Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-05-15

CTlplIOn Ol lHe eultntudhc III CtlIi lIoiA
the Valparaiso correspondent Of the New
York Herad,
VALPARAISO, April 3D., 1861.
With feelings Of deep regret have to
announce to you the utter destruction OF
the city of Mendoza in the Argentine Re-
public, by an earthquake, on the evening
OF the Goth march last. At that date, at
hall past eight p. NJ, slight, but prolong,
el vibration of the earth was felt in this
city and in Santiago simultaneously. Most
Of the churches were densely filled, it be.
ing near the close of Lent, and some al,
arm and confusion was created, but uo Sc
rlous accidents occurred, and tranquility
was soon restored.
On Sunday, the 9th, however, a gener-
al gloom was cast over this city by the an,
nouncement by telegraph from the capi,
tai that Benigno Brunc, the mail rider,
had arrived from Mendoza that morning
without mail, bringing the distressing
news that there remained but heap Of
ruins to point the spot where, few days
before, had stood thriving and popuious
city of 900 souls.
Bruno stated that he arrived at Mendo'
"a OF the morning Of the 10th that at
half past eight Z. NJ, a briet bat excessive
ly violent shock of eagthquake, lasting
but six or eight second, destroyed every
building, public acd private, in tho city,
and that the number who were enabled to
escape was very limited. The streets be-
ing narrow, the buildings high, and the
inhabitants totally unused TO such phen-
omena, were paralyzed with terror, and
neglected to seek refuge in the open
caurts of their dwellings until too LATE
The Postmaster 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 replied, there was no one left
to write it, nor any materials to write
with"
The aspect presented by the city after
the first shock was terrific. lIoarse sub
terran can thunders Geafened the air, ami
mails of all ginds rushed frantically thro'
the open spaces bowling, the earth open
&c and vomited forth floods of water
while, TO crown the scene of horror, flames
burst from the ruins and consumed near
ly the entire business portion Of the city
with its dead, its dying, and its wounded.
On the 2Sth q number of letters were
received here and at Santiago by relatives
and friendsof Chileans residing in Mendo-
"a, but the hope, until tnen entertained,
that the earlier accounts were exaggera-
ted, soon gave way to the dreadful Ger
tainty that the calamity had not yet been
painted in colors sufficiently vivid. The
earth still continued to tremble, the few
IL, L.. ii lal oh
by one fell, until now no vesige of
building remains. The mountain roads
are in a mos. dangerous condition, not
only on account of the huge masses Of
rock that have already fallen and obs
structed the road, but because the vibra.
tion of the earth is still hurling them
down from the heights above into the val.
leys.
The gauchoS, or natives of the surroun-
ding country fastened to the spot, not TO
assist the needy or aid in rescuing the
wounded from lingering death, but to
seek for plunder among the smoking ruins
and to snatch the little saved from the
wretched survivors. One gentleman wrio
ting from thence, after describing these
horrors, says -" believe that we shall
have no other law here than that Of the
poignard."
The prison was destroyed; out Of one
hundred inmates ninety-two perished.--
The remaining eight, who were already
hardened villains, formed themselves into
a band of frsebOoters, and had gone, it
was supposed, to the mountain passes, to
intercept and rob the parties sent from
Chile far the relief Of the sufferers. One
woman was found robbed and murdered
by the roadside. She was recognized as
one on her way to Mendoza to see her
family. They too all had perished on the
Goth.
IN the Jesuit church there was preach-
ing that night. The services had Just
concluded, and the congregation cbout