Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-03-30
EARTHQUAKE IN THE WEST INDIES.
Correspondence Of the N Y. Commercial Advertiser.
POINr AU PErRE, Gaudaloupc,
February ~ 1S13

You will probably hear of the dreadful ca
lam'ty which has belallen this city, before this
reaches you; nevertheless | will give you a
brief account OF one Of the most destructive
earthquakes which we have on record
1t commenced on the morning of the 9th,
ten minutes before eleven, with u tremendous
rafting noise in few seconds the earth be-
gan to rock to and fro, having at the same
time an upward and downward motion then
followed tho tunbling Of the buildings all o.
yer the city, coming down with mighty crash,
resembling no noise ever heard; in about
thirty seconds the city was in ruins.
A few hours after, fire broke out iii various
parts of the city, and before the morning of
another day, had swept entirely over it, de-
stroying what remained after the earthquake
So that nothing is to be seen but the broken
walls and few old wooden buildings in the
outskirts OF the town. II was called by MANY
the handsomest city in the West India Islands.
II contained population Of $4,000, and the
buildings were of stone, three aud four stories
high.
But the most awful thing to be described is
the loss of human lives, and the poor human
creatures who were taken from the ruins,
mu:illated in every possible shape, which
Will not attempt About 1000 were killed
and I,5OO wounded, 300 of the latter suffering
amputation ot one or more Of their limbs
The public square was literally filled with the
dying; every vessel in the harbor has more or
less of them on board The contents of the
apothecaries' shops were destroyed, and the
physicians lost most of their Instruments in
their houses, SO that it was many days before
some could be reached for amputaton. The
Governor-General from Basseterre arrived
here next day, took up French ship, pu, as
many Of the wounded on board as could be
moved, and sent them to the hospital at Bas-
seterre.
He ordered at once that no vessel should
leave port without MS permission, and next
day put price upon all the necessarics of
life, that he who attempted to sell above that
price should be imprisoned He dispatched
at once messengers to Basseterre and Marti-
nl1ue, and before three days supply of provi-
slons came. Every vessel in the harbor was
continually surrounded with persons begging
for bread The port is now open. ] cannot
learn how long this order is to last but no
charges ON cargo or vessel are now made
since which but two vessels have arrived, the
brig Eclipse, of Bath, and brig from Sand
witch, which with the lumber in the yards is
sufficient for immediate supplies. On the
10th two French frigates, two briggs Of war;
two schooners and steamboat from Marii-
nlque, arrived with men, who at once set
themselves at work digging on, the dead, and
pulling down The broken walls which remain
ed standing. There are no banks here, and
40 particular place for the deposit of money,
each merchant having his iron sale.-The
circulation here is doubloons, dollars and
francs. A large amount of specie lies buried
under the rubbish, and the first night, while
the fire was raging, no order was taken TO
protect it consequently large amounts were
stolen.
One lady lost from her safe one thousand
doubloons and a number lost less amounts
but the next morning strong military guard
surrounded the city, since which no theft has
occurred The storehouses and shops were
well filled with merchandise, no part of which
was saved, SO that the loss of property, indie
pendent Of buildings, is very great. 1t is said
there is not single instance where insurance
was effected, and this has continued as prac-
tice for many years. The Moule, "a small place
fifteen miles from this, was laid in ruins and
many lives were lost Basscterre suffered
somewhat, but lost no lives. The probabili-
ty is that Antigua, Montserat, ST. tits and
Nevis have suffered, as the earthquake took
N. w. direction,
p. S. News reaches us here that Antigua
suffered dreadfully, the three towns being
nearly destroyed and were lief; on fire.
Ry the British brio Diadam C,nt,;, Cav.