Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-12-22
Entire Villages Are Destroyed
by Quake in South America.

by Quake in South America.
Beunos Aires, Dec. 18.-Earth-
quake shocks on Friday afternoon de-
stroyed several towns along the Ar
gentine slope of the Andes Mountains
were the most severe experienced in
this country since 1869, when half of
the city of Mendoza was laid in ruins.
Reports from the areas where the
shock was heaviest indicate great loss
of life and property, upwards of $50
bodies having been already taken
from the wrecks of buildings.
At Tresportenas, more than 100
persons, and at Costa de Aroujo, 80
more were killed. 1t is feared that
more victims still are buried under
the ruins in each town. Only few
houses remain at Tresportenas, La
Vale and L Central, and they are in
badly damaged condition. No esti-
mate of the number of persons injur-
ed has yet been made.
Minor shocks continue throughout
the district, one particularly strong
tremor being felt yesterday after
noon at 80 o'clock in the towns of
San Martin and Ravidavida. The
people are reported as being panic
stricken. The city of Mendoza was
shaken but did not suffer extreme
damage.
In the town of Cotsa de Araujo
the seismic convulsion opened great
crevices out of which hot water is
spouting. The water from one of
these geysers reached height of
about Is feet and formed a pool in
which two persons were drowned. A
Red Cross ambulance has reached the
village and set to work to rescue any
sufferers who may still be alive in
the ruins.
More than $4,000 persons inhab-
it little villages along the eastern An
dean slope and, as reports continue
to add to the long list of casualties
apprehension is felt that the final
figures will be very high. Rescue par
ties have been sent from Mendoze
but details from the scene of the dis
aster are meagre as telephone and
telegraph wires are badly disorgan-
lied.
The earth movement during the
tremor was from northwest to south
east and number of small shocks
followed the principal conclusion
which lasted 80 seconds.
The latest reports from Mendoza
coming in tonight, said that the shock
at Tresportenas had assumed the pro-
portions of a catastrophe. Three re-
lief trains have been rushed to the
town from which 80 dead and as
many dying have been brought out.
At Costa de Araujo which was vir-
tually isolated another shock occur
red at s o'clock this morning. The
death list was increased by those re-
ports to 81 so far counted in Costa
de Araujo, with 80 seriously injured.
At La Vale terrible scenes were
witnessed. The relief work was most
difficult, owing to the conditions of
the roads, which had been broken up
and covered with water. The church
at La Vale was laid in ruins and the
municipal buildings walls cracked
and the structure was likely to fall
at any moment.
The seismograph at the Mendoza
Institution recorded three shocks on
Friday, the first beginning at 8 p. m.
1t was a sudden and violent one,
without the slight movements preced-
ing. This lasted Is seconds. The Sec
ond movement lasted 5 seconds and
the third 10 seconds. The vibrations,
with lesser shocks, continued for 80
minutes afterwards.
Felt in Japan.
Toxic, Dec. 18.-The most violent
earthquake that has occurred since
seismographic observations commen-
ced in Japan took place Thursday
evening at Oil O. clock. The yibra-
tions lasted two hours and were SO
severe that the instruments were un-
able to give perfect records. 1t is