New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-31
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
THE FEARFUL EARTHQUAKE AT MENDOz

THE FEARFUL EARTHQUAKE AT MENDOZA.
From Our Own Correspondent.
Bussos AYBEs, 8. A., April 8, 1861.
You have doubtless hearu that Of the mort fear
full earthquakes on record occurred Ut Mendoza, Tho
capital Of tie Province Of Menduzs, of the Argentine
Confederation, at ~ p m. on Wednesday, March ~.
No premonition was given in the air or sky. Inc
trembling of the earh began without any volcanic ex'
element in the region in which The volcanoes abound,
50 far a. We have yet learned. No time was given 70
the alarmed people To escape to the more open portion
OF the city, TO the public squares; In two or three
minutes IL WIS over not one house remained standing,
and OF population Of 10000 souls not 900 can any.
where be fou;id among the living. Not family RI.
mains entire, and of tie persons who still live, large
numbers sniler with broken limbs or Commissions.
During the trembling, the ground heaved a. the
bosom Of the ocean does under heavy storm, and men
attempting to run wonld lie frequently thrown upon
the ground This undulatins motion Of the earth ex-
tended for leagues around the city, Some who escaped
from the falling walls fell int the chasns which opened
every wbere and as suddenly closed. Shocks were
felt az inter, als for two days.
The furtbestSeacb OF the trembling from east 70
west snd we expect have many torther accounts Of
los 70 record IL tie City OF Bpeuos Ayres, 1000
rifles 10 the east the shock affected the umepiecee
that all clocks ID 20 with pen'inlnns stopped ~ the
moment OF tee fill Of Mehdoza. We nave ~ yet no
news from Chill but travellers some dietance 10 the
w,st Of Mendoza i.lt yiol-nt shock and nav vast
cloud Of asi.s lat that leads 10 expect accounte
Of volcanic eruption along the Andes.
The people, with only their clohipg, gathered npoo
the bills and in tie do ss, sh-e, and without
food, except from fruits IT, Two days they had to
further escape pestilnco that threatened 70
follow the exposure OF 80 many Putreiyiny bodies.
What avail bile III the wreck Was plnndered bya
band Of desperad who came ia from the suburos.
A perf nj Il of al llli nue A
imagined What was once ity, well bull aud
wealthy, is now almost le, el mis~ OF ruins. Not Q
wall remains; not street GU re passed BY horse
man. IL is utterly iucap,bla Qf being rebuilt. We
havo counts Of cut pry si,iaus who sped with
life aud iub The Winter OF T. l. hnirnde ~ jast com,
menciDg and not ouy has poverty suddenly des ended
all tile people, but also every family suffers from
accident, aud every industrial purpo Is totally sus-
pended.
The calamity has called out universal sympathy:
The National Government iml' ediaIey appropriated
25dO0 Spanish dollars and sent Two physicians WIN ~
Tie province Of Buenos Ayres ave al once *ioVu,
and The from other sources such ae soces
ties, ohnrcl,s, Mhols, aud private ndividuas VIII
make 500 OJU more. Monte Video gives $l0OOV, aud
all the villages aud cities OF i great valley are re-
spending according 10 their ability =.
collection was taken Ia the American u. e.
Church Last night, amounting 20 about $50. Other
f,rr2n churches here will do more. Physicians also
have none from this city.
Mendoza il, or was, about 200 miles east Of Vel.
paralso Oh the eastern side OF the great Andes chain
Of mountains, in lat. 80 SO south hong. ITO g west 10
the mds,o beautiful plain nearl, 3000feet above The
sea, and SO miles from the volcano Of AcoIcagua. u
was built chiefly Of sund'ied brick, and had many 6ns
buildings and beautiful ganiens and orcharda Il had
good parish church, some converts, and y spacious
alameda, or promenade, mile lng, and shaded by tall
popars Mendoza was the enttepxt of trade betvean
Buenos Ayres and Chill and was place of eopsior.
able commercial importanSs.--Ed. IrsSl et