The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-16
Two Mexican Towns Were Level.
ed by the Earthquake
Was Recorded by the
SeismOgraphs Yesterday.
ELEVEN KNOWN DEAD.
And % Badly Injured So Far
Reported.
Shock Extended Over a Wide
Area of Country.

Chilpancingo. Mexico April 16-This
city has been completely destroyed by
an earthquake. The known dead num-
Der eleven, and the badly injured TWEEN
ty-seven. The greatest panic prevails
and people are fleeing to the open coun-
try. The earth continues to rock at
half-hour intervals and many minor
shocks are completing the work of des-
truction begun by the first earthquake
Word has reached here that the town
OF Ch1lapa, forty-two kilometers to the
northeastward has also been destroyed.
No details have been received as to the
number of the dead and injured.
The population of Chilpancingo is
LABS, and until the panic into which the
citizens have been thrown abates, IL
will be impossible to state the number
of casualties. The population of Chill
apa is $4,000. Both are in the state OF
Guerrero.
No word has been received from Tx
tia, and it is feared it also has been de-
stroyed. According to the movements
of the earthquake. Tixtla would be in it's
direct line.
The following message was sent to the
Federal telegraph office in Mexico City
from Chilapa:
"Our boys are working in a public
garden. A terrible panic prevails. as
the earth continues to tremble at reg
ular intervals. Send us tents that we
may establish an office out in the coun-
try
All communication from the west
coast has been cut off since the moment
of the first big shock and it is not known
to what extent that region suffered
The nearest large town, Acapulco, 13l
kilometers to the southwest of this
place. has not been heard from.
Both the volcanoes of Colina and
Jerullo are in this region. The earth
quake, it is feared, may cause these
mountains to become more active and
to destroy much property and many
lives.
Both Towns Destroyed.
Mexico City, April 16.-The towns of
Chilpanciugo and Chilapa in the state
of Guerrero, Mexico, were completely
destroyed by earthquake last night
Eleven persons are known to have been
killed and q injured. The shocks were
continued today and the people of the
towns are panic stricken.
The federal telegraph office here has
informed the Associated Press that the
earthquake has interfered with the
working of the wires in all parts of the
republic south of a line drawn from
Acapulco on the west coast to Tampico
on the gulf coast.
From messages received at the tele-
entire southern half of the republic, in
Guiding the lower country, and the
mesa belt, felt the shock.
Messages from as far north as san
LII
Rautista, in the state of Tabasco report
feeling the shock in varying degrees
Al no place. however, has loss of life
or great destruction of property been
except in the state of Guer-
aro. The boundary line of the northern
zone of the earthquake extended across
the country in a northwesterly direc-
tion for over 400 miles and south over
500 miles.
,eived a telegram saying that 500 lives
were lost in the destruction OF Chill
nancingo and Chilapa. In goVernmen-
faI circles the report is not credited. 1t
IS admitted that both cities were level
ID TO the ground, but it is not thought
hat the death list will even approx
nate 500. owing to the fact that the
7ouses are built of stone in order to
-esist earthquake shocks.
The federal authorities here nave
1een appealed to by the governors OF
he districts of Bravos and Chilapa for
ents. as the inhabitants are now living
n the open.
the governor of Guerrero has dis
patched military engineers and troops
O the stricken district and the work of
escue and sanitation is being carried
m in a systematic manner. Both cit
es are so isolated that it is impossible
O obtain accurate and rapid lntelli-
renee of the disaster.