Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-06-02
rpr.T EARTHQUAKE IN THE ISLAND
or 81. Domingo. = Great destruction Of
LITE and Property.

HaItien, WHICH occurred on the 7th uli.,
and destroyed an immense deal OF proper.
ty and thousands Of lives. II is singu.
lar fact tina. at Bayou Teche, Louisiana,
an earthquake was experienced on The
same day, and the waters Of the river and
lake rose about six feet. The following
account we find in the Courier, translated
from the Port su Prince Patriot oil Inc
11th inst
On Saturday the 9TH instant, at twenty
minutes past seven, in the evening, we
experienced some severe shocks OF an
earthquake, which put the whole town IN
commotion. AT n1r3 day large meteor
was perceived passing to the east. The
heat was excessive, and thick clouds hung
over the neisbboring mountain, going in a
direction from the southeast TO the north
east. The seamcn who were in the roads
report that they felt the shock before they
saw the houses shake, which would midi
cate that the shock came from the east.
Many persons, however, think they OBJ
served that the oscillations came from the
north and went south.
There were two very decided shocks,
the first was not as long as the second /:
the latter was the most violent and lasted
about three minutes. All abandoned
their houses. and the streets were filled
with the affrighted population. Blu, lit
tie more, and Port au Prince would have
been the scene Of disaster similar 10
that Of ITO, fatal year which occurred
TO the minds Of every one. There is
scarcely single brick or stone house
which has not suffered damage. Some,
it is said, are scarcely habitable. The
facade of the Senate House on which is
scuIptured the arms of the Republic sur
mounted by the tree of liberty. were de.
tlched from the edifice and broken into
pieces by tho fall. The interior Of the
building has also received some damage.
In the night between Saturday and Sun
day, two shocks were again felt, but not
US violent as the first, one at 10 O'Clock
1 and the other at IL. AT ii o'clock in the
morning OF Sunday, came another shock,
mass at church was interrupted, and those
officiating at it ran away and many fe.
males tainted. Monday, at eleven in the
morning, another shock.
The weather during these three days
has had lowering and at times threat
ening appearance. Monday evening, a
little rain with excessive heat before and
afterwards; night cool. Tuesday,
change of weather, return OF the breeze
aud appearance Of rain. In the evening
at eight o'clock, the weather was stormy
and every thing seemed TO indicate an
abundance of rain. The hopes we en-.
,ertained Yesterday have not been real.
lzed. On Wednesday we were awoke at
few minutes before five in the morning,
by another earthquake.
During these latter days il appears to
Us as if the earth on which we were walk
ny was constantly quaking.
SAINT MARCIA letter from this town
which has been communicated to us, in
brms US that there too, the earthquake OF
Saturday last, was felt with the greatest
Violence; many houses have been so
ou h shaken that they threaten every
instant 10 fall down. On some planta-
hons in the neghborhood of the town very
,eat damage has been done.
GoNAIvEs, May s, 1912.
icsjterday afternoon an earthquake
" IS felt IN this city, which was so violent
mat most Of the houses in it were thrown
own. A, the same time, in consequence
the shock, n fire broke on, in the
rothecary's shop Of Mr.. lnvernezzcs
cd consumed in a few moments an en-
re block. The h,mrs destroyed every
hog that came 10 their way; there was
ts drop Of water in the town.
Al, the house which have not been burnt
oSn, have been injured by the earth
mkc, and this morning the shocks oe~
r every quarter of an hour. The shops
Mtdame John Jouffersts and NJ. Du-
" have fallen prey TO the flame. The
ops Of NJ. Richard Dauphln and NJ. Os'
?, built of stone and brick, have fallen
wn. House and shops are inaccessi-
and we write these hurried lines in
street. The whole population has
sscd the night in the middle of the
aets. or the merchanze, which the
rchsnts had been obliged to pile up in
public square, great part has been
~n. 1t is impossible at present TO es-
nate the extent Of the loss. The
rch, the prison, the national palace,
treasury, the arsenal and the house
Oh was getting ready Tor the colohe|
nmanding this district, are now moth
more than heap Of ruins.
Ia short, no one has escaped the calam-
Now, while we arc writing, the fire
otrely extinguished, but the sky looks
ea,ening ami we are afraid of more
cks. If unfortunately our fears should
-oalz d, there will be an end of the
houses remaining standing, and Go.
YES will be no more. The first and
ctpal shock lasted about five minutes,
was followed during the night by
than twenty others, which, though
$, violent, were equally fearful.
s now 8 o'clock IN the morning
half an hour has passed since We had
aer violen, shock. The number Of
sls killed and wounded is no, yet
yn. Al the prisoners who were not
under the ruins Of their prison, have
'prd, God grant that the Capital
not have been afflicted with smi'
usfifune.
ara HNrIEN, Wednesday 8 o'clock
cvening.-Mcs, deporable news is
fsding throughout, the city. 1t has
L. N-...ls L.. -. r al