The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-18
EDIFICES ARE WRECKED
Chilpanchingo Scene of the
 Violent Disturbance.
In Other Mexican Cities and Towns Earthquakes Were Felt-Troops Ordered to Assist in the
 work of Rescue.

Mexico City, Jan. Hone Of the "os'
 .,,,,. .+.stronhes ever recorded Tn the State of Guerrero is reported to haVe ,,.,rred late yesterday afternoon "heh an .xtremelv violent earthquake SHOCK was felt at Chiipanchingo. eausihs great loss of life and injuring many pe sons. Details from the stricken "ie't'.. are very meagre, but scatterlns repo.o received here indicate that probaoiy ''o nersons were killed and many more hF i,red If ia known that the State Capi- n, the narish church and many business houses and residences are in ruins anu there is much suffering as a result oi '"e awful seismic disturbance.
 one of the edifices that suffered most was the Federal telegraph ofhce' WHICH explains the paucity of news that mas so far reached this city. Later measre "e tails began to arrive here. The telegraph lines and apparatus at Chilpanchingo were badly damaged, but the employees all of whom were uninjured, quickly pro- ceeded to erect an improvised telegraph office on the outskirts of the city.
 The number of deaths was greater Tn the parish church than in any singie piace. as a crowd of worshippers were gathered there for the afternoon service. The roof came toppling down on the wor- shippers as if it had been wrenched rom it's bearings by strong hands. several persons were killed there,
 The War Department has ordered tne troops in the neighborhood to cooperate in the work of rescue. Until this Work is comuleted it will be impossible to ac- curately learn the number of victims. II is believed, however, that this Is one ei inc most destructive seismic phenone- mons that has occurred in Mexico. The greater part of the population or cnli- panchingo are now camping out under tents around the town, which is five days Journey from. the national capital.
 Earthouake shocks were felt in many other cities and towns.
 In Mexico City the earthquake took place at 5:17 yesterday afternoon and was of such violence as to shake the. most substantial buildings. The Pan-American Congress was in session at the time and many of the delegates were greatly alarmed. The first movement was one or trepeditation and was very sharp. It was followed by an easier oscillatory move ment, from the north-northeast to south southwest The duration was flfty-five seconds. The damage in this city was only Sngnt.
 The State of Guerrero has always been the focus of seismic disturbances.
 Reports received here tonight state that the shock was very severe at Chilapa. No casualties are so far reported from there.
 In duration the Chilpanchingo shock was less important than that in Mexico City, having lasted fifty seconds, against ffty-five seconds at the capital
 Up to Il o'clock tonight no further news had come through from Chilpanchingo. The earthquake was also intense in Igu- ala, in the State of Guerrero. destroying the parish churches and many buildings in the city and neighborhood. Among the latter was the sugar mill or General R. Frisbie, an American. The mill had just been completed and filled up with American machinery at cost of $2O0 900. The property loss is immense throughout the State of Guerrero.
 The Associated Press correspondent has just seen a private telegram from Chil- panchingo from gentleman to relatives in this city saying: "I and family are safe. Many houses destroyed" The fact that he does not refer to loss of life is considered significant, and 1t is now de- veloped that first estimate of deaths was greatly exaggerated.