Terrific Shock at Tachienlu but no Loss of Life: Former Victim's Funeral From Our Own Correspondent, Tachienlu, Sze., June 15.
Last night about 9 p.m. a terrific earthquake again shook the Tibetan border. Those familiar with earthquakes say this one was quite different from that which shook the border on March 24. The earthquake in March was something like a rolling—swell, the one last night was like a terrifle collision, The deaths re ported in the last earthquake number 1,300. The people around us here, Tibetan and Chinese, are now getting somewhat alarmed. Here in Tachienlu (9,000 feet high) we are surrounded by stupendous mountains. The city in its busiest part is not more than 300 yards from one side of the mountain to the other.
To-night, about the firing of the evening gun, the whole city was thrown into consternation by the fearful noise of falling rock. Immediately behind the Confucian temple the mountain gave way and came crashing down on that part of the city. Viewed from our windows, the—sight which met our gaze, was indeed unnerving and the terrific crashing of falling and rolling rock paralyzing. In a few minutes thousands of people. Tibetans and Chinese, were streaming to the scene of disaster. The local official Han was immediately on the spot ascertaining what damage has been done. Hund-yeds of Chinese entered the Confucian temple when broken rock began to fall again, and then there was a general stampede for the main street. Darkness very soon covered the city and the scene of disaster, so not much will be known till to-morrow morning.
To-day there was a long procession through the streets of Tachienlu, being part of the burial rite performed for the wife of the Chinese official who was killed by the earthquake at Drang-gu on March 4. Her home is in Chengtu and they intend to bury her there. A company of Chinese soldiers, marching very slowly, preceded the Spirit table; then followed a number of Tibetan lamas blowing different kinds of trumpets and horns, and these were followed by Chinese priests beating drums and gongs.
June 16.
The damage done by falling rock caused no loss of life. One man had his head smashed, but not very seriously. Part of the Confucian temple was carried away and immense boulders rolied into different houses and compounds but no loss of life has been reported: During the night debris continued to roll down the mountain, and the dwellers in
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