The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-27

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Uss9UssasA - o. Casaeaa.
oUB GUATEMALA coRalsPosDSxoE.
CRY OF GUArHxALA, August l, 1864.
Confis1oss Earthquake Ct Guateraia-Dsmsge
By 11ess-GemeTGl Alwm-Famiiss Deserftng
the Cxy-Erectioa Of Hut and 1sxts IN the
Pla.as-Efsess of the Earthquake on Tie Sur.
rounding Co~nt,y-Reiigioxs Services and Pro-
cess,ons in Consequence Eighty first Anniversary
of the Destruction At Antigua Guatemala By an
Earshguake-Total Destruction Of the Ioicn Of
yarsiitsysq,s, State Of O0sea, ,cih Great Loss
Of Life Continuance Of the Shocks at San
salrador-7ae Ntw Mexiean Morement- The
Nsp York Herald in Guatemala.
From the date Of my last letter up to Friday, tbs
Ilth ult.. nothing Of Importance bad occurred here
on the morning of that day, however, the first OF
succession of shocks Of earthquakes took place
which have by their severity and continuance
excited great alarm. As mentioned in former
letter, smart shock Was felt here soon after tho
destruction of San Salvador bu. the effect produced
upon The pubic mind soon passed away. Now,
however feeling Of anxiety and fear pervades the
minds of all. Since tie year 1880, when considera
be carnage was done this city, no regular succession
of es.ti qusscs has occurred, nor did tue casual
one Ahat have inteTyensd since that, cause 1.-THE
OF TIE damage Row done, or the dread of any i'm
penoirg calamity, such as now exists. Let me give
you psrti alass with the results Of some few notes
made "a they have occurred.
As above stated, The first shock, slight, occurred
ut A. M., On Friday, the l4th ult. The atmos-
phsle wss cslm and cloudy and the Thermometer at
70 degrees fahrenheit On Saturday, the 18TH
three shocks took place; one in the forenoon aud
two in the afternoon; the weather much the sans,
and the thermometer ranging from Ga degrees to 10
deg rets Fahrenheit On Sunday, the l6,h, there
x4ie alao three shocks; weather &C., same as BE-.
fore. Up 10 this time the stocksfeI been Sigh;
pone exceeding one second to second scd a half
IN duistien; course from south to north, and with
out noise. On Monday morning, however, at 81
o'clock, a smart shock Of two seconds duration, &C
compabied with hollow rumbling noise and sub
sequert vibration of the earth took place, and was
the first to create q distrusttai feeling upon the
mind Until twelve minutes be ore two o'clock no
other succeeded, when two successive shocks Cat an
interval of about two seconds between them,)
came Of great violer &C, accompanied with loud
noise, and doing considerable damage to the public
and private buildings in the city. The old cracks
made by the earthquakes Of 1880 were re-opened
ard many new ones made. Two or three small
houses were thrown down, ard an old woman,
prisoner in the jail, was seriously injured. The
churches of San Francisco, Santa Teresa, the
cattle d. al &c. bad large cracks made in them, and
that of San Augustine was badly damaged. l do
not believe fifty hCus es in the city escaped without
some slight damage. In moment the streets were
flied with eople, the cry OF Dies tnerte resounced
upon every side, and mary hurried to the churches
or kttt in the streets to pray. by own sensations
/ cannot describe. The house in which l live
creabed and cracked. rs though about to tumble
down, al The agitation Of the earth was so great
that it produced upon feeling like sea sickness.
The 6uiatiOn of these shocks about four seconds
each, the ccu'se TIE same az before and the motion
Of the uDdulatory or horizontal kind. IKE weather
was unusually clear the thermometer at 70 degrees,
FahleDheit, and the barometer had risen
during the day several degrees. At three
O'Clock P. NJ. another rather severe shock occur
red, AID they continued occurring at intervals
throughout the afternoon and SIGHT, occasionally
aco panied with vibrato,y motion and q rum
bling noise. TIE entire number Of SHOCKS through
the day and night was tbi, teen. Throughout toe
afternoon many persons were moving out OF the
city for safety Others we're tractpg tents and booths
in the various plazas or in their yards the troops
were muster ed ard tshts ere ted for them; the au
ttoifiss cree ei Lights TO be placed 10 the windows
q oil Tie housss and, indeed, everything portrayed
tie general sear.
AT daylight on Tuesday mora g, the 18th, a
shock from the OPP; osite quarter, that Is from north
to south, was felt, accompanied with much noise,
ard severe remuous OF vibrssory motion, causing
sry tles to fail from the roofs Of the houses and
c,est,r g ffesb ALARM. Throughout the dag there
were several Others of less severity. Business ap.
reortd to be suspeDded-mapy CT the stores ard
places OF business we're close and every one rash
ed out of their houses the slightest alarm, fear
ing tbe might be crushed under the falling build.
ipps. At p. N. two violent shocks Of about four
secords du,stcn occurred, nearly as severe those
created more terror and confusion than the former
These shocks were preceded by q sharp explosion,
and followed by vb, ations, which continued At in
tervas for some minutes. Theee shocks too were
uplifting or perpendicular kind, as though the i'm
mediate ceuke wss beneath our feet. Soon after
immense masses Of clouds covered the entire hori.
zon and the lightning played on ali sides with great
yividness. At ten minutes past eleven, glare OF
light vas visible for some seconds on the southern
horizon though some volcano had just burst into
life, and Immediately after another explosion and
slight shock occurred Sleep was out Of the quea.
tion-hur dIeds were in the streets praying, and all
feared the worst was Jet to come. The number Of
shocks during the day and night was eight
From that day until yesterday, the 3lst July, the
shocks have continued with more or ess intensity,
The entire number Of shocks up to this morning, or
one ha taken place since commenced this letter,)
has been sevenfrythree, and whether we are doomed
to witness the destruction of the city, like the IN
all mtrcifnl GCd to spare It and its thousands of
Inhabitants, ia secret yet buried in the womb OF
the future. We hope ard pray for the best
Many copjectures are ad0at as to the causes Of
the present earthquakes. Some contend that they
are continuation of those Of San Salvador, others
that they come fiom the volcano Of Pacaya, and
Others that they have their origin In the old vol
Of Palencia distant abou eight leagues from the
city. To the latter opinion in line, from the fact
that many Of the more recent shocks have besn Of
the uplifting kind, showing that the immediate
cause cannot be far distant but almost beneath u.s.
singular phenomen: N in connection with the
ealthQuskes occurred here in the American Da-
gnerresn Gallery, OF which have been an eye wit.
ness; the narration Of it may be Of importance to
scientific men. Since tie commencement OF the
shocks the mercuty in the bath over which the pic
tmes sic produced wo, ks with the greatest irregu
larity. " appears to have lost Its strength.
at iinss requiring four and five minutes to produce
results ever two ounces Of mercury, and then very
infeiior ones which were ordinarily produced in
three minutes over enc fourth OF an ounce. This
was raIti- ulaily the case on the day Of the most
violent shoe ks. when the mercury appeared almost
pbwer,f a. end produced scarcelg any imOres SIGN.