The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-18
The Earthquake In Switzerland.
from the journal de Geneve.1

SIoN, VAIAs, July a. 1855.
send you some fresh details which have just col,
ected with respect to the catastrophe Of St. Nicolas and
Viege.
25th; not that the shocks of earthquake have been
stronger but that all the houses, being cracked and
ready to fall unable to resist any new shocks At
10 O'Clock at Grachen, sitting on rock and talk
ing with two peasants, when all at once our seat was
violently agitated thrown to the earth and at
the same moment thirteen barns fell in the spre Of the
church completely demolished and an enormous
rock-known in the district by the name Of Kachenzug
bounding from the top of the mountain, precpitated
itself with horrible crash into viege, surrounded by
cloud Of pebby dust which rolled EDWARDS with the
petuosty Of an avalanche
From Grachen went to St. Nicolas by the wooden
bridge Notwithstanding the reiterated warnings of the
Inhabitants determined to penetrate into the village in
order that might be able myself to judge Of the extent
All the houses had fallen one upon the other and at
the very moment that quilted the village "a quarter
past r NJ fresh shock occurred, which completely
levelled the little inn called 'Ia Crox Federae The
only houses which now stand Mt st. Nicolas are the
priests house and the house of the notary NJ Binner
All the rest is heap Of ruins and the wreched nhab
tants of this village collected together in large field
the river encamped in the open air. It Is heart
breaking to witness the despairng sadness Of the men,
who have just the destruction OF the houses which
sheltered them yesterday and Of the women surrounded
by their children who do nothing but weep this
overwhelming calamity.
Between quarter past o'clock and g. have felt six
shocks of earthquake at ST. Nicolas, viz, at quarter
past at ten minutes past at Il minutes past at
halpast2 at 40 minutes past and at 40 minutes past
At O'Clock resumed the road to Viege by the right
bank of the river in order avoid the storm Of stones
which stopped falling. On the road the shocks
continued, but must admit that did not to note
them very accurately, being in hurry to arrive at
Stalden.
On the road met the cure Of st. Nicolas without a
hat, and in great pain stone had struck him on the
head and another on the knee He creeping along
with difficulty, but obliged to pursue jour
ney separately for It impossible to stop The road
was entirely covered with crevces, crumbled walls,
blocks of tone and at every instant the noise
OF something cracking renewed.
has, at last arrived at Stalden. Nobody is in the
village; everybody has fed Almost all the stone houses
have been shaken down. The wooden structures have
sisted better.
At half past set out for viege but at 200 yards from
Stalden the road impossible. obliged to go
best could by the side of the hill.
With respect to Viege you know what has taken place.
Yesterday at 10 O'Clock in the evening" there fresh
shock strong those which preceded it, As at Saen
and st. Nicolas there inhabitants in this little
town. They are encamped in the open mir.
At O'Clock In the morning had fortunately returned
to Sion from my perious excursion.
At Zermat Tesch, and Randa there has been no mis-
Chief At Torbei the roof of the church il driven
the two churches Of Veges; the thing has hap
pened at Hurbucken. No from any other quarter.
The wounded guide has been brought back to vege.
IT is believed that his leg is not broken at St.
Nicolas woman who was suffering agonies BEAM in
alng had broken her arm, and they the point
ofampufating it. but without any hope of saving her.
Such was the situation yesterday You how disas-
rous il is and what depth Of compassion must be felt
for so many honest people struck down by calamity
hitherto unheard Of in these districts.