly shaken that they practically
ruined, while the shock was plainly felt
and damage was done by 1t at Santa
| Anna and Susimtepeque, fully sixty
| miles from San 6HtvauUr.
1t is i'm possible at this writing to form
any fdea as 90 thenumber of lives which
were lost Two people were killed at
the capital, though there were many
almost miraculous escapes from death.
1t is feared, however, that there have
been many people killed in the smaller
towns. The loss of property will run
we'll into the millions
This is tho ninth time since its found
ing, and third time within less thar
forty years, that San Salvador has been
destroyed by earthquake shocks.
April 6. 1854, not single house was
left in the city fit for habitation, and
over three hundred lives were lost The
dust and debris from the falling build
ings filed up all of the wells and drink
ing places.
shaken TO the ground. Over IS, 900, 600
worth Of property was destroyed then
and upward of fifty lives were lost, and
more than five hundred seriously injured.
The entire republic comprises only
about Z, 500 square miles, 800 less than
| Massachusetts, and IL is peopled by
4 $1,000 A-ooe sers h,tAe~. anoyooo tndt@oe. :.
300. 600 mestizoes, and 5000 negroes. II
is very mountainous, and thickly dotted
| hu xyfIn M Inn fho. olo
which have at different times contrib
uted to the destruction OF her cities
Izalco, 1000 feet high, is the only one
which is unce asingly active. The soil is
good, in places remarkably rich, and the
country has built up a very large
trade in maize, oranges, lemons,
pineapple, coffee, cotton, tobacco,
plantains, and sugar. But by
far the most valuable product is
indigo, though the quantity raised has
considerably decreased since independ-
ence was attained in 1889. Numerous
fine cattle are raised, but the mineral
wealth OF the country is largely unde-
veloped. Rich silver mines are alto
gether neglected, and the iron trade,
though large deposits Of excellent ore
exist, has failen into decay. The manu-
factures consist of coarse cotton goods,
/
San Salvador has been the scene Of
many violent revolutions, and has many
times been at war with surrounding
states. She has never been whipped,
but has had several close calls.
| The title OF republic has been
sustained since 1855 In all Central
| American revolutions San Salvador has
been obliged, because OF her geograph-
ical position, to take an active part
The government at present is vested In
president and two houses of congress,
the senate consisting OF twelve members,
and the hous, of representatives Of
twenty-fonr members Every male citi-
zen over twenty-one years OF o is en-
titled 10 vote. except dome site servants,
those without leeal occupation, those
who contract debts frauduleDtly, owe
money past Tue TO the state, enter
tie service OF foreign powe or,
/ or arc Of notoriously bad character. 1t
will b. seen that the San Salvadoreans
observe a decided y modern form of gov
ernment The sanding army consists
of 1000 men, and the militia OF 5000.
The Roman Catholic re igIon is recog-
nized by the state, but all denominations
are protected. The republic has a very
we'll endowed university at the capital,
San Salvador, and its work is highly re-
garded.
Peace has prevailed since 1865. when
President Barrios was shot by success
full insurgents.
THE city of Jacksonville, Fla. pro-
tects catfish In the river as scavengers.
l. H.. Ill