Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1891 — RUINOUS EARTHQUAKE. [ARTICLE]

RUINOUS EARTHQUAKE.

SAN SALVADOR DEVASTATED THE NINTH TIME. The Volcanoes Clave Warning by Their Unusual Activity—Only the Coast Cities Escape—Los* of Property Tremendous— Life Los* Comparatively Small. Pursued by an Evil Fate. San Salvador, the smallest but most populous and one of the most prosperous of the five Contra! American republics. is again in ruins, and for the ninth time since its founding in 1528 by Senor Jorge de Alvan* 10. the tlty of vador is leveled by an earthquake. Millions of dollars’ worth of property and many lives wore destroyed in the republic by this visitation. Whole towns were wiped out, and so far as advices received from the capital indicate, hardly a city in the country, except those along the coast, escaped the awful effects of the convulsion. There had been Ind cations for several days past that a seismic disturbance of more than u ual power might be expected. The volcanoes of San Salvador, San Miguel and Izalco have been unusually active, and deep subterranean rumblings and slight earth tremors have been felt

Such things are not uncommon there, however, and while there was a foe.ing of uneasiness there was no great alarm felt At just five minutes before 2 o'clock In the morning the earth began to shake. The wave had astrong vertical and oscillatory movement. People rushed into the streets in their night clothing, and while the shock lasted only twenty seconds, before it had passed away there was a {anic-strlcken mob making its way to he open country outside the city. The scone was terribly sub irne. Men, women, and chi,dren wore shrieking and praying in the streets; walls of houses, cracked, tottered, and foil: tiiero was a deep, continuous rumble as of heavy thunder; the sky was overcast and the air was filled wish a fine, penetrating dust. While the shock last d the earth rose and fell in long waves, and strong men wore unable to keep their feet. The pan I -stricken mob flocked to the open ground cutsido the city; temporary aheltors wore thrown up whorever possible, but nearly ah the mon and a great many of the women and children had only tho sky for a cover. All through tho morning there were slight shocks, but none approaching In Intensity that which had boon so destructive. The inhabitants wore afraid to return to tholr houses, and are making themselves as comfortable as possible in the temporary camps until the commotion subsides.

President Ezeta is doing his best to stop the panic and care for tho homeless people until It is considered safe for them to go back to their homes. Tho towns thioughout the country have suffered more severely than the capital even. Analaqulto and Comasagua were destroyed. ( ojutopoque, Santa Treia, San Pedro, and Masahuet wero so badly shaken that they are practically ruined, while the shock was plainly felt and damage was done by it at Santa Anna and Susimtepoquo, fully sixty miles from San Salvador. It is impossible at tli'is writing to form any idea as to tho number of lives which wore lost Two people were killed at the capital, though there were many almost miraculous escapes from death. It is feared, however, that there have been many people killed in the smaller towns. Tho loss of property will run well Into tho millions. This is the ninth time since its founding, and third time within loss than forty years, that San Salvador has beet, destroyed by earthquake shocks. April 0, 1854, not a single house was left in tho city fit for habitation, and over throe hundred lives were lost Tho dust and debris from the falling Landings filled up all of the wells and drinking places. Again, March 19, 1872, the city was shaken to the ground. Over 85,000,000 worth of property was destroyed then and upward of fifty lives were lost, and more than five hundred seriously injured. The entire republic comprises only about 7,500 square miles, 300 less than Massachusetts, and It is peopled by about 11,000 whites, 350,000 Indians, 300,000 mestizoes, and 3,000 negroes. It Is very mountainous and thickly dotted by volcanoes, ha,lng no less than eleven which have at different times contributed to tho destruction of her cities. Izalco, 4,000 feet high, is the only one which 14 unctaslngly active. The soil is good, in pla. es remarkably rich, and the country hat built up a very large trade in maize, oranges, lemons, pineapple, coffee, cotton. tobacco, plantains, and suzar. But by far the most valuable product Is Indigo, though the quantity raised has considerably decreased since independence was atta ned In 1839. Numerous fine cattle are raised, but the mineral wealth of tho country Is largely undeveloped. Rich silver mines are altogether neglected, and the iron trade, though largo deposits of .excellent ore exist, has fallen into decay. The manufactures consist of coarse cotton goods, cutlery and ironware. San Salvador has been the scone of many violent revolutions, and has many times been at war with surrounding states. She has never been whipped, but has had several close calls. The title of republic has been sustained since 1856. In all Central American revolutions San Sal. ador has been obliged,, because o ' her geographical position, to take an active part The government at present is vested tn a president and two houses of congress, the senate consistinq of twelve members, and the bops; of representatives of twenty-four members, Every male citizen over twenty-one years of a,e is entitled to vote, except domestic servants, those without !e-al o cupation, those who contract debts fraudulently, owe money past due to tho state, enter the service of a foreign power, or are of notoriously bad character. It will bs seen that the San Salvadoreans observe a decided y modern form of government Tho standing army consists of 1,000 mon, and the militia of 5,000. The Boman Catholic re igion is recognized by the state, but all denominations are protected. The republic has a very well endowed university at tho capital, San Salvador, and its work Is highly regarded. Peace has prevailed since 1886, when President Barrios was shot by successful Insurgents. The city of Jacksonville, Fla., protects catfish in the river as scavengers. It is a five-dollar fine to catch one of them and the fish seem to know it The river is fat! of them, and they vary in size from a baby to a 200-pouad man.