The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-07-27
EARTHQUAKES IN THE CITY OF
MEXICO
Ddmoge Dome and Ltees Last.


A correspondent of the New York Herald, wr-
ting from the City of Mexico under date of June
80, gives the following account of the recent
earthquake there:
/ was precptated against the wall of house;
the house commenced to crack and roll about like
empty bottles in the water, the streets rapid
ly filed with young and old-some in full dress,
some in no dress-all making the most trightful
ado; some laying fiat their bellies, but most on
their knees calling on all the saints in the Mex-
calender to save them their wives or husbands,
their children, &c; horses, dogs, and even the
mules and the stupid in the street stood stock
still quivering in their every part. second or
more gave me an idea of what transporting,
and recollecting the exclamation Of a cdrgador a
few seconds before, that there was an earthquake,
| recovered myself as [ was going headlong in the
street on the rebound, and betaking myself to a
doorway, took out my watch and commenced max
ing notes of the time and events.
AS [ laid hold of one side of the door-which
was the San Francisco, near the corner of the Ver-
garn-the houses in the street appeared to me to
be rocked about as if they made Of cork, and
at the same time were floating on stormy water.
Windows cracked; patio-lamps were hurled through
portals into the Streets altogether there appeared
to be but little chance of getting through the
trouble with whole body and bones, SO | made my
way as best could over the heaving pavement to
the of the street-moved thither by the
general instinct exhibited by the living creatures
4 crowd Of leperos, donkeys, horses, some ladies
and few gentlemen, soon formed my companions.
When | arrived at the corner [ was the only per-
son standing-all the rest were Oh their knees or
bellies; but few seconds brought several who also
kept an upright position-most Of them for bra
vado. At the corner | could see the National
Theatre, the Hotel Iturbidc, the Progreso, the
Academy at the corner, and several other large
buildings. They all heaving to and fro IN
the most alarming manner. For my part l
could not conceive how they were able to resist
one of the shocks, so violent were they and 80
heaving. But, fortunately, no house in the range
of my vision came down The shock lasted for
nearly three minutes although all the heavy swells
passed within the space oftwo minutes.
The first shock was light and unperceived by
me, although noticed by co,yndor whom [ was
passing at the moment, who seated on corner
stone | had time to cross the street after the first
shock, and had gone some twenty feet, when the
statement of the cosyoder turned out true. After
the heavy shocks there were several lighter ones,
which were annoying to foot passengers. The
earth contracting into its place, and gave seve
raj disagrccable tWingcs and jerks
The first shock from the south-southeast,
and was followed by three from the same direction,
when the motion suddenly turned from east to
west, and gave us four heavy surges, which was
followed Ly others of less strength.
The whole affair created the most intense
element throughout this city, which admitted
no abatement for three or four days. The previous
gossip which had existed regarding the forced
loans, banishments, &c, suddenly was hushed, and
all absorbed in learning the truth of the
calamity which had passed. For the first night
and day the populace focked to the squares and
principal openings in the city. The first night the
Alamcnda and Grand Plaza were filled with thou
sands Of people who kept watch, for sleep they
could not account Of drizzling rain \ gene
raj impression pre-, allied there would be repeti-
ton within thirty -four hours after the visitation.
Fortunately this did not come.
The circuit of this earthquake is not yet exactly
known but already il is known to have extended
over an area of six hundred miles. 1t is also iii
possible as yet to ascertain where the shocks came
from Some incline to the belief that they origi-
mated in the volcano of Jorulle, in Michoacan,
account Of the almost entire humiliation of the
town of Patzcuaro; others think the shocks were
caused by some internal movement on the Pacific
coast, near Acapulco, as the village of Chipancin-
go has suffered severely, sixty houses having been
thrown down.