The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-30 00:00:00

THE TERRIBLE CALAMITY IN BANTIA(;I).

The following particulars of this awful calamity
are published an the Panama Star and of
the Bth Jan. :
Our subject °atomise the mind in this republic—the Fedi.
edam of which make men's blood run cold, and the aortal
news of which will be received in every part of the world
with the utmost, horror. We do not remember to have
heard of such a calamity—eo sickening, so awful. The coun-
try seems to be stricken, and no wonder, under this :Mid
judgment of God. All political mitten are suspended for the
present—men can think of nothing but this calamity ; for iv
Santiago, the capital, scarce a family but mourns mine
of its number, having searched in vain for a vestige
ri their remains, while whole families have enti,ely
perished. Nearly MO animas of burned corpses have
bean taken from the awful pile and carried to the cemetery,
where fifty men ware too few to dig a hole large enough to
bury what the fire left of the richest and best families .f
Sandie. Perhaps never in any country has a calanty
dire and unmitigated, so sadden and awful, ever happen mil.
The newspapers give full accounts, but we must be content
, to relate the leading particulars as briefly as possible.
It is scarcely known how much influence the priests
of the church of Rome exercise amongst the people of
these republics ; but for some years put all reason
seems to have been banished from the minds of chiefly
i the female part of the people of Santiago, and a
; return has gradually been making to a worse than Pagan
idolatry in their worship. Since 1857, the year of the in.
motion at Rome of the Immaculate Conception of Miry,
the church of IA Campania has been the focus of dew).
tion of a large number of ladies of Santiago. and every
year, from the Bth of November to the 6th of December. was
carried on a celebration in the most splendid style, a des.
timl, in which wee orchestral music, singing, and an asto.
ebbing prodigality. of inane', lights of every kind, &c.
Every corner of the building, from the ground to the ail-
' ng, and especially about the altar, was a sea of muslin
and drapery, flooded with every variety of illumine.
tics. But not content with each display, the chief
priest lot the church, a man named " 1.-gerte,"
would outstrip the catholic world, and had in.
vented a " Celestial port-office," by which direct commu-
nication by writing was obtained with the Virgin Marv. and
in which offerings accompanying the letters were to be deje.
sited. This same man recently got up a religious raffle for
the benefit of the Virgin, but it was on the evening of the
Bth at December that these celebrations were to reach their
climax.

