Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-10
TEN THOUSAND PERISH
News Of q Terrible Earthquake IN
Venezuela
Four Cities Reported Destroyed an xAo
2sth of Aprtl-The State De-
partment Informed.

A terrible earthquake took place In Ven
ezuela on April Is. Reports which have
been received at Caracas from the districts
affected tell OF terrible loss OF life and d.
struction Of villages and towns.
The cities Of Merida, Lagunillas Chiguara
and San Juan, situated in the northwest OF
the republic in the region of the Andes, are
reported as having been totally destroyed
by. fierce shock at IL o'clock on the nixhs
OF the 2sth.
Many villages are said to be wrecked. but
details are not yet to be had. The convul-
sion extended to parts of the adjacent re-
public of Colombia
The full details OF the catastrophe win be
learned slowly, but It is probable that ten
thousand people have persisted and N fs
certain that the greatest suffering preva,ls
In the places visited by the earthquake.
Inc charge d affaires at Caracas has noti-
NED the State Department of the terrible
enects OF the catastrophe, and asked that
assistance be given to the people OF shs
stricken districts.
state Department Advfces.
A cablegram received at the State De-
partment yesterday afternoon stated that
terrible earthquake occurred on the 2sth
ultimo. destroying the cities OF Eg1do ana
Merida and several villages, with heavy
loss Of life. The text OF the dispatch in a.
follows:
Earthquake on the 18th OF April de-
stroyed cities Of Egido and Merida and
several villages. Loss of life said to be
heavy. Assistance would be appreciated"
The Venezuelan legation has also re-
ceived the news OF the CATASTROPHE IL
simply states that an earthquake occurred,
with a heavy loss OF life. II gives no de-
tails. The only official source from which
relief could be secured is Congress and the
probabilities are that a bill for this purpose,
even II introduced, would not receive con-
subscription must do it
Facts Concerning the Ruined Citfes.
Merida the most important OF the ruined
towns. is situated in the northwest of the
republic. In the state Of Los Andes A
branch Of the eastern chain Of the Andes
enters the country under the name of the
Sierra Nevada a de Merida, and runs north
east toward Triste gulf This Sierra con-
slsts OF number of parallel mountain
chains inclosing elevated valleys. and IL A
In one OF these valleys that Merida lies. at
a height OF fifty-four hundred feet above
the level OF the sea. 1t stands on the River
Chama and is about eighty-five miles 10 ths
northwest OF Barinas.
It's population numbers about ten thou
sand. and besides being the seat of q btsh-
op1c, possesses one of the two universities
OF the country, the other being at Csracas
San Juan is small town lying about
iAAAice west OF Mer10a- 1t Et8nd8
close TO a lake Astounding in carbonsfe OF
SODA Chiguara is also situated in the came
state OF Los Andes. while Lagunillas a A
the state OF Falcon and Z,,lia and ues a
caibo.
Previous Venezuelan Earthqualsu.
In ISL. the same year In which Nssa0s
was nrst destroyed, a terrible shock was
also experienced in the city OF Csracas.
when nearly twelve thousand persons losf
their lives. This was the severest earth
quake hitherto experienced In venezuela
during the present century. In 1858 two
earthquakes took place in Cumana. which
ehureiy destroyed that ancient city and
buried about six hundred Inhabitants IN the
runs The province was az the tina IN
rebellion against President MonaxaS but
after this dreadful calamity the citizens
resolved to abide by the presidents author
ity, and the revolution was IN this nv
brought to an end