Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-10-12

by the ARRIVAL OF the Mexican schooner
Fortune at m Orleans, on the 18th, the
editors Of the New Orleans Picayun hay e
intelligence Of q late date from Mexico.
The first and most important news is
that the town Of Matamoras has been des-
troyed by ahnrricane. It occurred on the
night Of the 4th ult., and was more ire
mendous in its effects than the hurricanes
Of 80 and 81. More than two-thirds Of
the houses Of the city were prostrated and
the remainder more or less injured. Asto
the extent cf the loss Of life we are not
accurately Informed. The correspondent
Of El Gems = de Tera Cruz estimates the
whole loss at above two hundred souls.
In writing of Matamoras, the editors
have nothing to mitigate the extent Of its
ruin. They describe it as beautiful city,
abounding in luxurious habitations, and
provided NOT only with necessaries Of life,
but many of its most refined Injuries. III
moment, as it were. every thing was
laid waste. We cannot do better than to
copy portions Of the Courier's TRANSACTIONS
from El Dit vio Gobierno, beins the re .ort
Of the first Alcalde ofthe city 10 the gem
eral government:
Except the houses Of Don Pedro Jose
de Ia Gaza, OF Donna Juana Peraa and the
new church, there is not building that is
not much damaged, or which is not heap
of ruins. The following persons have
persisted in the crash; an infant son Don
Mariana Aguado, an artillery soldier;
three women are badly wounded, but still
survive. Among those buildings are the
artillery barracks, and the hospital Malta,
containing nearly one hundred sick, the
wall Of the prison, and half Of the wall Of
the graveyard. To tell every thing in one
word-theI greater part Of the population
are compelled 10 live in shantees built
among the ruins oftheir houses. leave
your excellency to imagine the miserable
condition Of all sorts Of produce growing
in the fields.
The sick were carried to-day to the bar
racks of sappers, the park 10 the church,
which has lost one tower and half another
the cannon to the lower story of the con-
sistorial hbuses-p,isoners Of all kind have
been well guarded and not one has es-
capped.
The greatest destruction occurred at the
mouths OF the Rio Grand. This river de-
bouches BY the Boca del Rio and Boca Chi
ca; at each of these there were settlements,
and as one paper informs us, over three
Observation-Disclosures. Both were entirely
submerceh. A letter, dated August 9th,
states that the remaining Of siNty-four pco-
pie who persisted IT the Boca del Rio had
already Teen found and inferred. and that
it was ascertained that as many as twenty
seven were destroyed at the other usDuth
Of the river. Il is presumed that many
more have persisted Whose names We're
unknown. One paper, which estimates
the loss at over two hundred, gives lis,
Of few who escaped in boats. They
were connected with the Custom house,
The Mexican papers are full Of detail.
showing of how frightful nature was this
catastrophe,
The Cburrier Francois states that as soon
as the President heard Of this disastrous
event, he ordered without the least delay
that relief should be transmitted to the I'M
fortunate. It adds, "A letter from Mata-
moras Of the 9TH inst. has just been COM
municated 10 US. II depicts in detail the
immense ruin which has fallen on that
city. Misery is at its height among its
unfortunate population, and if they are not
speedily relieved, those who have sur
viyed the catastrophe may perish ofamine.
Never was charity solicited for more
overwhelming calamity"
Our new Minister to Mexico, ex-Gov-
ernor Shannon, of Ohio, has reached his
destination, but we are serry to say, minus
his ready money and any thing he may
have had ABOUT his person. On his route
between Vera Cruz and the Capital, the
stage il which he was passenger was
waylaid, and the Minister robbed Of what
ever he had about him,
Gen. Ampudia has published an elab-
crate defence Of his conduct towards Sent
manat and the Tobasco prisoners. 1t is a
miserable lame affair and admits the truth
Of all the revolving accusations brought
against him. He is to command the army
against Texas.
One of the pleasant features Of the news
is the release Of the following individuals
confined at Perote, viz: Capt. VIM. Ryon,
Col. w, F. Wilson, the famous and eificient
old Sheriff Of Galveston Island, Wallace
James Armstrong, and Thos. Tatem. The
same day that the news Of the release Of
these prisoners was communicated to them,
the prison was visited by the Hon. Mr..
Shannon, then on his way to Mexico. o.
course he was most warmly welcomed
He inquired particularly into the circum-
stances Of each Of the prisoners, snd into
the general mode Of treatment which they
received.
1t may appear rather singular that while
Mr.. Shannon was humaneN acquaintine
himself with the state Of the prisoners al
Perote, he received from the Governor d
the Castle an order for lis protection OF
the road to Puebla. As it turned out, The
escortIiailed near Puebla, and the robbery
took place which we have mentioned above
The feelings Of the prisoners toward.
the Gpvernment q Texas, we hardly nees
say are deeply embittered. They deem
themselves iorsaken BY the sole govern
ment which they owe allegiance, and il
fighting whose battles they were made pris
cSersI and yet they breathe nothing but en-
thusid stic regard for the 'slone STAR
Aslto the preparations which Mexico