Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-02
N0|NJURY TOCANA[! !.
. FROM EARTH SHOCK
Structures Remain Intact Fol-
lowing Two Severe Seismic
Disturbances. -
VIOLENCE OF MOVEMENT !
RINGS THE CHURCH BELLS
Houses Shaken to Their Foundations.
People Gather in Streets
at Midnight. -

OCtODeT Z.-ApSOiutely no
damage was done to the structures OF the
Panama canal by the earthquake which
occurred In the Canal Zone between IL
and II o'clock last night. Two shocks
OF intensity much more severe than any
disturbances since the Americans took
possession OF the Canal Zone occurred.
They were felt from Panama City to
Colon.
The first shock, as experienced In the
capital, was slight, but was quickly fol-
lowed by one of longer duration, which
shook buildings to their foundation. The
church bells were set to ringing. doors
were thrown wide open and residents
were brought tumDling out of their beds.
The first movement lasted about I'VE
seconds. 1t occurred about II 40 o'clock.
The second movement was Of ten SEQ
onds' duration
People Gather in Streets.
The people at midnight were gathered
in the streets. Jamaicans who went
through the disaster At Kingston and
Italians who have had similar exps-
riences in their home country were par
ticularly alarmed. According to the sells
mograph there were two sightor shocks,
but these were practically unnoticed. The
general movement appeared to Do from
west to east. Those familiar with
more or an upheavd than q vibration
from side to side. There has been no
severe damage to buildings.
The earthquake was the heaviest
within memory.
Maj. Boggs Gables for Information.
Maj Boggs. in charge OF the isthmian
canal offices in this city. this morning
capled to Col Goethals at Panama for
details Of the earth shocks on the
isthmus last night, with special ref
erence to it's possible effect upon the
Panama canal. This action was taken
as a measure of precaution. though
the officials felt .that Col. Goethals
would have advised them very prompt
ly had the canal sustained any sub
stantial injury.
IL is recalled at the commission Of
fices that from time TO time there have
been slight shocks of earthquake ex-
perienced on the isthmus since the
Americans assumed charge OF the
canal construction. but in no case mas
there been any damage whatever to
the engineering work, although SEN
sationaI report Of one OF these Quakes
about two years ago caused considera-
BILE alarm at the time.
1t Ia said at the commission omces tneS
very little danger of extensive injury U
the canal could have been caused by any
earthquake of record. not only on the
isthmus. but in this hemisphere.
Slight Disturbances Heretofore.
As far as the isthmus itself is con-
cerned, the records, which have been
carefully studied by the canal designers.
fail to show the occurrence OF anything
more than slight seismic disturbances in
that quarter as far back as the history
OF the isthmus is known. There are
standing today masonry structures erect
ed several centuries ago which prooap5
would have been destroyed long ago %
any considerable earthquake shock.
But in addition to thus reported ex-
emption of the isthmus proper from 80
vero earthquakes the army engineers
CASE their belief upon the safety OF the
canal largely upon the wonderful enoui
ing qualities OF the modern reinforced
concrete construction which 10 embodied
in all of the great locks. dams and APP
proaches OF the new canal.
1t is pointed out that during the San
Francisco earthquake, though the Tine
OF IauII" representing the point or most
imminent danger ran directly through
the Mare Island navy yard, the great
concrete dock there was absolutely un-
disturbed, and the same WAS true OF
the reinforced buildings in San Fran
cisco itself.
Earth Slides Not Due to 'ouakes.
It is said at the canal Offices that
there was no connection whatever be-
tween last nights earthquake and the
earth slides into the Culebra
cut at Cucaracha, reported yesterday.
The later movement has been in slow
but continuous process, and it's only i'll
effect, 1t Is said. might be to cause
for a few days or weeks
of the opening OF water communication
across the isthmus. an event originally
fixed for October 10. when the famous
Gamboa dixie was TO have been dyna-