The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-11-05
A QUAKE IN MEXICO.
THE STRONGEST BUILDINGS WERE
CRACKED,
Panic in q Theater-Songs Cease and Ac-
tors and Audience Kneel in Prayer.
Thirteen Killed in the City of Mexico.

Mexico City, November 4.-The earth
quake which visited this section of the re-
public Friday evening was the most severe
which has been felt since 1858. Reports OF
damage to life and property are slow in
being collected but il is known that thir-
teen people were killed in this city and at
least three at outside points. Many roofs
of old buildings fell and in some instances
crushed to instant death the occupants Of
the houses. All the killed are among the
lower classes.
The earthquake was preceded by rumb-
ling subterranean noise followed by a
movement OF the ground from north to
south. This was followed in u few seconds
by another undulating and stronger vibra-
ton from west 10 east, which i'll turn was
succeeded by a shock from northwest to
southwest. The three shocks, coming as
they did from different quarters, badly
cracked the strongest buildings. Tall Chin
neys fell and walls standing north and
south suffered great damage.
From Geographic advices from central
and southern Mexico the disturbance is
shown TO have covered the state and federal
district of Mexico and lasted from one to
four minutes. Seven distinct shocks were
felt al Jojutla, in the state of Morelos, and
smart shocks We're felt at Tulancingo in
the state OF Hdalgo. At Ojusco an Indian
and his wife We're crushed to death under
the roof Of their adobe house.
PRnics in the Theatcrs.
Being Il holiday and one OF the chief festi-
val days of the year the theaters were
thronged and panics cnsued. Several peo-
pie were hurt in the rush of exit and many
women went into Mysteries. The songs on
the stage We're succeeded by impassioned
prayers FOR forgiveness and confession of
error. The plays We're generally abandon
ed and the audience remained i'm the seats
kneeng in prayer Traffic was completely
abandoned at the first premonition. Drivers
deserted the street ears and ccachmen their
hacks to kneel in prayer along with the
throngs sending up their supplcations. In
palace ana in humble home nothing but
prayer was 10 be heard.
the threatened destruction was made
more solemn by the ringing Of bells in the
swaying church towers. Not a church was
injured by the twisting. The entire police
force of the city was kept busy during the
night in attending the casualties OCCASION
ed by falling walls and caving roofs. The
police stations were crowded with people
brought in for temporary treatment before
being removed to the hospitals.
Prisoners Confess Their Crimes.
III Belam and other prisons. where many
desperate criminals are confined the scenes
witnessed We're curious as the walls sway
ca and the earth cracked. threatening to
cntomb the imprisoned inmates. The con-
Victs. almost without exception, fell upon
their knees or groveled on the floors of
their cells with loud voices crying out
prayers and applications. Many, suppos-
Ing their end had come, shouted out con-
fessions of past crimes. This is one Of the
most dramatic passages in the passing Of
the event and may be of use 10 the officers
of the law in anraveling number OF
mysterious crimes in Mexico.
The water pipes leading from Cha
pultcpec to the city were broken and
tie greater part of the city is in danger
OF a water famine unless the connection is
soon restored which will take some time.
The electric lights were eXtinsuished, the
dynamo axle in the plant ieaping from the
bod. Great cracks in the earth appear in
various parts Of the city, especially in the
northern sections.