The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-05-17
Total Destruction, by an Earthquake,
of the City Of Mendoza

AoI"A DesIructtOu, W an earthquake,
of the City Of Mendoza.
A correspondent from Valparaiso, writing
on the Sd OF April, gives the particulars oil
one OF the most terrible affairs, if true, OF
the e. The city of Mendoza in the Ar
gentne Republic, South America, with
$4,000 inhabitants, was completely de-
stroyed by an earthquake on the evening OF
tn 10th of March last. The mail carrier
from there describes the awful affair:
Bruno stated that he arrived at Mendoza
on the morning of the Goth that at half
past eight P. NJ, a brief but excessively vo-
lent shock OF earthquake, lasting but six or
eight seconds, destroyed every building,
public and private, in the city, and that the
number who were enabled tc escape was
very limited. The streets being narrow.
the buildings high, and the inhabitants
totally unused to such phenomena, were
paralyzed with terror, and neglected to seek
refuge in the open courts 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 materials to write
with"
The aspects presented by the city after
the first shock was terrible. Hoarse sub.
terranean thunders deafened the air, animals
OF all kinds rushed frantically through the
open spaces bowling, the earth opened and
vomited forth floods of water, while, to
crown the scene of horror, flames burt from
the ruins and consumed nearly the entire
business portion of the city, with its dead,
its dying and its wounded.
The earth still continued to tremble at
last accounts, and the few walls that had
resisted the first shock one by one fell, until
not q vestage OF a building remains. The
mountain roads are in most dangerous
condition, not only on account OF the huge
masses of rock that have already fallen and
Obstructed the road, but because the vibra-
tlon OF the earth is still hurling them down
from the heights above into the valley.
The gGuctes, or natives of the surrounds
Ing 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 writing from
thence, after describing these horrors, says ::
6 believe that in few days we shall have
no other law here than that of the poig.
nard."
The prison was destroyed but of one
hundred inmates ninety.two perished. The
remaining eight, who were already hardened
villains, formed themselves into band of
freebooters, and had gone, it was supposed,
to the mountain passes, to intercept and
rob the parties sent from Chile for the re-.
lief OF the sufferers. One woman was found
robbed and murdered by the roadside. She
was recognized as one who was on her way
to Mendoza to see her family. They too
had all perished on the 10th.
In the Jesuit church there was preaching
that night. The services had just conclu-
ded, and the congregation was about dis
persing, when the shock came. The few
who had reached the plaza were saved, but
the walls and roof of the building fell inward
with crash, and priest and penitent to.
gether were hurried into eternity.
The latest advices from Mendoza represent
the suffering to be extreme, there being
neither food, clothing nor shelter for the sur
vivors, everything being buried beneath the
ruins. They also state that San Juan and
San Luis, two other populous cities of the
Confederation, have shared like fate, the
San Juan river, after the shock, left its bed
and swept over the town, utterly destroying
what the earthquake had spared. This
news not having been fully confirmed, do
not, however, vOuch for its correctness.
As soon as this disastrous news was rem.
dered beyond question, the government and
private individuals wed with one another in
energetic efforts to send immediate relief to
their suffering brethern.
The gloom and terror spread throughout
the republic of Chile by this awful calamity
may be imagined. Situated upon an emf
nently volcanic region, we have constant
evidence of the insecurity of our tenure of
existence. Separated but by chain of
mountains from the scene of destruction,
and taug ht by sad experience the frightfui
and irresistible force Of the unheralded earth
storm, we retire each night with feeling of
terrible insecurity. This coast has been
frequently visited, in past years, by earth
quakes. Chillan has been twice destroyed;
Conception once, while Valparaiso, San.
tiago, and Copiapo have suffered severely.
No amount OF human foresight, no precau.
tion avails against the mysterious visitor,
who comes at dawn, at MONDAY, or at
midnight, and in few seconds levels to the
ground the proudest monuments of human
skill.
ANNAPOIIa Nav ii.