The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-04-16
TWO TOWNS
laid WASTE
SERIOUS EARTHQuAKG OCCURS
tN souTAERN MEXICO.
FEARS FOR A THIRD
chilpancinao and chilapa Completely
Destroyed Disturbance Covers
Large Area and Probably Other ci.
ties Have Suffered.

Chilpanctngo, Mexico, April 15.-
This city has been completely destroy.
ed by an earthquake. The known dead
number II and the badly injured 81,
Inc greatest panic prevails and peo-
pie are fleeing to the open country.
The earth continues to rock at half
hour intervals and many minor shocks
are completing the work of destruc-
t1on begun by the first earthquake.
word has reached here that the
town OF Chilapa, AZ kilomeGers to the
northeastward, has also been destroy
ed. No details have been received
as to the number of the dead and in
Jured. The population OF Chflpancin-
go is $500, and until the panic into
which 81 the citizens have been thrown
abaRa will be impossible to state
Ealumber of casualties. The pop
ulEt19n of Chilapa is $4,000.
N4 word has been received from
I11Fla, and it is feared it also has
en destroyed
according to the movements of the
8thquake, Tixtla would be in its
ect line The following message
EBs sent to the federal telegraph Of
re in Mexico City from Chilapa:
Our boys are working in a pub
TIC garden! A terrible panic prevails,
as the earth continues to tremble at
regular intervals. Send us tents that
We may establish our office out in
the country
All communication from the coast
has been cut off since the movement
of the first big shock, and 1t is mot
known to what extent THAT region suf-
fered. The nearest large town, Aca-
pulco, 131 kilometers to the south
west of this place, has not been heard
from.
Both the volcanoes Colima and Jor-
ullo 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.
Mexico City, April 15.-The federal
telegraph office here has informed the
Associated Press that last nights
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-
graph office up to noon, it appears
that the entire south half Of the re
public, including the lower country
and the Mesaba belt, felt the shock |
last might.
Messages from as far north as San
Louis Potosi and south to San Juan
Bautasati in the state of Tobasco re-
port feeling the shock In varying de-
grees. At no place, however, has loss
of life Or great destruction OF prop
erty been reported, except in the state
of Guerrero The boundary line of
the northern zone Of the earthquake
extended across the country in a
northwestern direction for over 400
miles and south over 600 miles.
The national Bank of Mexico has re-
ceived telegram saying that 500
lives were lost at the destruction OF !
Chilapa and Ch:lpancingo. In govern
mental circles the report is not cred
tied. It is admitted that both cities
were leveled to the ground, but it is
not thought that the death list will even
500, owing to the fact
that the house are built of stone, in
order to resist earthquake shocks.
The federal authorities here have
oeen appealed to by the governors OF
he districts of Braves and Chilapa
or tents, as the inhabitants are now
living in the open.
The governor of Guerrero has dis
patched military engineers and troops
@ the stricken district, and the work
If rescue and sanitation is being car
led on in a, systematic manner. Both
sities are SO isolated that it is i'm
possible to obtain rapid intelligence OF
lho dicasHan. |