The Washington times., 1902-01-19
SHAKEN BY
SECOND SHOCK.
People Of ChilpanCingO Are
Camped in Open Fields.
PANIC AMONG THE INHABITANTS.
Telegraph Office Was Among De-
the Great Catastrophe Are COnse-
quentIy still McREre-LOss of Life
Probably Gvcrcstimatcd.

CITY OF MEXICO, Jan. 1S.-A second
shock of earthquake at Chilpancingo has
thrown the inhabitants of that city into
an indescribable panic. Many houses not
demolished iy the shock of Thursday were
ruined, and hundreds of families are camp
ing in the open fields and on the plazas.
Among the buildings destroyed was the
barracks of the Seventeenth Battalion,
from which the soldiers were marched out
quickly, thus saving their lives.
The school buildings were wrecked, but
the children were all saved, their teachers
giving the order for them to march to the
street when the first trembling of the earth
began.
A Parish Church Destroyed.
The parish church was also destroyed
When the shock began it was nearly filled
with worshipezs, who fed in dismay.
fortunately. all had gained the street
when the heavy stone arches fell in. 1t
is believed every one escaped.
Great fssures run across the streets.
The Church of San Mateo. in one of the
outer districts, was nearly destroyed. The
list of seriously wounded is a long one.
including many residents and prominent
citizens. A list of the dead and wounded
has not been given out yet.
In the towns of Tixtla, Clipa. and Mar
chitlan many people were killed and in
jured and many buildings were damaged.
The whole region affected by the earth
quake has been the seat of marked seis-
mic movements for several years.
The Earthquake OF Thursday.
Trustworthy details of the havoc of
Thursdays earthquake at Chilpanc. go
have not been received from there, except
the confirmation of the early reports of
the great severity of the shock. Probably
the number of the killed was exaggerated.
Chilpancingo is TWO days from here
one by rail and one by diligence. 1t has
about 1s,000 inhabitants, engaged in agri-
cultural interests principally, together
with mining. 1t is in the northern end
of the principal earthquake zone OF
Mexico. which includes Guerrero, oaxaca
and part of Chiapas.
Used to Earthquakes.
The people there are accustomed TO
earthquakes, Chilpancingo having been
visited frequently. Its inhabitants have
several times left town. camping in the
fields until they were satisfied that the
disturbance was ended.
Thursdays shock. according to the re-
ports received here, was without prece-
dent for intensity and duration. 1t was
first vibratory, then oscillatory.
The telegraph office was in one of the
destroyed buildings, which accounts some
what for the mea agreness of the reports.
The wires were broken, and the prin-
cipal apparatus destroyed. The opera
tors set up tent in field, and with
what machines were saved, re-establish-
ed connections late yesterday.
Houses Hade Into Rubbish.
Reports received here so far show that
many buildings were thrown down by the
shock. The place was built largely of
stone and adobe.
Many houses wers converted into heaps
of rubbish. under which many persons
unhurt or only wounded have now only
completely ruined houses
When the shocks began the people fed
precipitately for the open fields in a
panic, everybody running 10 save him
Deif Reports say all the principal build
ings we're destroyed.
The people have prepared tents and
other shelter in the fields, expecting to
stay there, fearing, as usually happens
repetition OF the shocks. Men at the OBJ
servatoTy here say the shocks arc due 10
the settling of the eaTth's crust and are
not volcanic.