Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-01-22
EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO.
Three Hundred Dead In chiIpancnso City
MUCH Property Destroyed.

Mexico City, January 1T,---One of the
most terrible oatastrophes ever recorded
IN the State of Guerrero is reported to
have occurred late yesterday afternoon
when au extremely violent earthquake
shock was felt at Chilpanoingo, causing
great loss of life and ipjuring many
persons.
Details from the stricken district are
very meager, but scattering reports re-
ceived here indicate that probably 300
persons were killed and as many more
injured. 1t is known that the State Capt.
tol, the parish church and many buzz
ness houses and residences are in ruins
and there is much suffering as a result of
the awful seismic disturbance. One of
the edifices that suffered most was the
Federal telegraph Office, which explains
the paucity of news that has SO far
reached this oity. Later meager details
have begun to arrive here. The tele-
graph lines and apparatus at Chilpan-
cingo were badly damaged, but the en-
ployees, all of whom were uniniured,
quickly proceeded to erect an improvised
telegraph Office on the outskirts of the
city.
| KILLED AS THEY wORSHIPPED.
The number of deaths were greater in
the parish church than in any single
place, as crowd Of worshipers we're
gathered there for the afternoon service.
The solid masonry walled roof came top
pling down on the worshipers as if it
had been wrenched from it's bearings by
a thousand strong hands. Several peo-
pie were killed there.
The war department has ordered the
troops in the neighborhood to cooperate
in the work of rescue. Until this work
is completed it will be impossible to ac-
curately learn the number of victims.
1t is believed, however, that this is one
OF the most destructive seismic phenom-
ena that has occurred in Mexico. The
greater part of the population of Chill
pancingo are now camping ouG under
tents around the town, which is five
days journey from the National capital
Earthquake shocks were felt in MANY
other cities and towns. In Mexico City
the earthquake took place at IT yester-
day afternoon and was of such violence
as to shake the most substantial build
ings. The Pan American Congress was
in session at tho time and many of the
delegates were greatly alarmed.
SHOCK VERY SHARP.
Tine first movement was one of trepi-
dation and was very sharp. 1t was fol-
lowed by an easier oscillatory movement
north-northeast to south-southwest. The
duration was fifty-fve seconds. The
damage in this city was only slight.
The State of Guerrero has always been
the focus Of seismic distur Dances Re-
ports received here tonight state that
the shock was very severe at Chilapa.
No casualties are 80 far reported from
there.
In duration the Chilpancingo shock was
less important than that in Mexico City,
having lasted fifty seconds against fifty
five seconds at the capital.
The earthquake was also intense at
Iguala, destroying the parish church and
many buildings in the city and neigh
borhoUd. Among the latter was the
| sugar mill of Gen. Frisbie, an American.
The mill had just been completed and
| fitted up with American machinery at &,
cost of 100000. The property loss is
immense throughout the State.