The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-08
THE POMPEU
OF CENTRAL, AMERICA
How the Earthquake City Looks in 1912-Its New
Market and the Makeshifts OF Today-A Tin
Town of One-Story Shacks-Its New Market
Copyright, 1912, by Frank G.. Car.
Denter.O

Denter.0
CartoSo. Costa Rica.-I am inthe
Pompeii of Central America. Here on
the highlands Of the Andes, about
haif way " the atlantic and
racine oceans, and almost a mile
above the sea-, is situated a little city
which from time immemorial has
been rocked by the shocks Of earth
quakes. Like the Pompeii at the foot
of ~Nesuvius, it has been partially de-
stroyed several times, and, like it. it
has finally met with a CONFUSION Of
old Mother Earth which has reduced
it to ruins.
Carriage the Beautiful.
Three years age there was no
prettier little city in Latin America
Than this town of Carriage. Lying as
it does in a nest in the volcanic moun
tainS, amid high peaks covered with
green and with f1eecy white
clouds and with the purest streams
of mountain water flowing through
it's concrete cutters, it was considered
the most healthy resort north Of our
Canal Zone. h town was noted for
its delightful climate and as the vaca-
ton place for employees on the canal.
They came here by the hundreds, and
there was a large hotel run by an
American named Weldon. as we'll as
numerous boarding houses which sup
piled them with quarters.
The place was especially attractive
because of it's Quaintness. 1t is one
Of the old cities Of Central America
and had been built in Central America
style. Its houses which were several
thousands in number ran along we'll
made streets with narrow sidewalks
OF f1agstone The houses were of
one story made of stone and mud
with walls several feet thick. The
buildings also We're Of one story facing
the streets with the looms running
around patios in which were orange
trees, lemon trees and many tropical
lowers. The doors and windows were
large and breezes from the noun
tains blew through from all sides.
The roofs were OF red tiles, and were
aid on thick ~rafters. Altogether the
town seemed substantially built and
no one would have supposed that Il
single great shock could have reduced
il to ruins, as its low houses were con-
sidered earthquake proof.
In addition to it's residences Cartago
had some fine business buildings.
There were many stores scattered here
which was filled with stalls and
crowded on each market day by the
thousands who came in from the sur
rounding country TO buy and sell.
There were thirteen Catholic churches
and agreat cathedral was building.
Some of the churches were Of large
size. There were schools for boys and
schools for girls, and last. just then
approaching completion and ready to
be dedicated, was a peace palace built
by Andrew Carnegie to be the home
of a Central American court which
would arbitrate the differences be-
tween the several republics. The city
was prosperous. It had about $4,000
people and it was full of tourists and
pleasure lovers, as was Pompeii at its
fall. Among the visitors were several
hundred Americans who had come
here from Panama. These were the
conditions on the first Of April, 1910.
In E~aIthnuake Land.
Several months before that time
however, the volcanoes about had
been having eruptions. Old Poas, a
mighty at the west. had
thrown up a geyser OF steam to a
height Of more than two and a half
miles, and his had spread out into q
mushroom of light gray which had
covered the valley Of San Jose. Al
the same time a rain Of ashes fell
upon that city which lies about fifteen
miles west Of here and the trees ano
shrubs for miles around were covered
with volcanic ash, making them LOOK
as though covered with snow. me
Arenas, on the Pacific, and near the
volcano stones which We're more thar
& foot in diameter fell from the skies
Along about April 10 there was az
earthquake which was felt through
out this Whole central plateau. Al
the church bells at Carriage began II
ring violently and the ground rose
and fell. This was abbout midnight
The people ran into the streets AND TN
most of them got down on their knee!
and prayed to the saints. The tremb
ungs of the earth continued untl
morning. There were more than {
score Of shocks before s o'clock, blu
they grew less and less and all Though
Inc trouble was over. There was an
other strong shock shortly after mid
day and or the following day a dozei
or more shocks were recorded, bu
nothing very alarming. Then tn
earth became quiet and for aImOS