The Scranton Tribune

EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO
The Most Severe Shocks Felt Since the Year 1886.

THIRTEEN PEOPLE ARE KILLED
Three Disturbances Take Place on a Festival Day Causing Panic in Theaters.
People Kneel in the Streets While Bells Clang in Swaying Towers.

By the United Press.

City of Mexico, Nov. 4.

The earthquake which visited this section of the republic Friday evening was the most severe which has been since 1886. Reports of damage to life and property are slow in being collected, but it is known that thirteen people were killed in this city, and at least three at outside points. Many roofs of old buildings fell and in some instances crushed to instant death the occupants of the houses. All of the killed are among the lower classes.

The earthquake was preceded by a rumbling subterranean noise followed by a movement of the ground from north to south. This was followed in a few seconds by another undulating and stronger vibration from west to east, which in turn was succeeded by a shock from northwest to southeast. The three shocks, coming as they did from different quarters, badly cracked the strongest buildings.

From telegraph advices from Central and Southern Mexico the disturbance is shown to have covered the state and federal District of Mexico, and lasted from one to four minutes. Being a holiday and one of the chief festival days of the year, the theaters were thronged and panics ensued. Several people were hurt in the rush of exit and many women went into hysterics. The songs on the stage were succeeded by impassioned prayers for forgiveness and confession of error.

The plays were generally abandoned and the audience remained in the theaters kneeling in prayer.

Ringing of the Church Bells.

Drivers deserted the street cars and coachmen their hacks to kneel in prayer along with the throng sending up their supplications. The threatened destruction was made more solemn by the ringing of bells in the swaying church tower.

In prisons where many desperate criminals are confined the scenes witnessed were curious as the walls waved and the earth cracked, threatening to entomb the imprisoned inmates. The convicts almost without exception fell upon their knees on the floors of their cells with loud voices crying out prayers and supplication. Many, supposing their time had come, shouted out confessions of past crimes. This is one of the most dramatic passages in the passing of the event and may be of use to the officers of the law in unraveling a number of mysterious crimes in Mexico.

The supply of water pipes leading from Chapultepec were broken, and the city will suffer a water famine if the pipe is not repaired at an early hour.

Political decency is not dead in Lackawanna county, the Democratic campaign management to the contrary notwithstanding.