Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29
MEXICAN QUAKE NEWS
Refugees Are Coming Out
From ChiIapa.
RUIN WAS WIDESPREAD
Indian Runners Have Been Sent
Out Scouting.
RUMORS OF A TIDAL WAVE
Considerable Anxiety Over Many
American Mining Men in
the Interior.
RUMORS OF A TIDAL WAVE

from the earthquake territory of the state
of Guerrero today arrived at Balsas the
nearest railroad point TO the scene Of the
great disturbance They bring many har-
rowing stories of the damage that was
wrought and the suffering on the part of
the panic-stricken people of the mountain
towns.
1t is stated that at Chilpancingo the
alarm of the inhabitants over the severe
earth tremblngs soon passed away and
they set to work to learn how the people
of the towns further In the interior had
Jared In the absence of Governor Flores.
the local municipal authorities sent out
runners to the various towns throughout
a territory situated within a radius of
one hundred miles The telegraph lines
We're prostrated and the only means Of
communication was by overland travel.
The Indian couriers were acquainted with
the mountain trail and they picked their
way over difficult places with swiftness
that was rema rkable. Several Of these
couriers returned today bringing reports
of devastation and loss Of life.
News by Courier.
1t is stated that only two lives were
lost in Chilapa, where the early reports
were to the effect that the entire town.
which has a population of about ten
thousand people, had been destroyed.
Some of the larger and more costly build
ings in the town were either tumbled
down or damaged to such an extent as
to make them uninhabitable. In the ex-
citement attending the catastrophe the
prisoners of the Jail made their escape
and began looting the abandoned homes
The police made number of arrests and
soon obtained control of tn situation.
A courier who arrived at Chilpancingo
from Petlatlan. thriving town situated
twenty miles beyond Chilapa, says that
it was completely destroyed. A great
hssure was opened across the mountain
near the town and the courier had TO
make a long detour In order to reach Chill
pancingo. number of people were in
jured by falling walls at that place, but
none was killed SO far as known. The
river which flows near AtliXtac was
damned by upheaval of the earth and
the rising water threatens to overflow
village in the valley. Much damage was
done at AtliXtac.
Tidal Wave Reported.
Wild reports are in circulation as to the
damage done in the towns situated south
Sf Chilpancingo and adjacent to the Pa
cihc No direct communication has been
rec aived here from Acapulco or other Pa
cifc coast points since the earthquake oc-
Cured.
Arrivals at Chlpancingo from the town
of Viejo say it was reported there that
tidal wave had followed the severe
shock and had swept away towns in the
lower country bordering on the coast. This
report is not credited here, as II is thought
that the government meteorological bu-
reau would have been advised If any such
calamity had occurred. At MaZatlan,
Manzanil.o and other Pacific ports no un-
usual disturbance of the ocean was no.
ticed
The government has ordered a commits
sion of scientists to proceed Immediately
to the scene of the most severe disturb
ance in the state of Guerrero and inVesti-
gate the effect of the upheaval In some
places the mountains are cracked and
from these openings strong sulphurouS
fumes were emitted during the brief in
terval that the particular shock which did
the great damage lasted These gaseous
fumes almost overcame the people of some
of the mountain villages.
American Mining Men.
Considerable anxiety is felt for many
American mining men, who are known to
be in the heart of the earthquake area
Prof William c. Niven of New York.
noted mineralogist who has been operat-
ing a mine in the state of Guerrero for
several years. was at the property when
the shock came. A number OF other Amer
leans were in that same section. Nothing
has been heard from any of them. The
La Dicha mining camp where the Mitch
ell Mining Company, composed of Ameri-
cans is operating. is reported to have suf-
fered heavily from the shock. The La
D!cha mine. however, has been idle for
some time.