The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-18
THE EARTH ROCKED
FEARFUL DAMAGE DONE BY MEX
ICAN EARTHQUAKE.
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.
CHURCHES. STORES AND RESI-
DENCEs IN RUINS.

Probably 300 Killed and as Many
Injured in Province of Guerrero.
Town of ChilpancingO Wrecked.
Telegraph Lines Damaged and
But Meagcr Information Obtain
abIe-Church Roof Fell I'm on Wor-
and Injured-Other Towns suffer-
ed Also.
Mexico City, Jan. 17.-One of the
most terrible catastrophes ever re-
corded in the state of Guerrero is re-
ported to have occurred late yesterday
afternoon, when an extremely violent
earthquake shock was felt at Chilpan-
cingo. causing great loss of life and
injuring many persons. Details from
the stricken district are very meager,
but scattering reports received here in
| dicate that probably 300 persons were
killed and as many more injured. 1t
is known that the state capitol the
parish church and many business
houses and residences are in ruins. and
there is much suffering as a result of
the awful seismic disturbance. One of
the edfices that suffered most was the
Federal telegraph office, which explains
the paucity of news that has so far
reached this city. Later meager details
began to arrive here. The telegraph
lines and apparatus at Chilpancngo
were badly damaged, but the employees.
all of whom were unintured quickly
proceeded 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 sim
| gle place, as a crowd of worshippcIs
were gathered there for the afternoon
services The solid masonry-walled
roof came topping down on the wor-
shippers as IL 1t had been wrenched
from it's bearings by thousand strong
hands. Several people were killed there.
The War Department has ordered the
troops i'm the neighhorhood to co-opr-
ate in the work of rescue. Until this
work is completed II will be impossible
| to accurately learn the number OF VIC
| Tins. II is believed, however, that this
Is one of the most destructive seismic
phenomena that has occurred IN Mex
| leo. The German part of the pnpula-
| tion of Chilpancingo are 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 yesterday afternoon and
was of such violence as to shake the
most substantial buildings. The Pan
| American Congress was In session at
the time and many of the delegates
ment was one of trepidation and was
very sharp. 1t was followed by All
easier oscillatory motion north north
east to south-southwest. The dura-
tion was fifty-fve seconds. The dam
age in the city was only slight.
The state of Guerrero has always
been the focus of seismic disturbances
Reports received here tonight state
| that the shock was very severe and
| sharp at Chilapa. No casualties ars
so far reported from there.
In duration the Chlpancingo shock
was less prolonged than that In Mexico
| City, having lasted fifty seconds
against fifty-ive seconds at the capt.
tai.
Loss of Life Exaggerated.
The Associated Press correspondent
has just seen a private telegram from
| Chilpancingo from a gentleman to
| relatives 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 1t is now developed that the first
estimate of deaths was greatly exag-
| gerated.
American sugar Mil Destroyed.
Mexico City Jan. 17-Up 10 II O'CLOCK
| to- night no further news had come
| through from Chilpancingo. The
| earthquake was also heavy at Iguala.
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 Gen. Bris-
| bic, an American. The mill had Just
been completed and fitted up with
American machinery at a cost of $780,
900 The property loss Is immense
throughout the state of Guerrero.