Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-12-08
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
The Late Earthquake in the City
Of Mexico.

ne 1>1tc uslEAC TIC Sly
Of Mexico.
Kendall, Of the New Orleans Pcaynne. gives
the following graphic account Of the late earth
quake ia the city Of Mexico:
Cry or MEXICO, Oct. ., 1877:
An earthquake. we have had earthquake
Betwee the hours of and yesterday morn
ing, and when all matters were hushed III a still
ne most profound. suddenly the earth began to
rock with a strange and fearful motion. | am
living at the house Of Pena Pena, the headquar-
tiers Of Gen. Worth, Immediately in front of the
beautiful alameda; and the first ntirnation We
had of the dreadful CONFUSION the violent
slaIf,ming Of the DOORS accompanied by the furi-
GUS jingling of the glass pendants attached to the
glass chandelier hanging and swinging from the
ceiling Of the ROOM Soon our beds commenced
rocking something after the manner Of a ship be-
Gained at the close Of storm, and then came
shrek Of immune rable women and children, driv-
en- half dressed into the streets-the dreadful
sembloss as the Mexicans call il, was upon US
Most strange and impressive was the scene dis
closed from she front windows. as reeling and
staggering we approached and opened them-to
walk steady vas impossible, SO violent were the
upheavings and oscillations of the mighty earth
The tops Of the large trees in the alameda were
swaying, the water in the reservoirs was bilow-
ing 10 and fro. the walls around us were crack
ing and gaping asunder, the wide street IN front
was filled with women aud children as well as
men, screaming and praying, and crossing them
selves in the extremity of their fright, whle our
own soldiers Keeling unsteadily in their
midst astonished and awe stricken at the strange
commotion.
The sentinels halted upon their rounds, uncer-
tain g. not knowing whatto do-the coA9ons. or
narrow lanes continued to pour forth their hum
dreds Of nffrighte ned inhabitants all seeking the
refuge of the wider streets and open squares lest
their own houses might totter and tumble upon
their heads, while OH their Bonded knees they
confessed their sins aloud and earnestly petition
ed forgiveness it was yet too late. woun-
ded officer in our house, bed ridden and apparent
w unable TO move since the hard fought battle
Of Ell Moline, came hobbling hurriedy from his
room. driven thence by the cracking of the walls
and the strange tumult from without. The still
Of the morning, so profound had been the
repose Of nature, but added to the general feel
ing Of wonder and OF awe-of CONSERVATION per-
haps should term it, fear caught from the ac
tons and countcnances Of those "native here
and to the manor Bred" those cradled AMI rock
ed amid connections of kindred nature. he
Lomes and steeples of the innumerebie churches
and converts reeled like drunken rnen--the lakes
hard by rolled their sluggish waters as though
moved by an eleme alta, strife from above. instead
of the earth in which they nestled i'll her
sore travail.
An officer in the street. about TO mount his
horse at the commencement of the conmoton,
suddenly found the animal receding from him.
Astonished, he inquired of soldier close by the
cause; but the was ignorant as himself
Tho puddles in the streets--for there had been q
severe shower the night bcfore-spread them
selves and disappeared in the pavement, so great
was tho motion, while the trees III the alameda
continued to lash their huge tops as if swayed by
unseen yet powerful hands. The shock lasted
over two minutes; perhaps should say success
sion Of shocks, for the oscillitory motion Of the
earth at short intervals became calm--whilc the
whole scene impressed every one anew with the
might the majesty, and the manifold power Of
tire Most High.
But if the street and open ways presented
spectacle moot impressive, doubly awful was the
effect produced upon our wounded men in the
different hospitals. Unconscious of the cause Of
the strange commotiou, filed With apprehension
which attack with ten folj force the disabled anl
the irfir,n and dread results from a phenorne
they must have d-crnc; akin 70 tie surernatn-
raj. the poor friicws rni hobblod from
their cots. trembling ami stricken by deep awe,
vet Not knowing whittier Ia NY The ARMIES =,
hurried hiihcr and thitlcr. the iegless hebhled ,
about in all directions. whsle the bed-ridian, thc +
PROSTATE, and tho utter helpless, prayed End pc }
tirncd not 10 hs lcft nnpro'cc ted net 70 he de-
rrtrd in extremity which their ignorance
made painfully terrifying. But soon tho earth be-
anne relieved OF her mighty throes the ssaggcr- !
ng steeples resumed their quiet the atffighted )
rose thankful from their knees, the Q
en,ineis resumed their rounds-the fury of the c
readful "temblor" was spent.
Innumerable anecdotes, and some OF them a .
nusing enough. told of the earthquake and a
y effects. An Irish soldier SAYS that the Next o
ans. unable to fight fair are adopting new sy =
um-that there is no such thing as getting a. the b
otturn Of an earthquake, and no particular fears p
being on top. Another says that this is a very II
a"itisd country, and that he is anxious to E
save-while a Yankee from "way down East
uuten,is that the whole affair is a species of
clearing up shower to the war. and that peac b
INST soon follow. A knot Of officers were dis :
lssng the move me n,s Of the earth: one <aiI i, p