Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-07-22
Earthquake in mexico--Grcat Damage
Lives Lost.

Lives Lost
A correspondent Of the New York Herald, writing
from the City Of Mexico under date Of Juns SOih,
gives the following account Of therecent earthquake
there:
had mailed MP last letter to you but fifteen
minutes before, and was on my way back to my no
tel when suddenly the earth rocked benesth my feet
I was precipitated against the wall Of house; the
houses commenced 70 crack and roll about hkeenlp-
y bottled in wafer; the streets were rapidly nlied
with yeuDg and old-sone IN full dress, some in no
I dress - ell making the most frightful edo; some
lying fat their bellies, but most on their Ehees'
calling on all the saints in the Mexican calendar TO
save them, their wives or husbands their children
! &c horses, dogs, and even the mules and the stu
pd asses in the streets stood stock still, quyeIing
/ in every part. A second or more gave me an ides
Of what was transpring and reeollectiDg the e4cia
/ nation Of edrgddOT few seconds before, tHaS
/ there was an earthquake, l recovered myself as
vas going headlong in the street on the repouhu,
and betaking myself 10 doorway, took out ny
watch and commenced making notes Of lime anu
/ events
As | laid hold Of one side Of the door-whieh
was the San Francisco, near the corner Of Inc Ngr-
/ earn-the houses 10 the street appeared 10 me 10 ps
rocked about as if they we're made Of cork, AMI al
the time we're floating on q stormy water. windows
cracked patio lamps we're hurled through portals
into fe sireets; altogether there appeared to me 10
be but little chance Of getting through the trouble
III lih whole b0uV ana cones 50 uAant ny -
best I-could over the heaSipg pavement tothe cor
ner Of the street-moyed thither by the general IN
sifnct exhibited by al living creatures crowd
Of leaperos doBkeys. horses, some ladies and few
gentlemen soon formed my companions when
arrived al The corner vas the only person standing
all the rest were their knees or 5ellesi but
few seconds brought several who also Sept an mp
rignt position-most Of them fer bravado. At the
corner could see the National Theatre, the Hotel
Iturbide, the PrOgresO, the Academy at the corner
and several other large buildings. They we're all
heayiug to and fro in the most alarming manner
For nv own part could not conceive how they
we're able resist one of the shocks, SO violent we're
/ they aud so heaving But, fortunately, no house
in the range OF my vision came down. Thu shocks
lasted for nearly three minutes, although all the
heavy swelis passed within the space of two min
ues.
The first shock was light and unperceived by me,
although noticed by a eargador whom was passing
at the moment, who was seated on a corner stone
had time to cross the street after the first shock,
and had gone some twenty feet, when the statement
Of the cGrgador turned out true. After the heavy
shocks there we're several lighter ones, which were
annoying to foot passengers. The earth was con-
tracing into its place. and gave several dsagreeabe
twinges and jerks.
The first shock came from the south southeast,
and was followed by three from the direction,
when the motion suddenly turned from east to west,
and gave us four heavy surges, which was followed
| by others of less strength.
The whole affair created the most intense excite
ment throughout this city which admitted no abate
ment for three or four days. The previous gossip
which bad existed regarding the forced loans, ban
ishments, &c, suddenly was hushed, and ali were
absorbed in learning the truth Of the calamity which
had passed. For the first night and day the popu
lace fOcked to the squares and principal openings
in the city. The fret night the Alameda and Grand
Plaza were filed with thousands of people who kept
watch, for sleep they could not on account of a
DRILLING rain. a general impression prevailed
that there would be repetition within thirty four
hours after the visitation. Fortunately this did not
come.
The circuit of this earthquake is not yet exactly
known, but already it is known to have extended
over an area Of six hundred miles 1t is also i'm
possible as yet to ascertain where the shocks came
from Some incline to the belief that they origi>
mated in the volcano Of Jorullo, in Miehoacan, on
account Of the almost entire humiliation Of the
town of PatzcuaIo, others think the shocks were
caused by some internal movement on the Pacific
coast near Acapulco as the village of Chilpancingo
has suffered severely, aixty houses having been
thrown down.
Carriages have been permitted to pass in several
streets since the 2lst, but many are still closed,
and the houses in those streets undergoing re-
pairs