New-York daily tribune., 1854-07-17

>. ,onosea walk in the moonlight through the town.
W. went first 10 the msrket-plac The cathedral
Was sti standing, but the town. saw now 'na1 u
80 ;nyo,yed in one general ruin, that not single
house Rad resisted the last frghtfu earthquake The
cathedral-a more elegant than imposing building OF
the last centuryhad to certain extent sustained the
shock But its belfy had been thrown down, its porch
was in runs its walls were cracked and full o hssures
All the other churches, that OF the old Franciscan
convent had suffered far severely and their inte
rors presented sad pictures of solitude and run being
covered with dust and rubbish from the fall of tiles ana
stones from the heavy roofs. Colossal statues had
tumbled from their pedestas, and their splendid and
gorgeous robes were dragged in the dirt. There they
lay utterly uncared for by the muttudes who eday
before had carried them in triumphant procession.
Life and property at this moment OF more import
snce than images, the worship OF which had done 80
little to arrest the footsteps OF the calamity A wing
and newly finished tower OF the university still stood,
and strangely enough, the clock still striking the
hours with all due regularity In the Episcopal palace
the ceiling had given way and the Bishop, Don lomaso
Saldans Justly admired for his pety and virtues
had Jared better with his consecrated mead than we
profane. Senior Duenas, Ex-Presden OF the hePuphc'
once monk then lawyer and diplOmatist, aud ncoh-
testibly in capacity the first man III the COUNTY, ""'
somewhat more seriously injured.
The streets were now deserted sa'e by muieai!
euaSds posted here and there, and we ound our Prv'
gres much mpeded By the piles OF rum ana rubbish.
Inside the houses was the quiet OF DEAN. inc psoPe
fearing 10 remain even in the widest streets had col
lected high and low rich and poor, and were seated
unon the Ground i'm the centeTs OF the pu0c squares
The stiff spanish etiouette which generally 80 com
petey divides the several ranks OF the population was
completely forgotten in this night OF terror hich men
and beersrs Joined their tears their cries, their
PRAYERS. supplcations and hymns at each new shock
Of more than common severity.
Don Jose Maria San Martin, the recently elected
Presidcnt Of the Republic, exhibited great presence
of mind aud resolution and gave wise and energetic
directions for the protection ot property At the cor
ner Of the Cathedral We met the Franciscan monk,
Don Estavan Castillo, beloved acquaintance OF surs,
member of one of the first families In the country
He is the most ingenious and remarkable man wh0m
| have met in Central America extremely lnqusitVe
much given 10 philosophical speculation and tae pos
SCISSOR of one peculiarly characteristic trait in common
with Pasce-he delighted to talk of the great m!ste-
res Of the world, those upon which the thinkers ana
philosophers of all nations and ages have specuated in
vain Our last conversation on the bnd ruling OF the
powers of Nature seemed singularly adapted To tue
scene which surrounded us now The monk pressed
nv hand in silence. He with band OF strong tel-
lows was engaged in search for persons buried IN
the ruins while the bishop and all the clergy of the
higher ranks had fed to Cojutepeque. At daybrea
already hundred bodies had been drawn from the
rubbish but what the real number of deaths was l
have not vet been able learn That several thous-
ands were lot killed, must attribute to the caution
inspired by the severe preliminary shock above men
toned nor, in all probability, would the writer OF
these lines without that warning have ever held the
pen again, the lest principal shock brought down
the heavy ceiling Of his dwelling.
On Easter Monday the rsiag sun Illuminated a most
sorrowful scene. The inhabitants, pale with fear and
fatigue were wandering at random through the town
without shelter place OF rest. The greater part
fed in the direction OF ApOpa and Calutepeque leaving
everything behind. Among the women wEo were
mostly in extreme negiigee, noticed the wife OF the
President enreatng her husband to Zee also from TINS
place of horror. The President, however, remained
faithful to HE duty and continued to act with energy
Most of the State prisoners pershed, owing to their
inability 10 leave their rooms and in one case where
two were chained together, one was killed and the
other forced to bear his body until relieved from his
hOrrd burden by some police officers. court mar
tal held under tent IN the University place, SEN
enced every thief caught IN the act Of stealing ana
proved guilty by two witnesses TO be shot.
The ruins of San Salvador no longer aiiordng me
shelter returned morning to the hacienda oi an
acquaintance foot, as all the mules mad either beeh
stolen or were fully employed by the merchants in re-
moving goods and therefore not to be procured tor any
amount of pay. During my walk thither there were
four shocks Of which was one OF the seyerestO al,
lasting about seven seconds and being accompanied,
as usual, by loud detonating sound, just like the
noise accompanying the yOllies at Vesuvius to one
standing near the crater at time when volumes oi
smoke and stones are hurled into the air. Ny conyc-
tons stronger every moment that the seat o this
suberraDean acton is very near and that the vapors
and glowing masses OF the depths are seeking some
new outlet.
Every fugitive of whom asked the reason OF this
hurried flight going of they did with no thought OF
even the most necessary articles of comfort answered
alike that after the destruction of the town the
bishop had said that the entire region around San
Salvador would, before another moon had passed
"snk into the depths of the earth" This prophecy
has not however, been fulfilled. The moon is
shining upon the ruins of the town and upon the ha
ciendas scattered the plain But the earthquakes
and the subterranean noises still continue and upwards
of hundred shocks are felt each day In all prOba
bty the powers below striving to burst the crust
of the earth and build up new chimney for their
gases vapOrs and molten masses. Woe to him who
lives within the reach of the crater.
DR. MAURICE WAGNER.
i. S.-A month has passed since the above sketch
was written. The shocks have decreased in number
and intensity, but still they occasionally felt and
the sounds below heard. None but the poorest Of
the population Of San Salvador have ventured to
turn to their former habitstions.
The City Of Salvador capital Of
Amecs said have been founded in 1873 by Spanish
The tas greatly Suffered BY earthquakes
especially Ia ;te 1859 but entirely ruined The
ulaon shor time before the catastrophe amounted
souls The Republic of San Costa
Rcs the advanced in civilization and cultr ts population
peecab kindly than the Of the neigh
principal production OF is agriculture and
valuable being indigo Of the beet quality and quantities
sufficient favorable supply the English and other foreign
manufacturers
HAVANA.