The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-31
TOWNS IN MEXICO
RAzED BY QUAKE

Mexico City. July 3O-Central Mex
leo wrom the Atlantic to the Pacific
and from Querato on the north 10 OAK.
AGA on the south, covering more than
a thousand square miles, was shaken
today by a series Of the most severe
earthquake shocks felt in the region
for a quarter of a century.
Reports Of the loss OF life are not
complete, bat the official figures show
that few were killed outright and more
than a score OF persons fatally in,
jured. The towns OF Acapulco and
ChllpanCiDGo have been partially de
stToyed.
According to the observatory rec
ords. the first shock of the series was
felt at 4:15 a m 1t was yerye severe
causing the bells of the many cathe.
drals of the city TO toll, breaking crock
cry and in some instances leveling
walls. The people had hardly recoy.
cred from the first fright when a sec.
ond and more severe shock drove near
ly everybody to the streets and plazas.
This movement lasted with marked
severity for one minute and thirty
seconds. The tall buildings oil the
city swayed and a number of the
houses collapsed. Six persons were
killed in Mexico City and its enyirons.
-Four persons are in hospitals. and
their recovery is deSpaired Of.
The large American colony escaped
unscathed The poems were terribly
frightened. For DAYS they had been
predicting disaster because the snow
on the peak of the volcano Popocatn
pelI, visible from this city. has been
melting. An old Aztec legend declares
that when the snow on this volcano
disappears so viii the city at its base
The property damage here is slight
Some of the cathedral walls were
cracked and scores of adobe walls
were sent TO the ground, but the main
business district shows no signs Of the
severe Shaking which ii received
The observatory officials declare that
Mexico City rests on an old lake bed,
the made ground upon which a great
part OF the city stands acting as
spongy mass which neutTalized tho
severity OF the shock All electric cur
rents In the city were shut of during
the first shock and the city remained
In darkness.
The walling and praying of the In
dams in the public squares added 10
the wierdness and painted an unfor.
cettable picture on the minds OF the
halfclad. shiyering hordes of fright
encd women and children who stood in
the drizzlng rain waiting for day
llaht. When the sun shone the peo'
pie returned TO their homes.
Soon, however, the third shock sent
them again scurrying to the streets.
This shock was lighter than the 9th
ers. When the Federal Telegraph
company attempted TO work the offt
cials found the wires TO the west coast
were down No communication with
the state OF Guerrero. the centre OF
the earthquake region of Mexico. could
be established After hours of ef
tort. wires were opened by the round
about way Of the isthmus Of Teuante'
pee. The first message came from the
port OF Acapulco and was directed
to the director OF teleGraphs. 1t read
Acapulco is in ruins The loss is
incalculable.'
Communication was then lost Short
ly dLleT noon dnOlneI wire WAS opcutu
direct to Acapulco. A message said
ihe lower half OF the city had been
DESTROYED and that four bodies had
been taken from the ruins. Later a
message from Chllpancingo stated
that three deaths had occurred there
and the number Of injured was not
known The barracks. national pal
acc and hospital there were badly dam
aged
The American consul at Acapulco
said the shocks We're lessened in In
.tensity. Three bodies have been
takon from the ruins. The churches,
customs houses and all of the hotels
in tho place were rendered uninhab
table, while not a house In the city
escaped damage, All Of the buIldlngs
along the water front were leyeled.
The FIRST shock at Acapulco occurred
this morning and the people, knowing
bye past experience what to expect
fed to the open. They had hardly
got out when a series of six severe
shocks threw the more untable build
ings 10 the ground.