The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-11-19
Earthquake at Malta-A Fear
full Scene.

Times writing from Malta, Italy, under
date of the 18th ult., furnishes the fol
lowing account Of the effects of the re
cent shocks of an earthquake in that ant
other places:
On Sunday, the 18th of October, al
precisely 5 minutes before 2 a. M, the
islands Of Malta and GAIA were visited
by shocks of an earthquake, so violent
in their nature, and so long in their dura
tion, that the Oldest inhabitants do not
remember ever to nave experienced any
thing SO severe. The first shock made
itself perceptable by a tremulous mo-
ton similar to that caused by the pass
ing Of 4 heavy gu~n-carriage, q thousand
times repeated, accompanied by a rumb-
ling noTse, as it were, of distant thun-
de-, which rapidly increased in violence,
until every building shook and trembled.
Scarcely q minute had elapsed when a
second and still more violent shock, ac-
c~ompanied by a louder noise, occurred.
The alarm occasioued was general
throughout town and country. Men,
women and children, of all classes, sud-
denly aroused from their slumbers, issu-
ed from every house, some in their night
dresses, others enveloped in a sheet or
blanket, and others in the first articles
of apparel they could hurriedly catch
up, and, rushing into the streets, made
the best of their way to the squares, the
outer walls ard other open spaces, which
soon became full of people who had
quilted their dwellings, fearing to be
included in a general destruction. The
sentry at the treasury left his post and
ran to the main guard, which he turned
out under tho Impression that shells
we're being thrown into the town by an
eucsny from some steam feet. The two
shocks, the interval between being so
brief as to be incaIculable, lasted fully
TWO minutes. In the city of VaIetta
scarcely a building has escaped injury,
and all corner structures have more
particularly suffered from having ro
support OIL one side.
The stecple of Queen Adelaide's
Church, from its height ard tenuity, was
naturally an object likely to be most
seriously affected by fluctuations, nd,
in fa, t. FIVE 70 six of tie courses OF
stones from the point of the spire down
wards have been so shaken aud wreuched
that they Mill probably have to be prof.
erly relaid. Tha stone cross and ball
wLich crowu the s~terI.le are thrown on,
of heir Tcspoudieuiar, the former lean
lag TO ;he wcstward, and the latter to
the eastward While The pomegranate
which formed the kUob of the vase Oil
Pousouhy's monument has been throws
to the ground. Of she Roman Catholic
churches in Vallejo, those of San Gia-
como, Santi Orsola, and San Domincco
appear TO have suffered most; and many
buildings are so rent as to render i'm
mediate repairs necessary. From ali
we can learn, the ~ccnvulsion was most
severely felt along the north front of the
island, the forts on that coast having
been much shaken, while those on tie
scaboard experienced the shocks
in a much lighter degree, and we are in
formed not the least damaged. At
Floriana, and in such of the three cities,
as well as in the harbor, the shocks were
felt with considerable vigor, and at
Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa, many
of the buildings are injured. Persons
on board ship in the port describe the
effect of the earthquake, as felt by them,
as Of letting go the slips boats from
the daVits by the run, only much strong
or. The sea receded two feet and a half.
The night had been without a breath OF
air, with a saltry sensation, the sea Pc
fectly calm, and the moon shining in a
clear sky, with a brightness that seemed
to transform night into day, it ling
within 81 hours of full moon.
At Gvita Vechia, in the interior of
the island, the shocks must have made
themselves felt severely, all the church
es, moDasteries, nunneries and hospitals
1.-THE Church of st. Augustine excepted,)
sustained greater or less damage.
The dome of the Cathedral is rent SO as
to admit the light, and the belfrey is
much shaken. The expenses necessary
to repair the injuries done to the Catbe-
dral alone are estimated at several thou
sand pounds. A small room in Civita
Vecchia, built of stone without mortar,
fell in all together. From all parts of
the country we hear of baildiDgs having
been more or less damaged; among
others the new church, at Musta, which
is still unfinished, and the new church
at Sliema, as also the church at Mas
CAIRO. At easel Siggreni the belfrey
and a part of the roof of a small church
called Tai Ghalia fell in; the dome of
the parcchial church was seriously affect
ed. Happily we have heard of no loss
of life. The only damage stated to be
sustained i'll GAIA, besides a number of
buildings being slightly injured, is the
falling in of a portion of u OF the telc-
graph towers.
In Malta, as we believe is the case ill
other Roman Catholic countries, it is
usual to RUG the bells of the churches
on occasions of imminent danger, and on
Sunday, soon after the shocks had
ceased. a burst of bells was everywheie
to be hard.
On the same day a Ye Dsan1 or thanks
giving was chauated Ia adj tae churches,
to which was added the ceremony OF the
exposition of the Holy Sacrament, ard
sermons were delivered to crowded con
gregations, So impressed were the Nav
tives with the common persuasion tina a
repetition of the phenomenon would &C.
cur at the expiration of t~wenty-four
hours, that few went to their beds on
the following night until after the clock
had struck two, remaining until then
from sunset Oh the squares, bastions and
parade grounds, grain fosse at Floriana,
Marina, and other places more secure
l+b,n under n roof The motion of the