The native American., 1839-04-27
EFFECT OF AN EARTHQUAKE.

Bu'ying alive.-Alier that the bodies of all
the victims had beed recovered, the melancholy
fact was proved, that full one-iourt of the num-
Der would have been saved, bad prompt means
been found 10 dsencumber them from their situa-
tlon. The men were found to have expired in
the act Of making desperate efforts at disengage-
meni; but the women were GENERALLY in all a,ti-
tude of despair their hands extended over their
heads, the fingers convusivelv entwiued amongst
their hair. Not so with mothers who persisted
with their offspring these all appeared to have
been careless as to themselves, devoting all their
thoughts 10 the preservation Of the infant. With
their bodies extended over their little ones, they
seemed to hope to save them or, with arms and
hands extended towards the spot where tie child
was found, it seemed that, although unable to
touch 1t, because Of the few intervening ruins,
they had the horrid consciousness of the vicinity
Many signal example were exhibited of the he
rolsm and vigor Of men, and of the indomable
power of maternal affection. An infant was res
cued, clinging to the breast of it's dead mother,
and perfectly recovered, after being three days
under the ruins. An uncle Of my old friend and
comIade, General William Pope, was dug out
alive on the fifth day. A lady with her child was
liberated by the sole labor of her husband, after
being two days buried. Three days afterward,
she was brought to bed and, together with her
child and husband, lived many years. Being
asked what sensation she felt in her horrid tomb,
she replied, IS waited and waited with conf
dencc, knowing my husband was alive A girl
Of eleven years of age was dug out on the sixth
day, and lived. Another, aged sixteen, named
Elosa Basi, remained eleven days, with an in
fant in her arms, which on the fourth day died
so that, their being delivered, the latter was in
state of putridity. The poor girl, Eosa,
could not possibly liberate herself from the corpse
Of her little sister, being closely hemmed in by
the ruins. slight glimmer of light penetrated
to her tomb, which enabled her to count the re-
turns OF day. But other authority irrefragaby
established the facts Of this surprising case and
those already mentioned, Many cases of pro-
ongcd vitality in animals were more surprising
than those Of the human species Two mules
lived under a mountain Of ruins, one twenty two
days, the other twcnty-three. A hen lived also
twenty-five days, and two fat pigs thirty-two
days. All OF the human species, as well as the
hrntes, thus ushered again to day, preserved, for
a length OF time, a sort Of stupid weakness, no
desire to eat, an unsuitable thirst, and an almost
blindness. OF the number saved, many men re-
turned to their occupations healthy and in good
spirits, Willie others remained ailing and melan-
choiy. This difference was supposed in great
par! to depend on the period of their inhumalion,
and on the loss or preservation of hope in the
different parties. The girl Eloisa Basil, altho'
very handsome, and treated with every kindness
and amusement by her relations, was never after
known TO move her lips into any thing like
smile. All those who were buried for any length
| OF time. when nerrogated about their sensations,
made for answer, So far as | remember fur
Their thought not, and know nothing" Most of
those persons died at premature ages. Eloisa
BASIL, oppressed with melancholy, refused to
marry: neither would she retire TO convent. as
recommended by some Of her pious friends
Her only pleasure seemed to be in solituLc.-
Seated under n tree, she would sit for hours. her
eyes avered from every habitaion, and fixed upon
The sea. On the appearance Of an infant, she in
voluntarily turned her her head aside
foiond Maccroni's Hemoirs
Wherever Won a flower in cottage garden
or a bird at the window Won nav feel sure that