Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-01-25
Three HUNDRED
PERSONS KILLED
Earthquake in State of Guer.
zero, Mexico, Causes
Great Loss of Life.
ARE INJURED
Enormous Damage TO Property In
Guerrero and EIsewhere-Few
Details OF Disaster Are
Yet Obtalnabie.

Mexico City. Jan. 20.-One Of the
most terrible catastrophes In the his
tory of the state OF Guerrero Is re-
ported to have occurred late Thursday
afternoon, when an extremely violent
earthquake shock was felt at Chill
pancingo, causing a great loss OF life
and injuring many persons. Details
from the stricken district are meager.
but scattering reports received here
indicate that probably 300 persons
were killed n as many more Injured.
The state capitol, the parish church,
and many business houses and resi-
dences 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
80 far reached this city.
Meager details finally began to ar
rive here. The telegraph lines and ap-
paratus at Chilpancingo were badly
damaged, but the employees, all OF
whom were uninjured, quickly pro-
ceeded to erect an improyised tele-
graph office on the outskirts OF the
city.
The number OF deaths was greater
In the parish church than In any SIN
gle place, as a crowd Of w~orshipers
was gathered there for the afternoon
service. The solid masonry walled
roof came topping down on the wor-
shippers, and several people were killed.
The war department has ordered
troops in the neighborhood to CO.
operate in the work OF rescue. Until
this work is completed 1t VIII be I'M
possible to accurately learn the number
Of victims.
1t is believed, however, that this Is
one OF the most destructive seismic
phenomena that has occurred In Mex
leo. The greater part or the population
of Chilpancingo Is now camping out
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 5:l7
o'clock yesterday afternoon and was OF
such violence as 10 shake the most sub
~stantial 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 trepidation n was very sharp.
II was followed by an easy o~scillatory
movement, north-northeast to south
southwest. The duration was ffty-hve
seconds. The damage In this city was
only slight.
The state of Guerrero has always
been the focus OF seismic disturbances.
Reports received here last night state
that the shock was very severe at Chill
ipa. No casualties are so far reported
from there
The duration of the Chilpancingo
shock was less than that in Mexico
City, having lasted fifty seconds,
against ifty-fve seconds at the capital.
Up to IL o'clock no further news had
come from Chilpancingo. The earth
quake was also intense at Ingnuala in
the state of Guerrero, destroying the
parish church and many buildings In
the city and neighborhood. Among the
latter was the sugar mill OF General
Frisbie, an American. The mill had
Just been completed n fitted up with
American machinery at a cost Of $780,
900. The property loss is immense
throughout the state Of Guerrero.
The Associated Press correspondent
has just seen a private telegram from
Chilpancingo from a gentleman TO rela-
tives in this city, saying:
II and family are safe. Many houses
destroyed"
The fact that he does not refer to loss
of life is considered significant, and it
Is now believed that the first estimate
Of deaths was greatly exaggerated.