Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-17
THE EARTHQUAKE AT SAN SALVADOR.

ceived but the details of this terrible calamity not
yet generally known We therefore reproduce from the
Herald the subjoned account of the earthquake
lated from the Bolet Exaordnaro del Gobierno del Sal
vador of May 3D. This bulletin is issued from the city Of
Coutepeque whittier the seat of government has been
removed since the destruction Of San Salvador:
The night of the 10th of April 1854 will ever be
of sad and bitter memory for the people of Salvador On
that unfortunate night happy and beautiful capital
was made heap of ruins. Movements of the earth
were felt the morning of Holy Thursday preceded by
sounds like the rolling Of heavy artillery pavements
and like distant thunder. The people little alarm
ed this phenomenon but it did not prevent them from
meeting in the churches to celebrate the soemntes Of
the day On Saturday all was quiet and confidence
restored The people of the neghborhood assembled
usual to celebrate the Passover The night of Saturday
tranquil also the whole of Sunday The heat,
it is true, considerable; but the atmosphere
calm and serene -
usual occurred but halfpast nine severe shock
earthquake occurring without the usual preliminary
noises alarmed the whole city Many families left their
houses and made encampments in the public squares,
while others prepared to pass the night in their respec
tive yards Finally, at ten minutes to eleven with
out premonion of any kind the earth began to heave
and trembe with such fearful force that ten seconds
the entire city Frustrated The crashing of houses
and churches stunned the of the terrified nhabit
ants while cloud of dust from the falling ruins enye-
Hoped them in a pail of mpenetrabe darkness Not
drop Of water could he got relieve the and
suocang, for the wells and fountains filed up
made dry. The clock tower Of the cathedral carried
great part of the edifce with it in its fall The
of the church of San Francisco crushed the Episcopal
oratory and part of the palace The church Sano Do
mngo buried beneath its towers and the college of
the Assumption entirely ruined The and beau
tul edce of the University demolished The church
of the MERGED separated in the CENTRE and lis walls fell
outward to the ground Of the private houses few
left standing, but all rendered uninhabble 1t
worthy Of remark that the walls left standing old
ones all those of modern construction have fallen The
public edces Of the government and city shared the
common destruction. The devastation Effected, as
have said in the first ten seconds for although the
succeeding shocks tremendous and accompanied by
fearful rumbings beneath feet they had compare
lively trfng results for the that the first had left
4 but little for their ravages
Solemn and terrible the picture presented that
dark funeral night of whole people clustering in the
plazss and their knees crying with loud voices to
heaven for mercy in agonzng calling for their
children and friends, whom they believed to be buried
beneath the ruins heaven opaque and ominous; a
movement of the earth rapid and unequal causing
indescribabe an intense suphurous odor filing the
mosphere, and indicating approaching eruption Of the
volcano streets filed wthruns overhung by threaten
ing walls suocatng cloud of dust almost rendering
respiration impossible-such the spectacle present
ed by the unhappy city that memorable and awful
| night.
hundred boys were shut up in the college, many in
valids crowded the hospitals and the barracks full
Of soldiers The of the catastrophe which must
have befallen them gave poignancy to the first moments
OF reflection after the earthquake 1t be-
eved that at least fourth part of the inhabitants had
buried beneath the ruins The members Of the Gov
ernment however FASTENED to ascertain prac
cable the extent of the catastrophe and to quiet the
public mind 1t found that the loss of life had been
much less than supposed and it now appears pro-
bable that the number of the killed will not exceed
hundred and Of the wounded fifty Among the latter is
the bishop who received blow on the head the
late President Senior Duenas daughter OF the Presi
dent and the wife of the Secretary of the Legislative
Council, the latter severely.
Fortunately the earthquake has not been followed by
which djsinter the
archives also many Of the valuables contained in the
dwellings of the citizens.
The movements of the earth still continue with strong
Shocks and the people, fearing general ESTABLISHING
of the site Of the city, that they be buried under
sudden eruption of the volcano, Fastening away
taking with them their household GODS the sweet memo
of their infancy and their domestic animals perhaps
the only property left for the support their families
exclaimng with Virgil, Nos patrie fines dulcia laqui-
mus arvd." n.
PROCLAMATION .Ea
TIE President Of the State Of Salvador to the Inhabitants
FELLOW CITIZENS: speak you amid ruins of our
beautiful capital under the weight of the heavy disaster which
overlook the fatal night Of Sunday the 18th OF April
fearful earthquake destroyed in the brief space of ten
conds, all the buildings of the city, plunged infinite
Der Of families in misery and has driven them abroad to seek
shelter elsewhere Compromising the full extent of the
calamity which has bealen the people of the city, the
crnment only offer consolation that it will neglect
such property has been saved the
ruins and maintain public tranquility and order In
ing this they only rely upon the cooperation Of the
pie residing the capital but depend upon them to
ect of aordng relief the sufferers The Gov
eminent relies the general patriotism and public spirit
to give efficiency to the which will be taken to build
the city of San Salvador in place offering
ter conditions than the present site and which will be less
subject to the devasatons of earthquakes invoke the ALI
powerful to lend His Divine aid this contamination
the minds of the people of the capital that they shall
not dispense in such manner to make their
tration impossible.
shall lose time in dspachng commissioners exam
inc and the localities wherein found the
city delay in communicating the result to the public
that they again unite friends in that happy brother
hood in which they have hitherto lived and prospered To
this end it behooves all seek pecuniay and other aid
alike within and without the State and above ALL it be-
coming them to submit with humble resignation to the in
scrutabe vaons Him who dsnoses Of the earth and its
people according to His own wise designs
The calamity which weighs upon this people Is heavy
death threatened them in its most terrible FORM when the
earth opened its depths if bury them its unknown
abyss but Father has and requires
from the forude Of and the resignation Of christians
People of the Departments This is time for you
tend protecting hand brethren Of San Salvador who
are driven forth helpless with covering their heads and
without piece of bread to give TO their children No
ortuniy could be appropriate than the for
exercise the charity of the Christian the sacred offices
of humanity Those whom the finger Of Providence has
ed debt to Heaven in alternating the suerings Of those
upon whom His frown has fallen.
People of Salvador In with fellow. citizens
have lost ALL and obliged at the head of fami
y to leave the beloved city Of home and seek asylum
elsewhere but pray Heaven to keep me from murmurng
and feel grateful to the Almighty he
life and the lives Of those whom hold precious than
my own
Officers Of the State, of every grade Forget not
public servants have devolved them new heavy
and mperous duties Hesitate no sacrifice in dscharg
ing your obligations; maintain
hazard show that in adversely, prosperity the
faithful ministers OF the law and prove world
dern ages can parallel antiquity in heroic deeds!