Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-24

been able ascertain the severest portion Of this most
fearful calamity has beallcn this town; from to
TO- 900 persons are said to have persisted and have
been crushed undor III ir dwellings; the whole town
being involved in mass Of ruin The shock was
sudden, no warning sound preceded the blow, the
wretchcd inhabitants surprised in their houses perish
ed there the terrific violence of the shock spreading
ruin and dcsoation every where the scene battles |
description; my informant who witnessed the shock,
relates that the people were shaken 10 the ground
amidst the frantic shrleks and OF the wound
ed and cries of despair Of the survivors, and to
der the appalling, the wrecks of buildings
took fire, caused either by volcanic agency,
what is more probable from tho fire from the many
kitchens, and it is horrd 10 relate, that many who
would perhaps have been extrcated from the frag-
ments Of ruins alive and uninjured, either con-
sumed or shrunk into shapelcss mass by the action
of the fire. OF 500 men belonging to the garrison,
only SO escoped the structure appropriated bar
rack giving away and hurting into eternity the un
fortunate victims.
seamcn belonging to the vessels of the station
were employed in clearing the ruins, with view of
removing the wounded, well the remains of the
dead these were carried on board of barges appoint
ed for the purpose, and carried of the harbor 10 be
cast in the ocean this step was rendered necessary
as preservation against the infection which would
otherwise follow: detail of the witnessed
during this affecting event baes descriptions the re-
cital Of which chis the blood with feeling of hor-
ror, could describe with sufficient force the i'm
preston of those who have teen the melancholy spec
Of the men of war and carried 10 Basseterrc.
BAssETERRE.-The shock was severe, but of short
duraton1the injury sustained consists of some walls,
few building and sugar works.
ST. NINcENT.-The report received from this island
states that the shock experienced in slight de-
gree, consequently no injury of any importance.
An American vessel on her voyage to this at dis.
lance of 800 miles, experienced the shock in n
manner, as if the vessel had struck some shoals,
or run against wreck these statements prove the
wide and extensive range Of country embraced with
in this fearful event.
The latest intelligence received from Pone Petre
states that up to Friday the fre.was raging, that it
originated from the Kitchens ovens and smith shops
in different quarters of the town; the number Of vic
| Tins taken up from the ruins and buried already
amounted 10 1905 the labores showing reluctance
| to continue in this melancholy work, it was appre
hended that!to preserve the place from injection the
remainder would be destroyed by fire. The French
steamer Conner had arrived there from Martinique,
the officers of which, assisted by all the surgeons at
tached to the squadron, were actively employed in
assisting the unfortunates, either amputang their
| limbs or dressing their horrid wounds.
Since the above was in type which we copied from
West India papers, we have been favored with the
following interesting letter from friend at Point
| Pere,--
| Po1sr Au PErRE, Guadalupe !
| February II, lS43.
You will probably hear of the dreadful calamity
which has befalen city, before this reaches you
nevertheless will give you brief account OF one OF
the most destructive earthquakes which we have on
record.
1t commenced on the morning of the 9th, ten min
utes before eleven with tremendous rafting NOISE
in few seconds the earth began to rock to and fro
having at the same time an upward and downward
motion; then followed the tumbng Of the buildings,
all over the city, coming down with mighty crash,
resembling no noise ever heard; in about thirty Sec
onds the city was IN runs.
few hours AFTER fire broke out in various parts OF
the city, and before the morning OF another day. had
swept entirely it, destroying what remained at
ter the earthquake. So that nothing is TO be seen but
hp nj nd e. oll
the handsomest city in the West India Islands. II
contained n population of is 100 and the buildings
were of stone, three and 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, mutlated in every posi-.
BILE shape, which | will not attempt About UOU
were killed and 800 wounded, 800 of the latter suf
fcrng amputaon Of one more of their limbs. The
public square was literally filled with the dying; ev.
cry vessel in the harbor has less of them on
: board.
] The contents of the apothccarics' shops de-
sroyed, and the physicians lost most of their instru
ments in their houses, that it was many days be-
, fore some could be reached for amputation. The
Governor General from Basseterre arrived here next
day, took up French ship put as many of the wound
ed board as could be moved and sent them TO the
hospital at Basseterre
He ordered at once that no vessel should leave por
withou. his permission, and the next day put price
upon all the necessares of life that he who attempt
ed 10 sell above that price should be imprisoned lie
despatched at once messengers TO Basseterre anc
: Martinique, and before three days supply OF provs
# ions came Every vessel in the harbor was contin
l. uny surrounded with persons begging for bread
$ The port is now open.
e cannot learn how long this order is to last Blu
J, no charges on cargo or vessel now made; sine
which but vessels have arrived, the brig Eclipse
d of Bath, and big from Sandwich, which with tn
d lumber in the yards is sufficient for immediate sup
IF plies. On the 18th two French rgates, two briggs
a war, two schooners and a steamboat from Martin
e que arrived with men, who at set themselve
Il work digging the dead and pulling down the bro
IF ken walls which remained standing. There n
l. banks here and particular place for the deposit
/. money, each merchant having his iron safe. TIL
lie circulation here is douboons, dollars and francs.
n large amount of specie lies buried under the rubbish
is and the first night while the fire raging, no ord'
IS taken to protect it, consequently large amoun
c. were stolen.
J. One lady lost from her safe thousand douboor
r and number lost less amounts; but the next morI
" ing strong military guard surrounded the city snt
r which no theft has occurred. The Greenhouses ar
m shops were well filed with merchandise, no part
which was saved, so that the loss of property, ind
pendent of buildings, is very great. 1t is said the
H. is not single instance where insurance eficce
v and this has continued practice for many year
Or The Moule small place fifteen miles from this, WI
ut laid in ruins and many lives were lost Basseter
I'd suffered somewhat but lost no lives The probahlll
- is that Antigua, Montsera St. Kits and News ha
I'd suffered as the earthquake took N. w. direction