The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-31
QUAKE RUINS
MEXICAN TOWNS
List Of Dead Numbers
Many.
IMMENSE DAMAGE WROUGHT
Communication With Many Cities
Cut Off.
Eruptions OF Earth In Mexico Spreads
wheIesaIe Death and Ruin
Acapulco In Path Of
shock.

Oaxaca, on the south, a distance
covering more than 1000 square miles
was shaken at an early hour today by
series OF the most severe earthquake
shocks felt IN this region for the past
quarter of a century.
Reports telling Of the loss OF life
are as yet incomplete, but the official
figures tonight show that thirteen
were killed outright, while more than
score were mortally Injured.
The towns of Acapulco and Chilpan-
-cingo, in the state of Guerrero, have
been partially destroyed. Communica-
tion with this part of the republic of
Mexico has been, imperfectly estab-
lished.
According to the observatory records
here, the first shock Of the series was
felt at AIS o'cIAn. this morning, the
rocking, oscillatory in character, being
from the east to the southwest. 1t
was very severe causing the bells OF
the many cathedrals OF the city to toll,
breaking crockery and In some In
stances Ieveling walls. The inhabi-
tants of the city had barely recovered
from the fright occasioned by this
phenomena when q second ami more
severe shock, caused an outpourfng of
nearly all of the Inhabitants TO the
streets and open pIazas. This move
ment was of tripodory and oscilla-
tory character and lasted with marked
severity for one minute and thirty
seconds. The tall buildings of the
city swayed and in some instances
cracked. the pavement opened In places
ami In the poorer sections Of the city
a number of houses collapsed.
SO far as can be learned from the
police records. six people lost their
lives in Mexico City and its environs
as result of this second shock Two
were men of the lower class, the others
being three women and child. Four
persons are now In the hospitals so
badly wounded that 1t IL stated they
cannot recover.
The second shock 80 frightened the
Inhabitants that no one ventured IN
doors again until daybreak.
Americas Colony EscRDNs.
The. large American colony escaped
unscathed. There were some slight
Commissions reported among them from
falling plaster, but no serious injuries
were recorded. They, with the high
and low classes OF the Mexicans. re-
NAMED in the plazas or squares until
the light OF day gave them the courage
to return to their dwellings.
The peon class were terribly fright
ened over the shocks. For days those
humble folk have been predicting a
disaster, because the SHOWS on the
peak of the volcano Popocatepetl.
visible from this city, have been melt
ing, An old Aztectic legend declares
that when the SHOWS on this volcano
disappear, SO too will the city at Its
base.
The property damage in this city is
slight Some older cathedral walls
were cracked and scores of adobe walls
were sent to the ground. but the main
business part OF the capital showed
absolutely no signs OF the severe rock
ing which 1t has been given.
The officials of the observatory at
tribute this to the fact that Mexico
CITY rests on an old lake bed. the made
ground upon which q great part of the
city rests, acting as a spongy jelly
like mass, which neutralized the
severity of the shakings.
All electric currents of the city
were, shut off during the first shock
and the city remained in dense dark
ness save for the occasional flashes
of lightning which interpreted the
shocks.
The wailing and praying of the In
dams in the Alameda Zocato and other
public squares. added to the weirdness
of the scene and painted an unforget-
table picture on the minds OF the half
clad, shivering hordes of frightened
men. women and children. who stood
out in the drizzling rain waiting Tor
the coming of daylight
When the sun shone. the people re-
turned to their homes, having suf-
ficiently recovered from their fright
to sit down to breakfast. They had
hardly begun this meal when a third
shock sent them again scurrying to
the street This was lighter than the
first two. but of sufficient intensity
and duration to destroy the appetite
of the most courageous.
No further shocks have occurred In
this city.
Acapulco i'm Ruins.
When the Federal Telegraph Com
Danv attempted to work this morning
the officials found that the wires to
the west coast were down. NO COM
munication with the state OF Guer-
zero, the centre of the earthquake re-
gion of Mexico. could be established.
After hours of effort, a wire was
opened by the round about way OF the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The first
message came from the port Of Aca-
puloo and was directed to the director
OF telegraphs. It read: Acapulco is
In ruins. the loss is incalculable."
Communication was then lost.
Shortly after o'clock another wire
was opened up directly to Acapulco by
message said that the lower half OF
the city had been destroyed and that
four bodies had been taken from the
ruins.
Later q message from Chilpancingo
stated that three deaths had occurred
there and that the number OF injured
was not known. The barracks. ma
ttonal palace and hospital at this lat
ter place were so badly injured as
to be untenable.
Early this evening the Associated
Press office in Mexico City received
a reply to a message directed to the
American consul at Acapulco. That
official declared that the shocks are
still continuing, though with lessened
intensity. Three bodies have been
taken from the ruins. The churches.
customs house and all Of the hotels
in the place were rendered uninhabit-
able. while not a house In the city
escaped injury of a moro or less
serious character. All of the build
inEs along the water front were level
ed.
The first shock at Acapulco occurred
at 4:1O in the morning and the people
knowing by past experiences what to
expect, fled to the open. They had
hardly gotten out when a series OF six
severe shocks OF q tripodory and