The church of La Companis, built in the end of the 17th
canary, had a specious nave, bat a roof of painted wood of
very recent construction. The only door of easy access was
the principal door, the small side doors opening only half,
and obstructed with screens ; near the high altar was &small
door into the sacristy. This evening was the dosing day of
the mouth's celebration—over 3,000 women and a few
hundred men had crowded into the church ; Ugarte woe
to give • closing discourse ; the Nuncio from Rome
" Eizaguirre," was also to preach, and hundreds had turned
away from the door tumble to obtain admittance. Those
who had the best places bad been admitted early by tickets,
and were mostly young ladies, the flower of the beauty and
fashion of the capital. Twenty thousand lights in long
festoons of coloured globes filled the chinch, with gauze and
drapery of every description—pasteboard mummery and
figures in every direction ; there could not have been better
preparation made for a sudden conflagration than had been
prepared for this fatal night.
The performances had not yet begun when the crescent
of lights; at the foot of the gigantic image of the Virgin over
the high altar communicated fire to the drapery overhang.
Mg, and to the pasteboard devices, and in an instant a sheet
of flame rushed along the festoons of lights to the roof, and
in • shorter time than we can write it the fire had spread
over the building in all parts. The suddenness of it was
awful, and words fail to tell of the horrors that ensued.
At ones nearly the whole people rushed to the principal
door ; fainting ladies fell down and were trampled on ; the
moue at the door who shall deecribe! As jammed, squeezed
into one solid lump, the door was blocked by the
people—arms were wrenched front bodies which could
oot be extricated, and from the lintel to the
arch of that awful passage became a crushed
heap of mangled bodies. Most of the men escaped
by the doors of the sacristy and • few by the side doors ;
but inside of the area of the church only • few minutes,
elapsed ere the lamps suspended so plentifully from the
root poured • rain of liquid fire down on the people below,
and in lees than • quarter of an hour over 2,000 persoca,
mostly females, were no more than blackened corpses.
It must have been awful. The conduct of the priests
is simply this, as reported in the Mercurio of Valparaiso :
" When the fire broke out and the people were escaping by
the sures' ty, they blocked up this door, that they might
more undistorbedly save their gimcracks ; after saving these
they all sought their own safety, except that one priest
favoured the agonising victims with his absolution, and
Ugarte requested them to die happy because they went
direct to Mary."
The news of this event will be received with deep sorrow
all over the world, and the people of Santiago may be
snored of the sympathy of all who hear of their hitter
trial.
A private letter says :—" The church was capacious
enough to contain, in my opinion, 3,000 women, packed u
they are in these countries, sitting and kneeling on the
floor on their own hand carpets, which each lady carries with
, her. Besides those who could accommodate themselves in.
side (for which purpose many took their seats outside the
church three hours before the doors were opened), nearly
500 wore left outside, sitting on the steps of the church *ear
the doom, and just close enough to hear the music or
catch a few stray words from the preacher. Unfortunately
the lamps were not fed with oil, but with camphicie, or es it
is called here, "gas portatil." The principal image of
the Virgin, in the centre of the altar, was supported by a
fine half-moon or crescent of brilliant lamps. On lighting
these an accident took place (the details are not known or
well investigated). About a third of the congregation, it
appears, managed to run oat and escape, but the rest of
the imams fell upon each other at the very doors, and,
instead of opening a peerage to let others escape,
formed • complete wedge, and the bodies remained
locked together in rows one upon the other ; these
masses becoming every moment higher and more
connect, and none being able to extricate herself.
as she was fastened or caught hold of by • dozen hands
behind her. All was confutes and alum, the bystanders
tearing their hair and running about wild in the streets
without being able to afford the least assistance. A man
on horseback, • country quay), threw his hue (or rope of
hide, which they always carry attached to the saddle) into
the church, and • thousand heads triad to catch hold of it.
Some did seine it, and were dragged out by the man and the
strength of the horse ; but the second time the same attempt
was made the into pre way. A few moments afterward'
the bystanders saw the women inside io flamer.
Their dollies had caught fire ; the fire had reached their heads,
and their hair was on fire. A great fitme came across the
church ; the doors and other wooden parts took fire. The
sufferers dropped down their beads and arms without a
shriek, and all was silence. The church was a furnace.
above and below—the roof and the victims underneath.
FATAL AL`EiDENT ON THE GREAT NORTHERN Never was there such a spectacle, nor do I think history
RAILWAT.— (THIS DAr.)—This morning, William Owen, a esa pregeut a parelleL When I reached the spot all the in•
porter in the employ of the Greve Northern Railway. is. fierier of the church was • red flame. I only heard the
siding at 9.1, Caledoeisu-road, expired in the Royal Free
Hospital, ore,re4ee,ed, !yet sight the dereoeed wee cries sad wailing of the people in the square and streets ;
employed at the King's-cross railway station, and on the the running about of wild men, and the crash of the dome
arrival of the express train bet seen 9 sod 10 o'clock, he ran I falling in the midst of the ruins. A few mientes after•
to open the doors of she carriages, the train bei lig still in motion. wards the tower or spire, also of wood, caught fire, and in s
By some means lit is suspected that he missed his hold) he fell I
• quarter of an hour was costumed and fell into the church.
o° the rails, and several of the wheels of the went
over his legs. me wee picked up and teherro Eißova There is hardly a family in Santiago that does not mourn
Free Hospital, and was seen by Mr. J. D. Hill, the resident the loss of some near relative. Two thousand victitni
medical officer. The injured man was in a state of sacrificed in • quarter of en hour, in • small enclosure
ul
collapse from loos of blood and shook to the system. The I e.,d. by 30
flesh from the left leg was tors up to the middle of '
the thigb, and the bone wail smashed all to pieces. I One et the local Paten. ,ter, Help wee
,all bat .n"
The right leg was also is a very bad state, the flesh ! Possible. A Hercules might neve "famed Die elresnth
being tore away up to the middle )(the leg, and the bone in vain to mill one from the serried mass of frenzied
also smashed. It was considered "MOM to perform am. I wretches who, piled one above another as they climbed
pntatios of both legs, and this operation was performed ' over to reach the air' wildly fastened the gripe of death
by Mr. De Hark, &misted by Mr. J. D. Hill.
Notwithstanding all that was do. the poor manapoo anyone escaping, in order that they might be dragged
expired at an early hour this morning. The =forte. out with them. Those who longed to save them were
nets man was represented as • strong man, and has left a doomed to beer the most harrowing sight that ever seared
mile, led it is stated a family. te lament untimely Ime. human eyeballs. To see motbers,siders— tenderaud timid me
Information of the sad event has been forwarded to Dr. ,
men dying that dreadful death that appals the stoutest heart
Lankester, the commie for the district
Dman'S-RAIL —UPWARDS of man—within oar yard of salvation—within one yard of men.
Or £l.O itrenvi FIRE AT POTTSJA
00 DAVAO& —This morning, at • gutter past three, who wouldhave gives their livesover and over son kr the,
• fire broke out at the residence of Horatio Keats* Esq., ' —it was maddeeing ; the screaming and wringing of hand'
elekmorslodge, Potter's-bar. The fire broke oat in OM of for help as the minoreenge Gamed came on—and thee - -
the new rooms. The house has for some time been under. , save when seine already dead with fright were burnt a
going repair, and the family are staying in tows ; the
coachman and hie wife being the only persons left to take ghastly haliffereses—their horrible agony—some in Prs!,'
care of the place. The ermines from Barest and from —some Maria( their hair mad battering their faces. Women
another asigithouriag village Wooded, but all their efforts seized is the embrace of the flames were sew to 'min:,
Proved unavailing, for the house was completely gutted and a transformation es though by an optical dolman,
the contents destroyed. The coachman and his wife had a
dazzlingly bright, then horribly lean and shrunk up, then
very narrow elleef4l. The cum of the fire is net at present
precisely amertained, but it is stated that the damage fart black statues rigidly fixed in a writhiog attitude. Th.'
exceeds 1,0004. fire, imprisoned by the immense thickness of the walls, 113.!

