The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-05-24
Your friend,
ISRAEL WELSH.
The Destructive Earthquake In South
America.

The mails of the steamship Northern
Light, from Aspinwall the 25th ult., came
to hand in full last evening. They fur
nish full particulars Of the late earth
quake in Chill, by which the cities Of
Mendoza and San Juan were destroyed
and $4,000 lives lost. A letter from Val
paraiso says:
The town of Mendoza, situated on the
Eastern slope of the Andez, containing
about 10000 inhabitants, was destroyed
by an earthquake on the Goth of March
About forty-tye minutes after eight on
that evening shock was experienced
from North to South, and at the same
time another from the South to North
which lasted about five seconds, leaving
IN ruin every dwelling and public edifce
IN the place, and destroying upwards OF
eight thousand of the population. The
accounts of this dreadful affair are terri
ole. Whole families were swept away
INTO eternity in an instant, and the few
that escaped are left houseless, naked and
starving. The catastrophe has thrown a
gloom over the whole of Chill, as many
Of the leading families OF Santiago, who
had gone to reside at Mendoza on account
Of their politics, had perished.
Another letter gives the following par
ticulars
The shock was excessively violent, and
though it lasted but six or eight seconds
destroyed every building, public and pri
vate, in the city, and the number whe
we're enabled to escape was very limited
rhe streets being narrow, the building
Ugh, and the inhabitants totally unused
such phenomena. were paralyzed with
terror, and neglected to seek refuge III
he open courts of their dwellings unit
| too late The postmaster was buried be
Meath the ruins of the post office, the
governor was missing, and when asked
yhv he brought no certificate that the
mails were lost, the messenger replied
There was no one left to write it, nor
materials to write with"
The aspect presented by the. city after
the first shock was terrific. Hoarse sub
terranean thunders deafened the air
animals of all kinds rushed frantically
through the open space bowling, the eartf
opened and vomited forth floods of water
while, to crown the scene of horror
flames burst from the ruins and consumed
nearly the entire business portion of tn,
city, with its dead, its dying and it
wounded.
On the 2Sth the earth still continued K
tremble, the few walls that had resisted
the first shock one by one fell, until nov
no vestige of building remains. TIL,
mountain roads are in most dangerou
condition, not only on account of tn
huge masses of rock that have alread
fallen and obstructed the road, but be
cause the vibration of the earth is still
hurting them down from the heights abov
into the valleys.
The gltackos, or natives of the surround
ing country, hastened TO the spot, not t
assist the needy or aid in rescuing tn
wounded from a lingering death, but t
seek for plumber among the smokin
ruins, and to snatch the little saved from
the wretched survivors. One gentleman
writing from thence, after describing
these horrers. says Il believe that in
few days we shall have no other law thai
that of the pOniard.'
The prison was DESTROYED. Out of TO-
inmates % persisted. The eremaining eight
who were already hardened villains, form
ed themselves into a band of freebooters
and had gone, it was supposed, to tn
mountain passes, to intercept and rob tn
nart;es sent from Chile for the relief o
! the sufferers.
In the Jesuit church there was preach
. inv that night. The services had jus
concluded, and the congregation wa
shont disnersing, when the shock came
The few who had reached the plaza wer
saved but the walls aud roof of the build
ing fell inwagd with crash, and prizes
and penitent together were hurried int
eternity.
The latest advices from Mendoza repre-
.ant tha si,ffaring 10 be extreme there be
ing neither food, clothing nor shelter 70
The survivors, everything being buried be
meath the ruins. They also stated tha