The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-03-20
From the Journal Of Commerce.
GREAT EARTHQUAKE OF FEBRUARY sth.

We have advices from most of the West India
Islands in the range Of the late appalling earthquake
Only the windward or easternmost cluster OF those
Islands have suffered material damage. Guadalupe,
Ton which the town of Point Petre situated and
the neghboring small island Of Montsera appear TO
have been the focus Of the explosion volcano on
the former island by the captain OF the GrIf
fon, arrived at ST. Thomas IL issue thick and sue
cessiye volumes of flames and Motserat Is stated TO
have been enveloped in smoke or dust, as # thrown
up from volcano. We think the report OF the sink
ing of this island will prove to be incorrect. We
proceed 10 give some details.
GUADALoUPE--Captan Knowles, of schooner FL
len, which arrived here yesterday in IL days from
St Thomas states that before he left had been
received from Point Petre, Guadaoupe that every
building was thrown down by the conclusion, and
from ten to fifteen thousand persons killed
The terrific 1t was breakfas hour with
the inhabitants. Captain Fisher, of an American
vessel, when the shock commenced, sitting IN the
lower story of store fronting the water and sprang
for his boat at the end OF short wharf In an IN
slant he at the end of the wharf, but the wharf
and the boat both rocked fearfully that he hes-
tated Just then the ground opened beneath his feet
Several other Captains with Captain Fisher at
the time and all saved. Vessels were SO much sha-
ken as to be in great danger.
MIR. Ridgeley, a comedian from Philadelphia, was
on the lower floor Of a hotel, and sprang into the
street. On all sides he saw men throwing them
selves upon their faces on the ground. In another
instant the stone walls fell and buried all beneath
them, except few who were so fortunate as TO find
themselves above The rUns When Mr.. Ii. recover
ed himself he unframed, though all the persons
he had Just seen hopeessly buried. His little
son. a lad of seven years of age, the first object
he saw, springing to embrace his father How they
came so near together Mr. Ridgeley could not I'M
derstand, as the lad was, at the commencement Of
the shock in the third story of house four squares
off. The boy says that all he rememb, rs Is that
when he heard the cry Earthquake he jumped out of
the window. The boy was sitting at breakfast with
tie family and all the family persisted except small
girl, who, after the shock, was standing by the side
OF Young Ridgeley. Mr.. Ridyeley found his trunk
shattered To pieces, thirty yards from the hotel His
clothes we're very badly torn, and hi. hat gone but
he was not injured. The earth rocked so that man
could not keep his feet. IL opened in several places
and closed again, swallowing up people and build
nes and in some instances the wafer spouted up six
ty and seventy feet. Many large openings remained
About two-thirds of the inhabitants persisted OF
the garrison OF eight hundred men, only seventy sur
v.ved.
A furious fire broke out Immediately after the
earthquake which ragged for some days, adding great
IN 10 the horrors Of the scene. Some persons after
having been almost extricated from the rubbish
were necessarily abandoned 10 their fate, on account
of the approach of the fire. The cries of the people
buried under the ruins were heard for several days
aud a large number were dug out in mutilated aud
suffering condition Some il was hoped would sur
's
stencil from sulphur at first, and from the decayng
bodies after two days, was niolerable.
-Four thousand bodies had been dug out Of the
ruins Of Point Petre by the sailors in the harbor and
taken out to in boats, in order to prevent pes
lence.
The survivors were reduced 10 suchawfu extremi.
ties for food that they rushed intercept cart
loads Of canes, which had been ordered in for them
from tie country.
Among the killed is the American Consul. He
a.. latll. -.
en- and put on board American vessel in the har.
Dor but died the next day.
The streets of Point Petre are narrow, and the
houses almost all of stone, and from three 10 FIVE
stories high. The number of inhabitants learn
from an old ship-master well acquainted with the
A st. CroiS paper Of February l6, with which we
have been favored by friend, says
"The mouth Of the harbor Of Point Petre, which
before the event capable Of admitting ships Of
the heaviest burden, became completely cboked up
and forever rendered impossible by rocks being forced
| I'D from the bottom Of the sea. The vessels which
were at the time in ort, will II is feared, never be
got out among them many large ships from France,
| and other vessels from America.
4" An order came down for 1000 barrels Of -four,
300 barrels Of beef so tierces Of rice 80 casks OF
| fish, &C. all Of which have been procured and sent
tonight, by French schooner and the Romp, Of ST.
| Croix "
contribution to the amount Of $4,000 was also
| raised, and forw arded by the Romp.
| ANrIGUA.-ln less than three minutes, says the
| Antigua Herald the earthquake laid PROSTATE or
| otherwise SCI ously injured almost every windmill
steam engine, and every set Of sugar works on the
island, rendering useless almost every church and
chapel as the few that are LETT standing are so ser.
o,sly rent and injured TO be unsafe even for q
temporary shelter, and therefore dangerous in the
extreme Tor public worship.
| The Cathedral, our ancient, venerable and beauti
ful Parish Church (or ages the principal ornament
Saint john has been seriously injured 10 be to
! tally unfit for divine worship. The roof having beer
twisted from It's original position on the walls nofn
threatens early terrific fall and the walls are ),
severely rent aud broken to have been rendered
utterly u,eless until they shall have been thorough,
rebuilt from the foundation. The Tower has alsC
been so severely split and shattered that serious in
Jury is threatened TO the ad accent houses and the
occupants, as its fall IS seriously apprehended shout,
there come on heavy fall OF rain.
The Court House, Public Arsenal, Police Office
Lunatic Asylum, Common Jail House Of Correction
Military Barracks, Her Mslesty's Custom House, an,
several Warehouses have been so seriously injured
to require very extensive rebuilding and repairs. Iii
Exceilency issued Proclamation yesterday, com
handing Friday next to be set apart day Of so
| Tenn thanksgiving TO Almighty God for hts grca
mercy vouchsafed to us in protecting our lives iron
tho imminent danger occasioned by the dreadful an
unparalleled Earthquake Of Wednesday last.
THE immense loss Of property occasoned by hi
visitation will require several millions Of pounds ste
ling TO replace The present most uxuriant and arg
quantity of Canes which crown the fields viii M
syoidaby be sacrificed for want of mills TO grind
) Sugar Works to manufacture tic present. bountil,
standing crops
1 THIS sad catastrophe was preceded by an extrao
diuary aud alarming rise Of the tide 10 the extent
. four feet above its usual flow
We have not been able to ascertain the accura
number Of lives that have been lost on the occssC