Arizona republican., 1909-07-31
THE SCENE IN THE CAPITAL
Indians Had For Days Pre- dicted Disaster, Relying on Old Aztec Sign Which Foreshadowed the De struction of the City.

Mexico City, July 3O.-Central Mexi- co, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Querato on the north to Oax;ca OF the south, more than 1000 square miles. was shaken today by a series Of the most severe earthquakes felt in that region for a quarter of a century Reports of the loss of life are not complete. but the official fig ures show that fourteen were killed outright and more than a score per haps fatally injured. The towns of Acapulco and Chilpancingo have been partially destroyed.
 According to the observatory rec ords. the first shock of the series was felt at 4:15 a. m. It was severe- caus- ing the bells of many cathedrals Of this city to toll. breaking -croclzery and. in some instances, leveling walls The people had hardly recovered from the first fright when a second and more severe shock drove nearly everyone to the streets and plazas. This move ment lasted with marked severity for one minute and thirty seconds The tall buildings Of the city swayed and many houses collapsed.
 Six persons were killed in Mexico City and the environs. Four persons are Tn hospitals and their recovery is despaired of. The large American col ony escaped unscathed. The peOns were terribly frightened. For days they had been predicting disaster be- cause the snow on the peak of the volcano POpOcatapetl, visible from this city, has been melting. An old Aztec legend declares that when the snow on this volcano disappears so, too, will the city at it's base.
 The property damage here is slight Some of the cathedral walls were cracked and scores of adobe walls were sent 10 the ground, but the main busi- ness districts showed no signs of se- we're shaking. The observatory off cials declare that Mexico City rests on an old lake bed, the made ground upon which the greater part of the city is built acting as a spongy mass which neutralized the severity of the shock
 All electric currents in the city were shut off during the first shock and the city remained in darkness. The wailing and praying of the Indians in the public squares added to the wierd- ness, painting an unfOrgettable picture on the minds Of the half clad, shiver- the hordes of frightened men. women and children who stood in the driz- zling raia waiting for daylight. The third tremor was lighter than the others.
 When the Federal Telegraph com pauy attempted to work it found the wires to the west coast were down. No communication with the state of Guer- rero, the center of the earthquake re- zion Of Mexico, could be established. After an hour of effort a wire was opened by a roundabout way, over the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The first r&ssage came from the port of Aca- pulco, and was sent to the director of telegraph. Ie read Acapulco is in ruins and the loss is incalculable" The communication then was lost.
 Shortly after ? o'clock another wire was opened up direct with Acapulco. A message said that the lower half of the city was destroyed and that four bodies had been taken from the ruins. A message from ChilpanicingO stated that three deaths had occurred there and that lle number injured was not known The barracks, the national pal