Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-04-23
From The Iiaecni Chronicle Of Fe5. I2ih 1899.
EARTHQUAKE AT MARTINICE.

the eAitht OF uAmape committed ~ M1T'nlqnr tnd
81. Lucia. parts of friends embarked irom Kings
town on the 18th ut., and after agreeable but
protracted voyage. bore up for Port Cor, as it is
eroncously. suspect, written. For) Royal at 10
o'clock at night On Wednesday 30tb.
No living being opposed our progress no one
greeted our approach. A solitary sentinel on the
Savanna merely chacnedged, as we made our
way through totiering streets and cncumbcred
thorougiarcs, silen, as the grave. Any language
OF mine is incapable Of doing Justice to such a
scene OF absolute dissolution, PROSTATE porticos,
diapidated mansions and piles of stone and mortar
eloquent in ruin.
On the following morning and forenoon we re-
peated our visit, and yet more in detail went over
the spots SO remarkably striking the previous night;
but first Impressions retaiaed their force All the
public buildings are either totally destroyed or so
rent or thrown down to be useless. Whole
lines of streets in the meaner suburbs were en-
toned with the inmates by the falling in of the
loftier stone dwellings in their vicinity But of all
the remarkable spectacles in this accumulation Of
horrors none can vie with that presented by the
arched fragments of the convcnt--thc ta,tered
shreds Of the old, and the site Of what was the new
| hospital.
This splendid building. but recently completed,
which cost 100000, is entirely razed TO the
|
soil of the open space yard in front is white
from the dust into which it crumbled with its per-
sona PATIENTS 46 in number, Of "a were military.
| An idea may be formed Of the impetus ofthe earth
quake in this quarter. when mention that between
ten and twelve feet in front of the base lie the iron
ratings which ran along it. Adjoining the mass
cs OF shattered planks and s,rewn fragments is the
cemetery buryng ground. Hitler all the killed
after being gathered together from different points
and deposited in The dead carts on Ia Place dArms
and that of des Quarres Noirs, were huddled into
two enormous dtches dug for the occasion, which
were Instantly filed up with quick lime. Some
without arms or legs, others wanting an eye or q
nose, women, whose breasts had been torn off
were plunged in, without distinction of age, rank
or sex and (says a French wrter,) as these has,
ty sepuchres could not contain the of dead
bodies which clogged them up, the assistants were
compelled to squeeze crowd and stamp them. as
one packs herring in a barrel! Well might ht
doubt the evidence of his senses
We found ii difficult to ascertain the exact NOR
tally. It would appear that about 900 sufferer
were Dug out Of the ruins and in 500 of these liz
was extinct. The others carried to the eriil
cry barracks, fitted up as temporary hospital. an
nothing can be better than the arrangements Their
perfected. Amputation was resorteG TO in numer
GUS instances, bat none survived the operation.
Government tries to conceal the extent of tn
calamity 10 order TO reinspire confidence in the col
, onists but it admits loss of 260 dead, and abou
an equal number wounded. Having been courte
ously received by his excellency the Governor
Adm. de Moges, and conversed with his aid de
camp and various respectable individuals, ! sha
now detail such further incidents as may probabl
crafty the curiosity of our fellow-cizens.
All are agreed that tls awful visitation of Prov
idence was tempered with mercy. If, instead Q
T, happening at o'clock in the morning it had take
place few hours sooner, not q soul could hay
escaped, as the town was buried in sleep out OF
I curing when the laboTing population had for tl
most part repaired to their wonted occupation
G they whose houses first fell, owing to the greI
: weight Of larger mansions avoided The fate whc
engulfed their residences. The greatest alalii
. occurred in the streets, which being narrow. al
built with great strength. were choked up by I'll
falling Of missiles. &c. Cases Of individual caaG
, ity were related to US, piliabe in the extreme
One gentleman said that having gone early TO ii
II public promenade he beheld the earth yswn be
! fore him. and shut again. while The trees OF d
9 side nodded like the waving Of soldiers pumes.
He bethought him Of wife and family, and 70
A early back into The town but his progress ia
pedcd b. a thick cloud Of lime and ashes. whic
!, had nearly blinded him he reached his doneat
: hearth st last aud fond oil alive bot an inlimat
: friend bad been wouaded by fragments which brol
u both legs and Thighs aud be fingered 20 neyPfc
u sibe agony for tNo days, d1nng which be lace
l. sanity sl'cd on him 10 terminate is suffering
n Catering public bath 10 refresh ourselves. q
> poor ~ner burst into tears ie.lng Us she cou
l. not offend 10 rs az nos shr could ou!y mourn +
r a Fon-in lew snd grand children untimely snaeh'
e from her arms. A custom-aluse otacef exPlan'
y bow lie had been twice overturned 10 the street
sud bruised Ia several places, bui Hheu be at lcng
~ arose tie screams, groans and cries foT mere
/ beggared bis descriptions. and absolutely barrow
hs feelings. Il thought" were hls osn word
y the day 81 Judgement tad arrived" Tae first
i experience the SHOCK il Is believed. the se
e men Of the feet (reeenily from Mexieo) lying
q tie rosdstead.
N Tie vessel bounded IS II they lad struck on
d esf sh.ie fisAtBi 6eionsuoa reached 'isir car