South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-06-13


of complete ruin. From four to FIVE
hundred lives were lost just in that
section ofcountry, but the extent ofthe
suffering is not yet known; probably
thrice that number have been buried in
the ruins.
The condition ofthe people who FORE
merly inhabited spacious and convens
lent dwellings, where now not even q
brick is left to mark the spot, is one Of
the utmost suffering. The poor people
who lived in the country in small reed
huts have suffered but little. Their
houses withstood the shocks, and to
them is preserved roof for shel,er.--2
Those who fed to the hills, erected lite
tie shantees, on the spots of land least
broken up, and were compelled to be
constantly at work procuring the food
necessary to satisfy hunger.
The scene during the first shock was
appalling. The trembling of every
thing around-the boiling Of the sea,
as when water is heated over fire.
the earth opening wide, giving forth
the most terrific means, and laboring
with internal fres-buildings to,tering
in every direction--and now whole
blocks Of brick dwellings rock from
their foundation. In their fall they
meet others, and all, as if locked in
death, sink, with tremendous crash,
into the gaping earth, leaving no traces
of their existence save memory and the
smoke and ashes which arise from the
confusion. The scene was one Of
thrilling and awful sublimity.
When the first in,imation Of the
breaking up ofthe convulsed earth was
received by the inhabitants ofthe cities
and towns, they, struck with horrors
ran into the middle of the wide streets
and knelt in fervent prayer to God to
save them from threatening destrucs
ton. Our informant who was among
the number, says that he saw families
run from their doors, and just as they
left their thresholds, their buildings,
mostly brick, came tumbling down af-
ter them. 1t is most fortunate thing
for the people of the country, that the
shock came at midday. Had it taken
place in the middle hoursof the night,
they would have been compelled to flee
for safety without even the one suit Of
clothing they now have, making their
sufferings much greater.
Il is a matter ofhistory, that between
the years 1920 and 1852, five great
earthquakes occurred in Chill. Thas
on the 18th March, 1857, destroyed
great part of the capitol that Of June
Is, 1880, drove the sea against the Ci%
.y Of Conception, and overthrow its
walls +; and that Of May 26, 1851, come
p'eteIy destroyed that city, which was
again inundated by the sea, and levell.
ed with the ground all the fortresses and
villages lying between lat. "a and 40
south. The shocks continued at inter-
walls more than month. Not an ms
dividual human life, however, was lost
on this occasion except some invalidss
who were drowned in Conception. In
1741, Conception was rebuilt on the
north side of the river Biobio, about
league from the sea-.
The subjoined letter from gentles
man at Talcahuana, received at the
Exchange News Room, contains the
following interesting particulars:
"TALeAHuANA. March 1, 1885.
"On the morning of Friday, the 2Olh
of February, 1885, about twenty mine
utes past IL O'Clock, we were visited
by one of the most awful earthquakes
ever experienced by the oldest inhabi-
tan,s of this place. The morning was
calm and serene, and will prove an e.
ver-memorable date to the many miseA
rable souls who fed TO and are now inc
habiting the barren hills. The first
shock lasted about four minutes and a
hal, causing the mountains and valleys
to roll like the waves Of the sea. Durs
ing the severity Of the first shock (Which
was SO great that person could scarcea
ly keep upright) looked round mos
ment to meet my fate, but am spared TO
be thankful. and may consider myself
one of the fortunate in making my ess
cape from the falling, but now PROSTATE
ruins. Conception, city containing
$4,000 inhabitants, is one heap of rus
ms Z; being built principally of BRICK
There is not even one habitable DWELL
ing left standing within the limits Of
the city, and for leagues around. The
shock came from southeast course,
pIoslraiing every thing 10 its WaV.