The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-17
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.

AFFAIRS IN CUBA.
-~~~~~~>~~~~~~~~>>~~~~,
The Latest Inteuigence-The Calamities at
81. Jago-Markets. &c., &C., &C.
OUR ST. JAGo CORRESPONDENCE
Sr. JAGo DE CUBA, Feb. l, 1853
7He Recent Observation-Disclosures Epidemics
and ConRae Northumberland of Loss 10 the
City, Sc, &c.
Commencing with the Goth Of August, the year
1862 has proved very disastrous one for the ancient
city of Cuba also for large portion of the neigh
boring and surrounding country. Earthquakes and
epdemics have, in turn, succeeded one another,
until where pretty villages and thriving estates were
heretofore seen, in many places now are beheid
nought but ruins whose inhabitants have been deci-
mated bv cholera, fevers or emgraton-which latter
mesns many families have adopted TO escape other
calamties
For more than half century, st. Jago and the
eastern portion of the island of Cuba prospered and
increased in industry, wealth and enterprise and an
earthquake had really become legendary incident,
and not fact that it supposed could be realized
in the present day. So this feeling, that
the writer heard one of the Oldest residents remark
on the 10th Of August (but day previous to the
two great shocks) that since the copper mines had
been opened, no one dreamed Of such thing as an
earthquake" This was in answer to an observation
that the surrounding country appeared to have a
volcanic appearance. How soon this feeling of
security destined to be thoroughly eradcated.
On the morning OF the Goth August, at twenty-four
minutes before o'clock, when the business portion
OF the community might be said to have got well
under way with their days work, a fearful era in
their lives commenced. The earth suddenly swayed
to and fro-the buildings, ON all Sides rocked and
trembled to their foundations many of them falling
with q loud crash-the air was Instantly filed with
hR M Tn0 md nd cd fnnl ctrl
phurous stonch-the vision, too, became momentariy
0bscured. All these things suddenly experienced
by a unprepared people, is it at all surprising that
the CRY FOR mercy should arise spontaneously from
the thousands who gazed upon one another and upon
the ruins, In horror and dismay? The duration, in
time, Of this awful visitation was short (Only eight
seconds) but in feeling and thought how very long
A soon IS the first terror had passed and re1ec
ton came, each one sought with rapid step their
home anxiety and trouble expressed in every feature
lest those dear ones whom they had parted with bnt
short time previous, might even then be buried
beneath some ruin or fallen wall. Providentially
very few were killed. and not q great many were
severely wounded.
Between the hours Of $3.50 A. NJ Of the Goth, and
9l8 Of the 2lst twelve distinct shocks felt
varying in intensity and duration; and slight ones
were occasionally felt until the evening of the 29th
when the gases of the earth appeared to have
become, for the time, exhausted, and the alarmed
Inhabitants took courage to return to their ruined
During this period, from the goth to the 10Th of
August. the frightened population of all classes fled
for safety on board the different vessels then lying
in the harb0r, where they were received with that
warmheerted kindness for which seamen are said to
be pr0yerbial. Besides no hesitation was evinced
among any Of them to lending their spare sails for
the purpose Of erecting tents for those who not
fortunate enough to secure place on board.
The two heaviest shocks, OF the 10th and 2lst of
August, were very different in their movements,
while their intensity and duration were much the
same. That of S.36 A. NJ. of the 10Th had vbra-
tory or trembling motion, while that of 3.35 A. NJ.
of the 2i was oscillatng although in both the range
OF motion was In the same direction viz: from
east to west. great difference in the duration
felt by those shore and those adoat in the ship
ping By the former, the two greatest shocks were
estimated at eight seconds, while with the latter
they continued for more than minute. The pro-
longed motion on board the floating bodies may be
partially illustrated by setting the pendulum of a
clock IN motion with the hand-the motion of the
pendulum continues for some time after the hand
that started it is at rest
After the 29th these afflicted people appear to have
fegained their courage and enterprise, and being
lware Of the sympathy felt for them in all places
where their cahmities became known, they set to
work rebuilding the fallen portions OF the city, and
their industry was so great that the marks of ruin
were fast disappearing, when, about the middle of
October that scourge of the world the cholera made
its appearance in their midst, and Notwithstanding the
strenuous efforts made TO arrest it by the adoption Of
rigorous sax1atary measures, it soon spread through
all the surrounding plantations, causing general
paralyxafcn OF labor upon them. Works Of all kinds
groes; but this proved, in very many instances with
out avail No estate escaped without loss, and many
were literally depopulated The loss to the planters
In slaves Alone cannot be short of a million of dol
lars, besides the accompanying loss by the failure
that np arise in the gathering Of the crops for want
Of hands
From the tobacco plantations that abound in this
region the proprctOrs fed at the first alarm. Their
people very soon followed their example, the latter
seeking In the higher regions of the mountains some
more healthy location, where they hoped cholera
could not reach them. Thus the tobacco crops were
entirely abandoned, and suffered to rot upon the
ground and in the curing sheds; SO that It is ex-
tremey doubtful if in 1853 there viii be any tobacco
for expectation from either OF the districts Of st.
Jago, Aayuri Yara, or Sagua, because in these
places, unless confidence is soon restored by the
entire disappearance of the disease it is very doubt
ful any one can be persuaded to return in time to
save even portion Of the crops.
In relation to the difference Of the mortality of the
disease on different estates has been remarked that
in those cases where the owner resided on the es
tate, and superintended the sick himself the losses
were greatly less than where they under the
troll Of paid overseers. Throughout October and No
vember, and until the end of December this pest
ence continued to prevail with sufficient violence to
cause general panic among all classes-very
greatly increased, the morning of the 26th of No
vember by another terrible earthquake. At four
minutes after three A. M, when all but the watchers
of the sick were in deep sleep, the earth suddenly
began to rock, the houses to fall, and all the accom-
panying terrors displaying themselves; but for
.tunatey, the osclating motion caused the walls
generally to fall out towards the streets, at that
hour entirely deserted, or the destruction of life
would have been very great. Indeed, some Of the
escapes might be termed miraculous.
Nearly al the buildings that were in forward
tate of repair from the previous slrake OF August
Yere again brought to the ground; besides numerous
thers that had escaped the former, were now heap
fruins. Several shocks were felt during the day of
he 26th varying in in ensity, and slight ones occa-
ionauy for eight or ten days after, but without
Ether damage. As if earthquakes, cholera, and
fever, wero not Affections enough about the first
week in December fire broke out, (the first for
many years. consuming large amount Of property
great many of the inhabitants were by this time
thoroughly frightened, and believed the city to be a
doomed place. So, with this impression, they re-
solved to emigrate to other safer part OF the
island. The two steamers plying semi-monthly be-