Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-06-17
irs Us sssl.. ,.',ss.,!: 81 c'se dd s.,.tsro :,
Rsla Of III, Cit, Of San salsador.
Outs tAiia fando.
TempcTent n

Temperent lAerimis.-Nia0u-
The night Of tho 18th April 1884, win ever be Of
sad and bitter memory for the people of Salvador. On
that unfortunate night happy and beautiful cspoi
VAS made heap OF ruins. Movements of the earth
felt the morning Holy Thursday preceded by sounds
like the rolling OF heavy artillery over pavements, and
like distant thunder. The people li.tle alarmed
in consequence Of this phenomenon, but IL did not pre-
vent them from meeting in the churches celebrate the
solemnies of tho day. Ga Saturday all quiet, and
confidence restored The people Of the ueghborhood
assembled, usual, celebrate tho Passover. The
night Of Saturday tranquil also the whole Of
Sunday The heat true considerable but the at
mosphere calm and For the first three hours
Of the evening nothing unusual occurred but at halfpas
nine shock of earthquake, occurring without
the usual preliminary noises alarmed the whole city,.
Many families left their houses aud made emcampments
in the public squares while others prepared pass the
night in their respective court yards.
Finally at ten minutes to eleven without premoni,ion
OF any kind the earth began heave aud remble with
such fearful force that in ten seconds the entire city
Frustrated The crashing Of houses and churches stunned
the OF the terrified nhabitans while cloud OF dust
from the falling ruins enveoped them pail Of impene-
trable darkness Not drop of could be got
eve the hsfchoked and suocating for the wells and
fountains were filled up made dry. The clock of
the Cathedral carried great part OF the eihce with IL in
its fall The towers Of the church o San Francisco crush
ed the Episcopal Oratory and part of the palace The
church of Santo Domingo buried beneath its tow.
and the college OF the Assumption entirely ruined
The and beautiful cdifcc of the University demo
shed. The Church of the MERGED separated in the centre
and its walls fell outward to the ground. Oh the private
houses few left standing but all rendered
nhioiabie II is worthy of remark that the walls left
standing old ones; all those OF modern construction
have fallen. The public edices of the government aud
city shared the common destruction.
The devastation effected. have said, in the
first seconds for although the succeeding shocks
were Tremendous and accompanied by fearful rumbugs
beneath feet, they had comparatively triug result
for the that the first had lei but little their
ravagcs
Solemn and terrible the picture presented on that
dark funeral night OF whole people clustering in the
plans and on their knees crying with loud voices hea-
ven Tor mercy, in agonizng clng for their
children and friends, which they believed buried be-
meath the ruins! \ heaven opaque and omnous; move
ment OF the earth rapid and unequal causing in.
dcscTibable and intense suphufous oior filing the
mosphere, aud Indicating approaching eruption OF the
volcano; streets filled with ruins ovehung BY threat
cnng walls; sufocang cloud OF dust almost render
ing respiration impossible. Such the spectacle pre-
scented by the unhappy city that memorable aud full
night
hundred boys were shut up in the college many in.
vaids crowded the hospitals and the barracks were full of
soldiers The sense OF the catastrophe which have
bealen them gave poguancy to the first moments of
Election after the earthquake IL believed
that at least fourth part of the inhabitants had been bu
red beneath the ruins The members OF the government
however, fastened 10 ascertain far practicable the
extent OF the catastrophe aud quiet the public mind
Ii found that the loss of life had been much less than
WAS supposed and now appears probable that the
Der OF the killed will not exceed one hundred and of
wounded fifty. Among the latter is the Bishop, who
ceived severe blow the head; the late President,
Senior Duenas; daughter of the President aud the wife
OF the Secretary OF the Legislative Chambers-hc latter
yercly.
Fortunately, the earthquake has not been followed by
rains which gives opportunity disnter the public
archieves also many of the vauIbes contained in the
dwellings OF the citizens.
The movements OF the earth still continue with strong
shocks, aud the people, fearing general swallowing up
OF the site Of the city, tina; it may be buried under
some sudden eruption OF the volcano fastening avay
'a"'S WIN t"S'" '"-is household gods the sweet memo
re- oil their infancy, and their uu'i animals perhaps
the only property e for the support of their sn;Irs
excainng with Nigal mos patris fines ct dniea h.qUi.
ARA"
PROCLAMATION OF TIE PRESIDENT OF SAN