The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-18
The Earthquake in Venezuela the
Worst Since 1912.
FIRST REPORTS WERE THAT TO-
900 HAD PERISHED.
Tt lis Now Known that the Loss of Life
Was Not So Great But the Disaster Is
Nevertheless Appalling-The Shocks
Came in the Night But the First Being
Mild Gave People Chance for Life.

Caracas, Venezuela, May 9-The earth
quake of April 49, though violently shaking
Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, did not
cause any serious damage here. 1t has
proved, however, to have been the severest
since the great shock of 1872, when 10000
persons were killed. 1t was several days
before the report of the catastrophe reached
the capital and even now it is impossible to
state with even degree of approximation
the amount of property destroyed or the
number of lives lost. Certain it is, however,
that ruin and desolation have spread over
the entire western section of Venezuela,
and that the suffering will be beyond de-
scription.
The first intimation of the serious nature
of the earthquake came through Gen.
Antonio Fernandez, governor of the State
of Los Andes. 1t was in the form of an
official telegram to Gen. Creosp, President
of Venezuela, and announced the fact that
the city of Merida, capital of the state, had
been totally destroyed and that the loss of
life and property was appalling. In addition
to this, the villages of Egidos. Lagunillas,
San Juan and Chiguara were also totally
destroyed. Tabay, Mucurata, Timotos and
Trujillo also suffered severely.
AS Merida is city of 12,000 inhabitants
and the shock was felt in the dead of night,
it Was at first supposed that the houses had
toppled over before. their occupants had
time to escape. Taking this into consider
alton and the fact that the entire city was
destoyed, the loss of life in Medrida alone
was supposed to be at least seven or eight
thousand, and in the entire republic about
ten or twelve Thousand. These figures are
being gradually reduced, however, and to-
day the story is that there were three dis
tinct shocks, the first one being so slight
that many of the people had time to escape
into the streets.
There was enough distress evident, how
ever, to warrant the acting American
minister, r.. NJ. Bartleman, cabling to his
State Department. that assistance would be
appreciated, for one of the strongest links
in the chain that binds together Venezuela
and the United States is the me-ory of the
generosity of the Congress of the latter
country in appropriating $4,000 for the
relief of the sufferers by the great earth
quake of 1912.
Venezuelan man-of-war will leave
Laguayra for Maracaibo tomorrow taking
a commission of Congressman to investigate
and report as to what aid is needed. Not
until their return can any definite informa-
tion be gained as to loss of life and
property.
New York, May 17.-Charles Pugar, one of
the passengers on board the steamship
Philadelphia of the Red Line from
Curacao May 10, which arrived here last
night, reports terrible earthquake in the
interior of the State of Maracaibo. The
shock took place at TO- p. m., the night of
April 27, and it was very severe in its
nature.
1t is reported that over half the people of
six large cities were killed and much
property destroyed. In the cities of Merida,
Valara and Timotes, the shock lasted nearly
two minutes.
Houses tumbled down and apart, and the
inhabitants who were not instantly killed
were compelled to flee for their lives.
In the city of Merida $50 soldiers who
were lodged in the barracks on the outskirts
of the city were killed.
The six cities visited are in an area of
| about forty square miles. The country is
| mountainous.