Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-05-17

CHuscd the death of 400 people ana
rendered 5000 homeless More than
SEQ houses were destroyed Five days
later further shocks were experienced.
but no damage was done.
Terrible as was the disaster of Jan.
uary rs. ia was nevertheless. a slight
commotion compared with the most
destrU. i've earthquakes of modern
times.
Il is estimated that from. first to last
1000 600 human beings have lost their
lives In earthquakes.
NJ de Montessus de BallOrc. a
French scientist who has made a spec
ial study Of the subject. calculates that
this planet endures 1887 earthquakes
on an average every year. or one earth
quake every half hour. Most of these
occur in sparcely inhabited countries
and large number AT the bottom of
the ocean. SO that they are not observ-
able except 10y the apparent boiling Of
the water occasionally In mid.occan.
The earthquake at ChilpancingO fol-
lowed the general character of Next
can earthquake IN that the shocks
were violent and OF extremely short
duration, lasting only CITY seconds.
More loss of life has been occasioned
Ivy earthquakes than by any other az
ency. except. of course. disease.
The most famous earthquakes have
been the two at Lisbon. and the up
heaval in the island of Java In 1882.
Java has within its narrow area for
ty-fvc active volcanoes. an were in
volyod In the disaster OF 1882
For nearly twenty years the little is
land had rested in comparative secur.
ity from outbreaks of the flames that
roar under its cratcrs. On the night
of August 20, 1882 rumblngs were
heard In various localities. tn peas
ants focked from one district to anoth-
sr leaving their rice fields. only 10 find
that their neighbors had heard Ike
warnings
BY next DAY the water in the ada
cent sea began 20 boil and hiss IN
strange tumult ana the temperature
rose 20 degrees
Maha Heru. the biggest volcano on
the island, burst oIt in flame for the
first time in years. and shortly half the
volcanoes on the island were in violent
Commotion.
The little brown Javanese. IN the eX-
tremity of terror. flocked to their tenn
pies. all business was suspended. and
each thought only how TO precipitate
the angry gods
The roaring under foot increased
each hour. and when dusk came on the
evening of August 2S old Gunung-Gun
tur was wrapped n luminous haze
IF Cunning. Guntur breaks loose we
are lost walled the little brown peo
pie. as they watched the lofty peak
which habitualy wore a crown OF
snow.
In the middle of the night they saw
an enormous jet of white shoot VI
hundreds of feet above the crater. fol
lowed by sheet Of fame. Sulphurous
mud and great quantities of lava were
emitted and shower of kissing stones
rained over the fields
The clouds were surcharged witt
electricity
The sea raised in terrible waves, an,
as many as fifteen water spouts were
observed at one time.
The whole island quaked Every vol
volcano was soon in action and scafd
ing lava ran down the mountain sides
buried villages and heaped up frantic
ally in the ocean tide.
Nearly every village on the islam,
was destroyed and between 175,00i
and 20v.000 people were killed.
One great island OF the Javanes'
group. Krakatoa, sank in the sea. Ii
another place sixteen volcanic peak
emerged
II is characteristic of the most de
structive earthquakes that they occu
near the sea, SO that ther horrors ar
followed by great tidal waves that dou
BILE the number of killed.
This he. in tho htgtnrt
earthquake OF Lisbon in l755. One
before. in 1881 the city had been des
troyed, and from time 10 time mino
shocks were felt.
On All Sints day, i755,. while a
Lisbon was at church the sky becam
overcast and the sea began TO swe
ard roll in tremendous volume,
suddenly was rumbling aois
heard over Portugal: the earth's crus
seemed 10 rise mp In great waves an
TO break in assures. In less than on
minute the entire city was Il heap {
ruins.
The first shock was followed closel
by three others. when the earth gra,
ually settled with long. trembling v
brations
Half an hour later ar immense tidi
wAve overwhenoa the ruins. At Leaf
600oo people were killed The Lisbo
earthquake involved 800 900 squai
miles OF territory The shock was fe
as far north as Finland. and extende
to the st. Lawrence in Canada.
Immediately following the dlsaste
fire Degan'n the wrecks that escape
the sea. and Me scum Of Portugal an
southern Europe had iocked there
rob the dead ana the wounded
King Joseph turned. In despair.
his minister the Marquis OF Pombs
who seized the mouent 10 show hiI
self one Of the greatest prime mini
tiers In Europe.
"Your majecty. let IN bury the dei
and feed the living hesaid, a phra
which soon was ropeted over Il
world.
For eight days the Marps of POI
bal lived in his carriage, lever slice
ing, never resting. rescuins the hel
less, organizing the police. aNd copil
kaHak n "a.