The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-09-12
Correspondence of U, S. Gazette.
SAN FERNANDO.

How unfortunate has been the year
1914 for Venezuela what evils have
we suffered; and how much more are we
yet to suffer before this fatal year is sep
ulchred in the abyss of time. We have
now to present relation ola new-a
tremendous catastrophe to our fellow cit
liens.
San Fernando may now be said not to
exist ! The river began to rise in May
last, and continued till it covered the en-
tire surface of the land, and in spite OF
our efforts to save ourselves by opposing
barriers and bikes to The force Of the wa
tiers, the Apure has at last reached the
hight oftwo yards alb owe the general lie
vel of the land, and has inundated the
entire country.
The streets are so many rivers in which
the rapid current is scoring and penetra-
ting deeper and deeper; already deep
wells and bitches are formed, which after
the waters have retired to the bed of the
river, will require much earth, much
time, and many thousands of dollars to
obitera'e and level.
The Municipal council met, in con-
junction with the principal inhabitants,
at o'clock on the evening of the 10th
of July; and then determined to remove
the families TO San Juan de Payara;
they put in requisition all the barges and
small vessels, and the day following be-
gan the movement.
San Juan and Carmnguan have been
filled with the emigrants from our deser-
ted city, and there now remain but very
few families, and these are enduring a
thousand suferings and privations; some
Of them have taken refuge in anchored
barges. There is now no such river as
Apure: 1t embraces in its course the
Portuguezo, the Guarico, the Payara,
and the Aranca it stretches "a leagues
in width, reaching from Banco Largo, in
the province of Caracas, to beyond the
Cunaviche in the Apure. And in this
ocean of fresh water there are only to be
seen some small islands on which man
and beasts, cattle and dogs, wild beasts
and reptiles closely press, flying from
the fatal element which threatens TO de-
your them.
We caught two tigers in the very CEN
ter of the population, and have killed
many snakes, q caiman was encountered
and killed in that which was once one of
the principal streets of the city
There are now no houses, no estates,
no seedtime; all has been leveled and de-
stroyed by the fury ofthe nundation; nor
have we even place in which to bury
the dead. Should the flood continue a
month longer, we shall see the dead bod
les Of men, women and children, with
those ofwild beasts of the mountains,
and domestic animals, all floating togeth-
er upon the devastating waters.
San Fernando, July 20, 1874.
Loss ofthe Sloop Pioneer On Satur-
pay night at 10 p. M, off Huntington,
the sloop Pioneer, Capt. CosweIl, was
run into by steam propeller, hence for
Hartford, and sunk in ten minutes. The
crew had hardly time TO get in the boat
and saved nothing. Capt. g. did moi
learn the name of propeller. He told
the Captain that his vessel was sinking
and asked assistance, but he kept on his
course, and paid no attention TO them
The wind was very light, and moor
light night: Had the wind beer
blowing fresh, all on board must have
been lost. Ca pit. G. and crew were pick
ed up about an hour after by the schoon
er John w. Smith, from Fair Haven
for New York. The Pioneer belonge,
to MIR Dennis, and was from Beverl,
with cargo of dried Goldfish. SlooI
and cargo partly insured.