The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-04-19

terday Morning Acapulco Partly
Submerged by Tidal Wave.
City of Mexico, April 16.-Hesvy
earth quake shocks continued on the
west coast until 4 o'clock this morning
Late news from the area Of the great
est destruction in recent earthquake
shows that the devastation was great
er than at first supposed.
Besides the destruction of Chilpan-
cingo and Chilapa, it is now reported
that Textla between these two cities.
containing about the same pOpula-
tien as Chilpancingo, was also level
ed Messengers from the coast VINO
have reached Chilpancingo also say
that the towns of Ayutla and Omete-
pect have been destroyed.
Ayutia is about fifty miles south of
SAilpancingO in the state Of GuelTe-
TO, and some twenty miles west of
Acapulco.
Ometepre is further south near the
boundary line of the states Of Guer-
rero and OaXaca. 1t is a town Of
about 1900 inhabitants.
Tlapa, town eight miles west of
Chilpancingo, and near the border line
Of the state of OaXaca is also report
ed damaged. The report from Chilpan
cingo says that the west coast from
Acapulco south Of Salina Cruz, the
Pacific terminal Of the Tehuantepec
national railway has been badly dam
aged.
Owing to the remoteness Of these
points and to the fact that wire and
rail communication is very poor
news from the stricken district comes
very slowly. Only one wire is working
to Chilpancingo and that rather spas
medically.
Through the courtesy OF the officers
of the Federal Telegraph company.
the Associated Press was given the
wire today at noon while It was work.
ing through to Chilpancingo The
operator there was questioned as ito
the number of casualties but he declar-
that he knew nothing beyond the fact
that he had seen about dozen corpses
and knew of some thirty wounded.
A dispatch to Ell Pals, a daily paper,
which is the organ of the Catholic
church in this city, from the bishop
Of Chilapa confirms the report Of the
widespread destruction Of that viciR-
ity. Fourteen are reported to have
been killed in one house and the num-
Der of wounded given as thirty eight.
In Textla it is reported that II bod
les have been taken from the ruins
and that twice that number of wound
ed are being cared for in Temporary
structures erected in the open coun-
try.
Up to 4 o'clock this morning the
shocks continued with more or less
severity near Chilpancingo, complet-
Tag the work of destruction and de-
stroying many Of the most important
public buildings of the city. the new
municipal palace was badly shattered.
It's predecessor was leveled by an
earthquake four years ago. The hos
pitfalls and the Jail are in ruins.
Up to this time the number of deaths
reported is 3S and the wounded SO.
But in view of the latter reports it is
thought that these figures will fall
far short of the real number Of IA
talities.
1t is reported that Acapulco was
partly submerged from the great waves
which dashed over the break water.
Although no breath Of wind was STIR
ring on the night of the first shock
when the earth began to tremble, the
sea was lashed into a fury and as the
shocks continued the harbor took on
the appearance of typhoon swept
ocean. Just how much of the port
has been submerged is not known
Communication by rail with Vera
Cruz is entirely cut off owing to the
sinking of road beds on both the Mex
lean and interocean railways.
Reports from nearly all the larger
cities in the southern part OF the re-
public have now been received and
although many of these places felt
the shock severely, no loss of life has
been reported and the property loss
is Insignificant
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