Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-10
CITIES ENGULFED.
Awful Destruction by Earth.
quake in Salvador.
WHOLE TOWNS SHAKEN TO RUINS.

Panic Stricken People, Reused from
Their sleep by the Seismic Terror,
Rush Frantically to the Open Country
"A Terrible Scene in the Streets
Men, Women and Children Shrieking
and Praying-Two Towns Completely
Destr"yed-The Losses Foot Up Mill
ions, but Few Lives Reported Lost.
SAN SALVADOR. Sept 10.-Millions of
dollars worth of property and many lives
were imperiled in this republic by an
earthquake yesterday. Whole towns were
wiped out, aud, so far as advces re-
ceived here indicate, hardly city in the
country, except those along the coast, es-
capped the awful effects of the CONFUSION.
There have been indications for several
days past a that seismic disturbance of
more than usual violence might be ex-
pected. The volcanoes OF San Salvador
San Miguel and Isalco have been unusu-
ally active, and deep subterranean rum
blings and slight earth tremors have been
felt.
Fled to the Open Country.
Such things are not uncommon here,
however, and while there was a feeling of
uneasiness in this city Tuesday night
there was no great alarm. At just five
minutes before 2 O'Clock yesterday morn
the earth began to shake. The wave had
strong vertical and oscillatory move
ment. People rushed into the streets in
their night clothing, and while the shock
lasted only twenty seconds, before it had
passed away there was psnic-stricken
mob making its way to the open country
outside of the city.
Dreadful Scene of Panic.
The scene was terrible. Men, women,
aud children were shrieking and praying
in the streets, walls of houses cracked,
tottered and fell; there was deep, con-
tinuous rumbling as if of heavy thunder;
the sky was overcast. and the air was filled
with fine, penetrating dust. While the
shock lasted the earth rose and fell in long
waves, and men were unable to keep their
feet The panic-stricken people fiocked
to the open ground outside of the city
Temporary shelters were thrown up
wherever, possible, but nearly all the men
and great many of the women and chill
dren had only the sky for cover.
The Populace Camped Out.
All through yesterday morning there
were slight shocks but none approaching
in intensity that which was so destruc-
tive. The inhabitants are afraid to re-
turn to their houses, and are making
themselves as comfortable as possible in
their temporary camps until the cOmmo-
ton subsidies. President Ezeta is doing
everything he can to stop the panic and
care for the homeless people until it is
considered safe for them to go back to
their homes.
Six Towns Shaken to Pieces.
The towns throughout the country have
suffered more than the capital even.
Analquito and Comasogua have been COM
pletely 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 it at Santa Ana
and Susimtepeque, fully sixty miles from
here
Only Two Known Fatalities.
1t 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 miraculous
escapes from death. 1t is feared. however,
that there haue been people killed in the
smaller 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 visited by
earthquake shocks.
The Disasters of "a and 30.
In April, 1854 not single house was
left in the city fit for habitation, and over
300 lives were lost. The dust and debris
from the falling buildings filled up all
the wells and drinking places. Again
in March, 1S1S, the city was shaken
to the ground Over 5000, 900 worth
of property was destroyed then,
and upward of fifty lives were lost. So it
seems that destructive seismic disturb
ances visit the country at intervals of
nineteen years