The Washington herald., 1907-04-16
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Special TO The Washington Herald
Mexico City. april 15.-Five hundred
lives were lost in the destruction Of Chill
pancingo and Chnapa, a telegram to IN,
National Bank OF Mexico here states
adding that both towns were completely
destroyed.
Government officials question this re.
port Tt is admitted that both cities wer,
severely damaged. but it is not thought
that the deaths viii number 500 Tn,
houses here are low and massive, built OF
stone. TO resist earthquake shocks.
There was d heavy loss Of life al
Trxtla. where many people were caught
in the falling buildings like rats in a
trap and crushed to death The details
Of the disaster in the state of Guerrero
are slowly reaching here. and every addi-
tional report adds TO the horror Of the
situation
Scarcely a building is left standing in
sny Of the towns In the earthquake zone.
and it is regarded certain that later and
more complete information viii greatly
increase the list of casualties. The gov
eminent has received frantic appeals from
officials in the disturbed districts asking
for tents, food, and clothing. The War
Department has gathered all of the avail
able tents and will forward them imme-
diately TO the stricken towns. The earth
quake covered a wide area and was quite
severe in the City Of Mexico. 10 loss of
life occuEred in this city, but many build
ings were cracked and damaged. aud the
people thrown into a panic
Extends Over Wide Territory.
Il is known, too, that the shook ex-
tended over more than >. 400 square miles
of territory I'm the southern half of the re-
public. and that it was one Of the most
severe ever experienced in this land of
earthquakes
The needle of tl1e seismometer of the
meteorological bureau here swung com
pietely of the dial leaving the exact force
of the shock to conjecture.
But the telegraph wires are down now
south Of a line from Acapulco, on the west
coast, 10 Tampico City. on the Gulf coast
Not word has come from Acapulco, nor
from Tixtla, "a prosperous town midway
between Chnpancingo and Chflaps.
Among the dead at Cbilpancingo. where
some 500 people live, are the wife of
Postal Inspector Lopez Guerra and the
child Ct Jose Alemana, the postmaster of
the town. Jose Lopez Martinez. manager
OF the Federal Telegraph Office, was struck
on the head by block Of stone and badly
injured. panic prevails and most of the
500 inhabitants are fleeing 10 the omen
country. The earth at Chilapa continued
10 rock at half hour intervals and many
minor shocks are completing the destruc-
tion done by the first earthquake
This message from Chilapa was received
to-day at the Federal Telegraph Com
pary's Office here:
Our boys are working in a public gar
den A terrible panic prevails as the
earth trembles at regular intervals. Send
us tents, that we may establish an Office
out in the country
Troops sent 10 District.
The governor Of Guerrero has sent
military engineers and troops TO the dis
trict destroyed, and the work of rescue
and sanitation is being carried on sys-
tematically
The Federal authorities here have been
appealed to by the governors Of Braves
and Chilapa districts for tents. as the III
habitants of these cities are now living
in the open, having constructed shelters
of palm tree branches.
The entire west coast has been cut of
since the first shock
No word has come from the districts in
which the volcanoes of Colima and
Jorullo rear themselves, and great appre-
hension Is felt that the volcanoes have
burst into eruption and are adding TO the
destruction. Many miners and pros
pectors from the United States are in
NtchOacan State. where Jurullo stands
City OF Mexico Escapes.
In this city the shock occurred at 11.9o
last night. and, remarkable to say in
view OF its long endurance, no one was
seriously hurt. Beyond cracked walls and
asphalt paveEents and broken plaster
the property loss is slight.
Thousands in their night clothes rushed
from their homes. The women fell on
their knees and prayed, or, holding up
their children, implOred the saints 60 pro
tect them. No one I'm the city slept after
wards, and tonight the city is in semi
panic, lest the shock be repeated.
Messages from as far north as San Luis
Potosi and as far south as the city of San
Juan Bautista, In Tabasco State, received
tonight. report that the shock was felt IN
varying degrees.