The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-08
CHAOS REIGNS OVER THE
STRICKEN SOUTHERN CITY
Property Loss by the Quake
Is Now Estimated at
S25,OOO,OOO
PECULIAR GLOW in THE
SKY TERRIFIES POPULACE
ISpeoioI Dispatch 10 The Call

~ AN JOSE, Costa Rica, May Two
thousand dead, between three and
five thousand injured and property
losses sggregaung SIS 100000 or S3O,-
100000 are the results of the earth
quake, which destroyed the city of
Carriage and the towns of Paradise, Tur-
abba. Naranio and several smaller vii
lagos in Costa RIGA Wednesday night
The city of Carriage. the ancient CAPT
tai of the republic, is in ruins. Every
stone or brick building in the city was
completely destroyed. The only sem
blance of buildings left standing are
four shacks built partly of wood and
corrugated iron.
The scene at Carriage beggars de-
scripton. The survivors are panic
stricken and chaos reigns. The earth
shocks continue at short intervals. and
each tremor is instantly followed by
shrieks from men. women and chill
dren. who are gathered in groups in
open spaces in the wrecked city
Hundreds have lost their reason and
are gibbering idioucally.
645 Bodies Recovered
Up TO noon today CAS- bodies had
been recovered from the ruins in Car
tago. The rescue work is slow and it
viii be several days before it is finally
completed. 1t is estimated that there
are al least 500 bodies buried under the
N-reckage of the buildings The bodies
are terribly decOmposed, and the odor
is so sickening that the soldiers who
are engaged in rescue work have to
be relieved i'm company in short inter
walls. Hundreds Of buzzards have been
attracted to the city by the odor Of the
decomposed bodies OF the human be-
ings and animals. The president and
ali the members of the cabinet are at
Carriage and Paradise experimenting
rescue work Martial law has been
proclaimed ans military rule cstab-
Hshed throughout the earthquake zone.
The Peace palace, which was built
with funds contributed 10y Andrew Car
negie. is 2 complete wreck. Nothing
remains but huge pile Of stone, brick
and mortar.
The building collapsed when the first
violent shock occurred. Several lives
~ were lost in the structure but the ex-
act number viii not be known until
the soldiers complete their work Of
a., Of,
PIE were injured by the falling walls
and roofs and these unfortunates are
being cared for by the government.
Camps have been established and tents
erected in the outskirts of Carriage and
physicians from San Jose and other
adjacent cities and towns are giving
the injured all the attention possible.
One-third Dead
The town or Paradise. located in the
precinct Of Carriage. with a population
or between 1000 AMI 1000 persons, was
destroyed by the earthquake. 1t is
estimated that nearly one-third of the
habitsnts Of Paradise met instant
death under falling buildings, while
the list Of injured viii run up to 900
or more. The exact number Of persons
killed in the earthquake zone probably
viii never be known. Every brick and
stone building in that section was
razed 10 the ground. The shock oe-
Cured at an hour when nearly every
person had gone to their homes at
night. When the buildings collapsed
they were caught like rats and crushed
10 death. Whole families persisted
while dining or engaged In their ordi-
nary vOcations.
Refugees from the interior today
brought news Of loss OF life in the
country districts around cartago and
Para Iso. The earth shocks Wednesday
night were accompanied by 4 rumbling
noise like the roar Of distant artillery
after the first violent shocks occurred
Tic sky suddenly Turned a pink color
and a peculiar glow. resembling a
phosphorus light appeared in the east
This Phenomenon further terrified the
Confirmed IN Page ~ Column 4