The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-16
TIE EARTHQUAKE IN GUAM.
GOV. SCHROEDERS DETAILED
REPORT or THE DISASTER.
The Earth Opened Here and There and
Water SpOuted lp--BniIdinxs Rocked
and Swayed and Bells Runs-Nany
Buildings and bridges Destroyed.

and Swayed and BELLS Runs-Many
Buildings and bridges Destroyed.
WASHINGTON. Nov. ia detailed re-
port concerning the destructive earth
quake in the island of Guam on Sept %.
was received 10y mail at the Navy Depart
ment to-day from Commander Seaton
Schroeder, L. $. n, the Governor Of the
Island.
"Ths earthquake. which occurred AZ
1924 A. NJ" Commander Schroeder says.
lis the severest Of which there is any record.
There was one in 1895. which did not cause
as m len damage as that Of is49 while
persons who Witnessed the latter say that
1t did not compcrc in violenc" with this
one. As was the case with the hurricane
two years ago, this disaster most fortu-
nately occurred in the day time. as OF herwise
there would surely have been a considerable
loss of life As it was, IA few of the towns
people were hurt, and one child killed
From the government house terrace.
during its continuance, there could be seen
clouds of dust rising suddenly from different
quarters Of Agana as the masonry houses
would fall. The earth opened here and there
In small places from which water would
spout and subsidc. leaving few large, round
apparently shallow pits, and innumerable
fine cracks were observable everywhere.
A duh grinding roar preceded and ac-
compai.icd the shaking of the earth. Sure
footed bulls We're tripped up and fell to
their knees, while buildings rocked and
swayel, water tanks were tossed over and
bells run & by the vibration. In other parts
Of the island assures one to two feet wide
were made, those at Pitt emitting strong
sulphurous fumes. Masses were disodgcd
in the mountains and hills and ploughcd
down the slopes. The road from Agana
TO Pitt was completely blocked at three
points.
the collier Justin, anchored in 80 fathoms
of water in the harbor Of san Luis DApra,
was severely shaken, and il was obscr, cd
that the white coral mud bottom was 80
disturbed as to give a milky appearance
to the sea.
The principal shock came without pre-
monitory shocks and lasted about two and
half 10 three minutes, the vibrations
being a comparatively slow, horizontal
oscillation. northarly and soul herly AT first,
and then easterly and westerly. This fact
il indisputably attcsted 10y several features
noted by different persons. During the
remainder Of that day and night there were
some fifteen distinct minor shocks, some
Of which continued with slight tiemor
Tor half an hour al 4 time.
During the ?2d there were n number OF
slight quakes, a constant unmlstakale
tremor also keeping up during the entire
afternoon and most Of tn" night. Since
then the number Of defined shocks has
greatly diminished but there appears
to be practically a continuous very slight
trcnyor all the tine which IL difficult to
note. except in the quiet OF the night and
in the frame houses, but it il quite unmis-
taxable. One moderate sharp quake on
the 2Sth had markedly vertical motion.
There was one very noticeable shock last
night Sept. 2a,.
aThe walls Of the Government house,
being three feet thick, stood well, but were
considerably marred, and numerous frag-
ments. disodged from the top, crashed
down through the ceilings, causing ex-
teusive wreckage The partitions between
rooms are ruined and will have to he re-
built. and some furniture was damaged.
The estimated cost of restoring II Is 81 500.
AT the Agana blrrackS the walls stood
fairly well az whole, but some are cracked
and Ia large amount of wrecking occurred
within. The barracks and other build
ings at Asan, being OF frame construction,
scarcely suffered at all The rented build
ing used as a naval hospital, or sick quar-
ters, is damaged probably beyond repair
The sick were promptly carried to the m II
tua-y chapel Of the church nearby, one
end of which was demolished but which
had been reroofed with corrugated iron
after the hurricane and affords fair tenn
porary shelter.
This and other damage TO Government
property will require s?2,700 to repair
Commander Schroeder asks for an appro-
priation of that amount, $4,000 OF which
has already been sent TO him.
TIE public buildings of the island, Com
mist JiIer Schroeder says, suffered greatly.
In Agana the hospital Is standing mainly
in skeleton, the greater part OF thick
masonry walls being completely demolished.
fortunately, there were no sick inmates.
The two school buildings are condemned.
Two bridges between Agana and Pitt were
practically destroyed -Four Others were
damaged and must be rebuilt. The GUS
tom house at Pitt Is past repair. and what
Is left will have TO be pulled down. In the
other districts the schools and practically
all the bridges are down, except a few
particularly fine ones built by the Spanish
Government
"A large proportion of the m lsonry
houses in Agana are destroyed" says Com
mander Schroeder and most of those that
are left standing are unsafe and cannot
be occupied. The massive bell tower Of
the, picturesque old church. built in 1862
is scanned with large cracks and will have
to be pulled down AT once. In the other
towns nearly all stone houses, churches
and convent, are reported destroyed or
rendered uuinhabitable. the convent in
Ynarajan and the church in Merizo being
fortunate exceptions.
The private loss in the town Of Agana
alone Is ,sti'nated to he 2li.OOO pesos about
100000 gold) by committee appointed for
the purpose. This, which is a conservative
osti mate, would be no immatcrial msfort-
une TO even an American village of this
size about COCO people,, and it may be
surely valued a. of many times greater
purchasing power and relative Importance
here. Coming after the serious losses re-
sult'rg from the hurricane of 1900 ii forms
sad episode. The cheerful, undaunted
way in which the inhabitants Immediately
set to work to repair damages is most COM
mendable.
IAN officers occupying rented quarters in
town are homeless and are being accom-
modated wherever possible Some fam
lilies are in tents. Altogether IL has been a
o'rerhat irving situation, from the uncer-
tainty and T he sense e isolation, All officers
and men II the navy and Marine Corps have
displayed the forttude and cheerfulness
which history leads one to expect Of them
and were always to be found wherever
assistance could be offered "