New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-05
PARTICULARS or THE EARTHQUAKE.

A letter in The Heoaid dated Valparaiso, April 80,
gives the following account Of the destruction Of the
city Of Mendoza
With feelings Of deep regret have 10 Announce to
Won the destruction OF the city OF Mendoza, In the
Argentine Republic, by an earthquake, on the eyeni
| Of the 10Th Of March last AT thar date at half
past D. m slight but prolonged vibration Of the earth
was ,lt in this city aud In San'iago simultaneously.
Most Of the churches depsey hed, II being near
the clo-e II Lent, and soue alarm and confusion ws
created, but serious accidents occurred ana iran
| guilty was restored.
On Sunday, the 2tb however, general gloon was
east THU city by the announcement by telegraph
from the capital that Benigno Bruno, the mil rider
had arrived from Mendoza that morniog without u
mail, bring the distressing that there remained
but heap Of ruins 10 point the spot where few days
before had stood thriving andPopulouS city OF 10 900
souls
morning of the 10Th; that at - O'Clock u. brief but
excessively violent shock Of earthquake, la,tng but
six eight seconds, destroyed every building, public
and private In the city, and that the number who were
enabled 10 escape Was very limited. The streets icing
narrow, the buildings high, aud the nihiants totally
unused to such phenomena were paralyLed with ter
ror and neglected 70 seek refuge IN the open courts Of
their dwellings until to late The Postmaster was
buried beneath the ruins Of the Office, the Gov
ernor was missing, aud when asked why he brought
certificate that the mails Were lost the messenger
replied There one left 70 write IL, nor mate
rails TO write WITH
The aspect presented by the city after the first
shock via terrific. lloaTse subterranean thnnders
filed the air animals Of all kinds rushed inneay
through the open spaces howlug the earth opened and
vonited forth floods Of water, while, TO crown the
Of horror, flames burst from the ruins and con-
sumed nearly the entire business portion Of the city,
with it, dead, its dying, and its wounded.
Ga the 18th, number OF letters were received here
and at by relatives and friends OF Chilans
siding in Mendoza but the hope, until then entertained,
that the earlier accounts were exaggerated soon gave
way the dreadfuleetanty that the calii,y had not
yet been painted colors sufficiently vivid. The earth
sill continued to tremble the few walls that had re-
sisted the rt shock by one fell, until now 10 yes-
te Of bull iing remains. The mountiin roads are IN
most dangerous condition. not only On account Of the
huge Of rock that have already fallen and OBJ
sructed tic road, bat because the vibration OF the
earth is still hurting them down iIom the nights above
into the valleys.
The Qapch5s or natives Of the surrounding country,
hastened to the spot, not TO assist the needy aid in
reeeung tho wounded from lingering DEATH but TO
seek for plumber among the smoking ruins, aud 10
snatch the little saved from the wretcbed SURVIVOR.
One gentleman wiring from thence after describing
tbss horrors says" believe that ia few days we
shall have other law here than that of the pognard
The prison was destroyed; out Of one hundred in
mates, ninetytwo perished. The remaining eightAyho
were already hardened villains formed themselves into
band of freebooters and had gone It was supposed
~ the mountain passes, TO intercept and rob tho par
ties sent from Chill for the relief Of the sufferers.
One woman was found robbed and murdered by the
roadside. She was recognized No one who OH her
way Mendoza to sec her family. They, too had all
perished ON the 10Th.
la the Jesuit Church there was preaching that night
The service had Just concluded and the congregation
was about dspersng, when the shock came. The few
who tad reached tho plaza were saved but the walls
and roof Of the building fell inward with craah, and
preift sad penient together were hurried into eternity
The llesst sdyiW Gsn Mendoza rsPrscsns vssu4cEs