The San Francisco call., 1909-08-18
IN
GRIP OF QUAKE
FOR FOUR DAYS
Total of Four Hundred Distinct
Shocks Recorded in Ninety
six Hours
Town Gradually Recovering
From Disaster Which Laid
Buildings Low

Tie Pacific Mail liner Acapulco ar
rived here yesterday from the lower
coast with the first direct news of the
earthquake which on July 80 shook the
Mexican town Of Acapulco into ruins.
The first day OF the visitation there
were y distinct shocks and during the
first four days a total OF 400 shocks was
recorded. To add TO the alarm the
usual wild reports were circulated that
stiu worse calamity was impending.
1t was whispered around that some
great scientist had said that Acapulco
was situated in the crater of an ex-
tinct volcano and that the vibrations
OF the earth were phenomena prelim-
mary to the awakening Of the volcano
TO activity
When the Acapulco left the port
however. the general alarm had sub
sided and business was being conducted
much as usual Most of the adobe
houses were shaken TO pieces. but only
one life was lost, the victim being
tiny baby There is no unusual dis
tress in Acapulco and the damage is
being repaired. There was no tidal
wave.
SHOCK AWAKENs SLEEPERS
The first shock was at ! O'Clock a. m.
july 80. II was severe enough 70
awaken all sleepers and send many into
the streets. but did little damage. It
was followed by other smaller shocks
and - hours later came the heavy
shock that practically destroyed the
town. The houses in Acapulco are
nd a. hnfif n
adobe. The heavy vibrations in the
afternoon cracked the walls and rem
dered uninhabitable those houses that
were not shaken down entirely and the
little town in the space Of so seconds
was transformed from a trim village
into dust strewn plain Most Of the
people were out Of their houses. One
house fell in upon a woman and her
twin babies. 1 months old. She fought
her way out with one of the children.
but the other was killed and was the
only victim of the earthquake.
The people saved most of their pos
sessions from the wreckage OF their
homes and camped in the streets. Be
fore the Acapulco arrived tents and
Footing had been sent to Acapulco from
Nazatlsn and the work of rehousing
the population was in progress when
the steamer sailed.
Loss ESTIMATED AT S5OO.OoO
The business houses Of Alzulleta,
Urunuels and Fernandez were com
pletely destroyed. The total damage to
property at Acapulco is estimated at
less than 100000
The reports Of a tidal wave were
without foundation. In fact, what did
occur was exactly the reverse, for at
the time Of the big shock the ocean
receded several feet, but came back to
its normal level without making any
disturbance.
The Acapulco brought no passengers
from the Mexican port
Three More Shocks
MEXICO CITY, Aug. IA delayed
dispatch from Acapulco says three Sc
we're earthquake shocks were expert
-enced there yesterday.
The ocean dropped far below its
usual level and along the entire shore
line Of the port the beach was ex-
posed for a distance of 30 feet
The shocks are believed to have been
those registered at the Washington OBJ
servatory.
The people OF Acapulco are still liv-
ing in the open. not having ventured
TO return to their homes since the
disastrous shock of a fortnight ago.