Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-09-26


engulfcd in the ruins On entering the
first street. the author describes himself as
struck dumb with horror at the sight. As
he pazed along the whole length of the
street not single house was to hc seen
standing All was a confused mass Of
beams and bricks, which filled up the street
on level with what remained of the walls
on either side. The only portion Of an edi-
flee that remained entire was that of the
theatre the roof of which he assembled, and
saw for a mile round nothing but chaotic
mass of ruins. One of the survivors thus
tells his tale:
RURIED ALIVE.
He was paying visit to some friends in
a house situate near the AlmCda, ahd at
about half-past p. VI. arose to retire. He
stood ut the table in the centre of the room
and was in the act OF lighting cigar, when
the shock, preceded by loud rumbing
noise, was first felt it was slow for II mo-
mont in the beginning. but from the noise
lie concluded it was going to be something
more than ordinary, so he rushed into the
street and ran down the centre intending,
if possible. to reach the Almcda He was
accompanied 10y Il most intimate friend, who
was close behind him, and had only run
some twenty PAGES when he felt as If he had
been struck heavy blow on the lack of the
head. and was lCrur down to the G.irth in
moment. His hands were stretched ont III
advance Of his head, and, on attempting to
rise. he found he Could rot even move II
Il finger the weight upon hs back appeared
To him enormous. and with great difficulty
could he breathe. His face was fat on the
pavement, and every time he rcspircd hu
Inhaled II quantity of dust. still lis senses
were 6ll perfect, nor did he experience pain
oi any description.
His companion, who had also been thrown
down close 10 him. called out for .Uccor in
a feeble voice, When hc replied, and begged
ot him not to waste his little remaining
strength in useless efforts to obtain assistance
as no one would hc likely to pass there for
some time. The other responded incohc-
rcntiy. and by his No;c" evirCcd much suffer
in%. In few minutes all was over! The
spirit had fed, My friend lwhom we will
call Don DOmrgo) now began to reflect on
his own condition. and to consider by what
means lac could enable his position to he
made know to some paSscr-hy. lie c0ncu-
dcd that from the severity of the shock the
entire town. or at least the greater part of
ii, must have been destroyed: and that in
such cnEc the watcrCOurse or stream. in the
Almcda, must be ui.structCd by the fallen
houses, and would naturally rise over the
consequently he would he drowned Then
he knew that such catuslrophcs are gene
rally followed 10y coniiagr0tinns among the
ruins in which case lac would inevitably be
burned The possible, nay probable, tcrmi-
nation Of his existence, by burning or drown
ing was to him fearful contemplation but
neither half so herrible ms anothcr-thr in
cvitahe fate which must await him in case
of his not being found out 10y his friends.
lie knew that the town was infested With
rats and vcrmiI of all kinds, and that soon
er or later, they would not fail 10 find him
out among the thousands of victims, en-
tomhcd like himself beneath az least six feet
deep of "adobcs": this, together with the
conviction that he must pine away day by
day and little by little, and eventually die
of exhaustion and starvation. were the
dreadful thoughts which rushed through
his already heated brain. and nearly drove
him mad.
! lie remained thus watching and waiting
for nearly two hours, during which he never
/ heard Il sound from the entire world. Sud
/ denly he thought he heard weeping and
/ footsteps above him. lie was right; and
/ called ont rs loudly rs possible for assist
ance. To his delight he was heard, and the
person replied. hut refused to render him
any assistance. as nc was engaged locking
for his family, who had been also buried
Nearly another hour passed away without
soul passing. Almost intcrminahlc seemed
( that hour of misery and anxiety to the poor
Old man. At last he again heard some
voices at a distance, apparently in dispute
! They came nearer and were more distinct
he could distinguish the words. and heard
the following "SCa0r. Is impoSyHc' : jor
aq~i no Sc Pnedc pa@ar Il cocie I' (Sir, is it
| impossible for the coach to pass here ~
| To ms great JOY he recognized the voice rs
that of coachman he had been in the habit
of employing, and Immediately called out
| to him-"GOnZales , Gonzales !" The man
I aSwurcd, "Nho calls me r IT'S |, Don
! Domingo responded my friend Il am
! buried here beneath the ruins, and cannot
move. For Gods sake help me to get
| out
| The man Gonzales, after asccrtaining who /.
my friend was, and marking the position, ,
went in search Of some tools to cXcavate.
/ and at least afford him some mir to breathe I
! freely. He snon returned, and after half nm |
hours hard work cleared considerable /
! space around my friends head, aud finally |
removed the las: brick which covered it
On the fresh cold air being suddenly admitt- !
ed to him he tainted an remained inseus- /
/ for short time When he came to he |
! found himself half out of his late prison, his
preSeWer still cndoavoring to cXtIicate him
with all his strength. The pressure was,
! however, great upon his legs that it re
! quired their united efforts to accomplish it. |
| lie made an attempt to stand upright, but
his legs refused their office, and he dropped
backwards, eXclaiming that he could not
walk. Gonzalez now told him that he had
done all he possibly could for him and
said that as some of his own family were
missing, he must return and search for them
among the ruins
Leaving this ruined city, the author pro
I ceeded 10 san Juan, the centre of mining
operations, where lac remained six months,
To the sportsman is offered in this re.
gion the inducement of hunting huanaoos
Ia species of llama) and ostrichrs, shooting
four distinct species of partridges, and AN
occasional encounter with the pumAs, of
which, in conclusion, we extract the follow
ing account;
now THR Ass SERVES TnE PUMA.
A minute had scarcely elapsed, when q
distant shout up the valley announced that
my suspicious were tolerably correct and
that an attack had been made by the puma
ON the mules. Leaving some of the men In
charge of the camp. istarted OIL AZ fall speed