This afternoon the Count de Niewerkerke was
mobbed by a crowd of students of the Ecole de
Beaux Arts, who are dissatisfied with the new regu-
lations. It is said that as many as thirty young
men are arrested. _ _

Captain Rolin, one of the Emperor's aides-de-
camp, the son of General Rolin, Adjutant-General
of the Tuileries, was thrown from his horse in the
Champs Elys4es on Wednesday, and unfortunately
broke his thigh. He was carried to the Tuileries,
where he now lies under surgical care. The case is
said to be going on favourably.

THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, JAs. 30.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Para,
Captain Jamieson, with the heavy portion of the above
mails, has arrived at her anchorage off Netley Hospital.
She brings 49 passengers, two packages of spec* value not
stated, six packages of valuables, and 1,834 packages cargo,
of which 1,559 packages are bates of raw silk, moue
130,000/. sterling.
The Pera spoke the following ships during her home-
ward passage:—Oa the 19th Mat, the Vectia with the
outward Marseilles mailer of the 11th January ; on the 22nd,
the Syria with the outward mails from Southampton of the
12th January, and the 'crew steamer Arcadia, standing
S.E. ; and on the 26th January, the Ripon with the outward
mails from Southampton of the 20th January.
The Para experienced fine bright weather, with light,
variable winds, during the voyage from Alexandria to Finis-
terra. N.W. across the Bay, and N.E. winds up Chantal.
Her Majesty's ships Racoon and Psyche, and the French
frigate Perdrix, were at Alexandria. At Malta, her Ma-
jesty's ships Marlborough, Trafalgar. Phrebe, Resistance,
Cossack, Hydra, Firefly, Growler, Hibernia ; and at Gibral-
tar, the Magicienne and Procria.

Gibraltar, Jan. 25.

The following British vends have affixed here—on the
22nd, the steamer Meeeroa. 14 days from Glasgow ; on the
23rd, the steamer Asia, 12 days from London ; the steamer
Amazon, 8 days from London ; the barque Evelope,
20 days from Milford ; the steamer Alexandra, 8 days from
London ; and on the 24th the schooner Sarah, 18 days from
Swansea ; the brig Village Belle, 17 days from Garda! ; and
the steamer Syrian, 74 days from LiverpooL
Exchanges are gaoled on London, 90 days, 50i ; Peri.,
5.27 ; Mareenles, 5.28 ; Genoa, 5.72 ; Madrid, eight days
sight, I pm. ; Seville, par to die. ; Almeirs, par ; Alicante,
par. Freights unchanged.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

SATURDAY, JAIMARY 30, 8 L.

B. :LI

Nairn •
Leith

Greancatla
Galway
Valenti&

Cape Clear
Qaeenstowu
Pembroke
Brett
MINA
Rochefort
Plymouth
Weymouth
Portsmouth
Leaden
Dover
Yarmouth
ffhlekla

29.92'40; 1
..re 96 45 2
30.03.48 2
,1005 46 1
110.08 434 1
00.1943 2
130 30.20 47, 0
30.1047 1
20.11 52 1
30.12 311 2
.24'45 0

F30..3914e!
0.4414 e, 1

::~is~,

6.45ir.,.• 1
30.33 341 0
30.40 44; 2
30 51,411.
30.62 301
93.61:34 2
30.3,17 1
30.51 XL 1
30.22 33' 2
30.1c139.
10.58

E.B.E.
S.S.W.
B.W.
B.W.

-Pi:
W.S.W.
W.N.W.
S.W. i
B.L
8.8. L II
8.8. W.
8.8. K.

S.S.E.
S S. W.
S.W. I

i 6
3 3
3
2 4
2 6
6 e
3 3
. 3

8.9,& '

PROBABLI
SCNT AT. 0a h 01121111131 KOWDAT.
S.E. to &W., fresh, Connie. &W. to aL, trash.
some rata or snow. with some rain or
STOW.
W. to N. and heck Waging. NW. to aW.
.nand ft.lL,
moderate moderate trong,
to fresh, with some some rain.
rani.
E. to a. and R.W., 80171111111. &K. to W., moderate to
moderate, to fresh, strong.
generally non
S.E. to W., trash, to zasrlas.
moderate, fine.
NortliorusScoilancl. Western= Ireland, Wales, and ad.
jaceadies. Aeasthern=tnglisb Channel and Biscay Bay. lantern
=Eastward England and ilellgoland.

S.S K to W.S. W., fresh.

4I 1 20 o
4 • 7 18 0
6I 6 73 o
7 8 20 r
2! 4 20 r
2 0' 14 C
1; 4 20 it
6! 6 t 0 c
4 . 2 16 , r
1! 3 12 1 o
7I 7! 16 0
11 4 1
.14 o