Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1902-01-22
EARTHQUAKE RUINS CITIES
GUERRERO,
MEXICO.
IN
Many of the State and Public Build
inss Are i'm Ruins-TrOOps Sent to
the Rcscue-ShOclxs Felt in Other
Towns Pan-American Congress
Was Alarmed.

Was Alarmed.
Mexico City.-One of the most terri
BILE catastrophes in the history of the
state of Guerrtro is reported to have
occurred recently when an extremely
violent earthquake shock was felt at
Chilpancingo, causing great loss of life
and injuring many persons.
Details from the stricken district are
very meager, but scattered reports re-
ceived here indicate that probably 800
people were killed and as many more
capitol, the parish church and many
business houses and residences are in
ruins, and that there is much suffering
as result of the terrible seismic dis
turbances. One of the edifices that suf-
fered most was the federal telegraph
office, which explains the paucity of
the news which has so far reached this
city. Meager details began to arrive
here. The telegraph lines and appara-
tus at Chilpancingo were badly dam
aged, but the employees, all of whom
were uninjured, quickly proceeded to
erect an improvised telegraph Office on
the outskirts of the city.
The number of deaths was greater
in the parish church than in any single
place, as a crowd of worshippers was
gathered there for the afternoon serv-
ice. The solid masonry walls and roof
came topping down on the worship
pers and many of those within were
killed.
The war department has ordered
troops in the neighborhood to coope-
rate in the work of rescue. Until this
work is completed it will be impossible
tins.
1t is believed, however, that this is
one of the most destructive seismic
phenomena that has ever occurred in
Mexico. The greater part of the popu
lation of Chilpancingo is now camping
out under tents around the town, which
Is five days march from the national
capital.
Earthquake shocks were felt in many
other cities and towns. In Mexico City
the earthquake occurred at II o'clock
in the afternoon and was of such vio-
lence 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 here was one of trepi-
dation and was very sharp. 1t was fol
lowed by an easy oscillatory movement
north-northeast to south-southeast.
The duration was SIS seconds. The
damage in this city was slight.
The state of Guerrero has always
been the focus of seismic disturbances.
Reports received here state that the
shock was very severe at Chilpa. No
casualties are so far reported from
there. The duration of the Chilpancin-
go disturbance was less than that in
Mexico City, having lasted so seconds,
against So seconds at the capital.
The earthquake was intense at Igu-
| ala, in the state of Guerrero, destroying
| the parish church and many buildings
in the city. Among the latter was the
sugar mill of General Frisbie, an Amer
lean. The mill had just been complet-
| ed and fitted up with American machin-
cry at cost of 100000. The property
loss is immense throughout the state
of Guerrero
A telegram to the government OBJ
| servatory announces that the volcano
of Colima is again active, and scien-
tific men connect this fact with the
prevalence of seismic phenomena.
Renewed earthquake shocks were re-
ported from various parts of the coun-
try this afternoon, and a slight trem.
bling of the earth was felt here Satur-
day afternoon.
Governor Mora of Guerrero has per.
sonally taken charge of the ruined city
OF Chilpancingo. The populace is
camping out, guarded by troops, and
perfect order reigns. The city will
have to be rebuilt
LATER.
Mexico City, Jan. 20.-Chilpancingo
the capital of the state of Guerrero, has
had two days of indescribable panic
and CONSERVATION, for later there came
repetition of the previous earthquake
shock, razing to the ground many
houses spared in the first earthquake.
The people are camping out of the Ala
media and in the fields. Hundreds of
families are ruined. The buildings de-
stroyed include the barracks of the
Seventeenth battalion, from which the
soldiers were marched out quickly,
thus saving their lives. The school
buildings were wrecked, but luckily
the children were all saved, their
teachers having rare presence of mind
and giving the order for them to march
to the street when the first trembling
of the earth began on Thursday.
The parish church, which was being
repaired, having been injured in re-
cent earthquake, was destroyed. When
the shock began the church was nearly
filed with worshipers, who fed in dis