The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-06-23
NoRFLEET D. BoGGAN. Sec'ry.
From the Boletn Extraordinario del Gobierno del
SALVADOR of May 2.
Rims of the City of San Salvador.
> " Quis talla fanto

The night oil the 10th OF April, 1854, will ever
be one Of sad and bitter memory for the people OF
Salvador. On that unfortunate night our happy
and beautiful capital was made heap OF runs
Movements Of the earth were felt on the morning
of Holy Thursday, preceded by sounds like the
rolling of heavy artillery over payemen,s and like
distant thunder. The people were little alarmed
IN consequence OF this phenomenon, but it did not
prevent them from meeting in the churches 10 eel.
citrate the soiemnlties Of the day. On Saturday
all was quiet, and CONFIDENCE was restored. The
people OF The neighborhood assembled, as usual,
to celebrate the Passover. The night of Saturday
was tranquil, was also the whole of Sunday
The heat it is true, was considerable, but the at.
mosphere calm and serene. For the first
three hours Of the evening nothing unusual &C.
CURED bnt at halfpast nine severe shock OF
an earthquake. occurring without the usual pre-
lmInary noise, alarmed the whole city. Many
families left their houses and made encampmenis
in the public squares, while others prepared to pass
the night in their respective court yards.
Finally, at ten minutes to eleven, without pre-
monltion of any kind, the earth began to heave
and trembe with such fearful force that in ten
seconds the entire city Frustrated. The
crashing of houses and churches stunned the ears
OF the terrified inhabitants, while cloud of dust
from the falling ruins enveoped them in a pail OF
impene:rable darkness. Not a drow of water
could be got to relieve the half.choked and sufo.
eating, for the wells and fountains were filled I'D
or made dry. The clock tower Of the Cattle dral
carried great part Of the cdce with it in its fall
The towers Of the church Of San Francisco crushed
the Episcopal Oratory and part OF the palace
The church of Santo Domingo was buried beneath
its towers, and the college OF the Assumption was
entirely ruined. The and beautiful edifce OF
the University was demolished. The church OF
the MERGED separated in the centre. and it's walls
outward to the ground. OF the private houses q
few were left standing, but all were rendered un.
inha Ditable. 1t is worthy Of remark that the
walls left standing are old ones, all those Of
modern construction have fallen The public edi
fees al the government and city shared the com.
mon destruction.
The devastation was effected, as VIC have said
in the first ten seconds; for although the succeed
ing shocks tremendous and accompanied by
fearful rumbling beneath our feet, they had com
paratvely rifing results, for the reason that the
first mad left but little for their ravages.
Solemn and terrible was the picture presented
on that dark, funeral night, of whole people
clustering in the plaza, and their knees, crying
with loud voices to heaven for mercy, or in ago.
nizing accents calling for their children and
friends, which they believed 10 be buried beneath
the ruins. A heaven opaque and ominous a
movement Of the earth rapid and unequal, causing
terror Undesirable; an intense sulphurous
QUOT ming atmosphere, anu lDUICdtIUg all ap.
preaching eruption Of the volcano; streets filled
with ruins or overhung by threatening walls a
sufocatng cloud of dust almost rendering aspira.
ton impossible such was the spectacle presented
by the unhappy city on that memorable and awful
night
A hundred boys were shut up in the college
many invaids crowded the hospitals, and the bar.
racks were full Of soldiers. The sense of the catas
trophe which must have befa!len them, gave polg.
nancy To the first moments OF reflection after the
earthquake was over. 1t was believed that Of least
a fourth part Of the inhabitants had been buried
beneath the ruins. The members Of the govern.
! ment, however, fastened to ascertain, far as
practicable, the extent Of the catastrophe and to
quiet the public mind. 1t was found that the loss
of life had been much less than was supposed, and
it now appears probable that the number of the
killed will not exceed one hundred and of wounded
| fifty. Among the latter is the Bishop, who re-
ceived severe blow on the head the late Presi
dent Senior Duenas daughter Of the President
and the wife of the Secretary of the Legislative
Chambers latter severely.
Fortunately the earthquake has not been FOL
lowed by rains, which gives opportunity te
dIsinter the public archives, also many of the
yauables contained in the dwellings of the citi
zens.
The movements Of the earth still continue, will
strong shocks, and the people, fearing genera
swallowing up of the site of the city, that it ma
be buried under some sudden eruption Of the vol
cano, Fastening away, taking with them the
house hold good, the sweet memories of their in
| fancy, and their domestic animals, perhaps tht
only property left for the support OF the familie
excIamng with Virgil, "Nos pDtrie fines ct d1tlit
| limquinsus arDa."
| Good News!
We write this paragraph from Cherokee Count,
Court. We have been, within the last two weeks