Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1907-04-19
FEARFUL EARTHQUAKE SUN
DAY-LASTED FOUR MINUTES.
People Fled From Their Houses Into
Streets-No Deaths Reported-Huge
Cracks in Business Streets Ten
Yards Long-EIectric Lights Put
Out-Other Towns Get Touch.

quake ldSIlnS TOUR ana q NAH minutes
startled in this city Sunday night. The
earth rocked in a long, swinging mo-
ton, terrifying the inhabitants, but do
ing no damage so far as can be learn
ed at this city.
Clocks stopped at 1884 (Mexican
time) and the perceptible motion of
the earth ceased at 11:38 IL. Tele-
graph wires were put out of commits
sion and for a short time the city was
in darkness, owing to the failure of
the electric lights.
The asphalt on one of the principal
business streets of the city was
cracked open for a distance of 10
yards.
People fed from their houses into
the streets.
At the police stations no deaths had
been reported up to 12:45 a. M.
No reports have yet come from the
American colony, but it is not believed
that serious damage was sustained
there, although the houses, unlike
those in the old section of the city,
are not built to withstand earthquake
shocks. AT the time of the first shock
the cafes and theaters were filled and
for a time a panic was feared but
owing to the peculiarly steady swing
ing motion of the earth the crowds left
the buildings in order The shock was
preceded by two bright electric fash
es, which lit up the sky IL the north
west of the city. Up to this time the
property loss is reported as very
small. A number of walls in unsub-
stantial bulldogs collapsed, narrowly
escaping Lurying the inmates.
The city is comparatively quiet, al
though the streets are thronged with
people, many refusing to enter their
houses through fear of a more severe
shock to come.
The official record of the meteoro-
logical bureau gave the duration of
the shock as four minutes. The move
ment was from east to west in an
oval shape. The needle first described
10 centimeters and later 81, then it
swung completely out of the dial.
leaving the exact extent of the shock
matter of conjecture. The observer
declares that the center of the shock
was probably to the southwark and it
is feared that towns in that region
may have suffered.
Freaks of the Quake.
Not a station of the fire department
received a call. One freak of the
earthquake was recorded. A driver of
circus wagon who was taking par
aphernalia to a nearby railroad sta
ton was thrown from his seat by the
force of the shock. He was uninjured
beyond slight bruises received, but all
of the animals he was driving were
killed
From the city of Vera Cruz, south of
here, the shock is reported to have
been severe. At the meteorological
bureau it was said the shock was the
heaviest experienced here since 1882.
From what is known here now it is
thought that the shock extended for
about 100 miles north of Oaxaca
Chilpancingo, Mex, April 16.-This
city has been completely destroyed by
an earthquake. The killed number 1
and the badly injured 81. The great
est panic prevails and people are flee
ing to the open country. The earth
seemed to rock at half hour intervals
and many minor shocks are completing
the work of destruction begun by the
| first quake.
Word has reached here that the towr
of Chilapa, AZ kilometers to the north.
eastward, has also been destroyed. Nc
details have been received as to the
numb Der of the dead and injured.
The population of ChiIpancingo il
7498 and until the panic into which
the citizens have been thrown abates
it will be impossible to state the mum
Der of casualties.
The population of Chilapa is 15 900
No word has been received from Tixtl;
and it is feared it also has been DIES
troyed. According to the movements o
the earthquake, Tixtla would be in it
direct line.
Form late messages it appears tina
the entire south half of the republic in
Guiding the lower country and the me
saba belt felt the shock.
The National Bank of Mexico has r
ceived telegram stating that so
lives were lost at the destruction O
Chilapa and Chilpancingo. In govern
ment circles the report is not credited
/ 1t is admitted that both cities wer
, leveled to the ground, but it is no
) thought that the death list will eve
approximate 500, owing to the fac
that the houses are built of stone in OF
2 der to resist earthquake shocks.
The federal authorities have been az
pealed to by the governors of the dis
tricts of Barvos and Chilapa for tents