The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-20

at length spread among the plantations, whore itl
ravsges have been truly frightful. The sugar and
coffee estates, especially tho former, have lost moro
than one half Of their Iaborers. Whole districts
Of the tobacco "yegas" have beon abandoned By
the "vegueros." The sufferings Of tho poor white
and colored population has been very great entire
families having been swept of by this cruel disease,
in many instances, IL is feared without any assist
anoe Whatever. Until within day or two, no one
could be got to bury the dead, which were left OK
posed, purifying in the sun, piled in heaps
at the "Campo Santo" The excitement pro-
duced by the lato severe shock Of earthquake
seemed to stay for time the progress of
this fearful malady, only to break out with
renewed virulenoe. Ii Is computed that not
less than 5000 persons have been carried off by the
disease in this city alone, and that, too, wi Thin the
short time OF five or six weeks; the mortality even
now is not less than seventy eighty day. aud there
are many whose deaths have not been given in to
the Registrar. l learn that it has booA equally
fatal in its progress on the north coast of this
ince how II will end, God only knows The loss
Of life and capital is already too great for this dvs
ion Of the Island be able to recover it's former
brilliant position. "A Added to all this, terrible
the city in ruins SlghtsI shocks have been felt
here ever since, but at q m of the 18th ult We
were all awakened from our beds by shock greater
than any we had hitherto experienced Tho beds
and other furniture were turned in opposite direc
tions, and can only describe it as a combination Of
all kinds of movements. The CONSERVATION was
general People rushed out of their falling houses
most Of them half naked. Indeed, the scene
was the most appalling | ever witnessed. The
dead and dying, victims Of the prevailing pest, has
tly brought nts the streets the oouohes Of past
and present suffering, the glimmering of torches
direction from the crashing houses, presented ono
OF the most fearful pictures ever witnessed Fortu.
nately, the oscillations Of tho earth were Of su-
GENTLY long duration previous to the final tremen-
q hat nanp hon ttrrao aonk D.
escape IRON the falling ruins, and therefore have,
as on the OCCASION of the 10th August fow fatal &C
cdents from this cause to record.
The miraculous escapes Of several of my friends
were quite wonderful. One young gentleman awoke
and found the four walls of his room fallen down,
without his having received the slightest injury,
although an immense stone crushed into atoms
chair ut his bed side The once beautiful city Of St
Jago is utterly ruined, and such is the fear which
has penetrated the hearts Of the unfortunate nhab
tants. through the terrible ordeas which they have
lately suffered and arestil undergoing that they
are reduced to utter despair. Those who have
means are flying, as if from doomed city, and
others are gathering together whatever Of their pro-
perty remains to them. to immigrate to moro fG-
v0rablo position Of the island.
1t is the opinion Of all that this portion Of tho
eastern division Of Cuba never from the
repeated blows which it has pleAfed the Almighty,
in his infinite wisdom, to infict upon these unhappy
people. ! regret to add that the people feel very
bitterly the brutal manner in which they have been
abandoned to their sad fate by Captain General
Cahedo, who has done nothing towards relieving
the destitute condition Of the poorer classes Some
$50 000 was received here some time ago, and q
great parade vas made by the Havana journals that
that sum was to be appropriated to the relief Of the
unfortunate Inhabitants, instead of which il has al
most entirely been swallowed up in making pro-
vilions for the troops, and by the Spanish officials
hear the Inhabitants on al sides contrast, in
words Of burning indignation, the conduct of tho
pre- sent Governor General Of the island and that
which would hav, been pursued by the generous ani
noble hearted C0Echa under the like circumstances,
and they appear to feel how very, very much they
have been tho loser By the remova. Of that honest
and upright chief.
have noticed vo-y great activity Of late here,
for their slave trading speculations Lam told they
are again about to engage very extensively in ex-
petitions to the coast Of Africa, and that two
sells hare been bought and ars fitting out in
this port for that pcrpots. A Spanish polacoa
landed four hundred add twenty slave5 at q small |
port ON the south ooaat q fax days ago.