Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-05-18
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Great Earthquake in South America
Frighlful Scenes.

A brief announcement Of the great EARTH
quake in South America, on March 20, has
already appeared The following statement
is from mail rider named Bruno, who was 40
eye witness =
Bruno stated that he arrived at Mendoza
on the morning of the Goth that OF half.past
8 T. NJ. brlel but excessively violeu: shock
OF earthquake, lasting but SIX or eight SO.
conds, destroyed every building, public and
private, 10 the city, and that the number who
were enabled to escape was very limited
The strsets being narrow, the buildings high
and the inhabitants totally unused to such
phenomena, were para yzed with terror, aud
neglected to seek refuge n the open courts
Of their dwellings until too late. The Post
master was buried beneath the ruins OF the
Post Office, the Governor was missing and
when asked why he brought no certificate
that the mails were lost, the messenger re.
piled, there was none left to write il nor
materials to write with"
The aspect presented by the city after the
frs. shock was terrific. Hoarse subterranean
thunders deafened the air, animals of all kinds
rushed trantically through the open spaces
bowling, the earth opened and vomted forth
floods of water. while, to crown the scene of
horror, flames burst from the ruins an5 con.
sumed nearly tho entire business portion of
the city, with its dead, its dying and its
wounded.
On the 29th a number Of letters were re.
ceived here aud Of Santiago by relatives aud
friends OF Chilians residing in Mendoza, but
the hope, until then entertained, that the
earlier accounts were exaggerated, soon gave
way to the dreadful certainty that the calam.
ty had not yet been painted in coors suGi-
oia In xisiI asi
tremble, the few walls that had resisted the
first shock one by one fell, until now no
vestge of building remains The mountain
roads are 10 o mos. dangerous condition, not
only on account OF the huge masses of rock
that have already fallen and obstrueted the
road. but because the vibration of the earth
is still hurting .hem down from the heights
above into the valleys.
The gauchOS, or natives OF the surrounding
country fastened to the spot, not to assist
the needy or aid in rescuing the wounded
from lingering death, but to seek for plum.
der among the smoking ruins, aud to snatch
the little saved from the wretched survivors.
One gentleman, writing from thence, after
describing these horrors, says :-"l believe
that 10 few days we shall have no other
law here than that of the poiguard."
The prison was destroyed out of one hun
dred inmates ninety-two persisted. The re.
naming eight, who were already hardened
villains, formed themselves into band of
! freebooters, and had gone, it was supposed,
20 the mountain passes, to intercept aud rob
the parties sent from Chill for the relief of
the sufferers. One woman was found robbed
and murdered by the roadside. She was re.
cognized as one who was on her way to Men.
doza to see her family, They, too, had all
persisted On the Goth.
In the Jesuit Church there was preaching
that night. The services had just concluded,
and the congregation was about dispensing.
when the shock came. The few who had
reached the plaza were saved, but the walls
aud roof of the building fell inward with Q
crash, aud priest and p"nii"at together were
hurried iato etsroiil,