Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-10-21

time she was in danger of being hurled
against the rocky base Of the fort. Provi-
dentially she met each successive flow and
recoil of the sea, and after eleven of these
tidal waves had rolled in awful majesty, her
position was at least tw, English miles in
land from high water mark. How we'll she
underwent this trying ordeal is quite aston
ishing.
The only person lost belonging to the
Wateree was the boat keeper of the gig He
was Scotchman named TAFT, who. in this
last life-scene displayed the native heroism
| OF his race. The frail craft and it's sole Oc-
cupant were carried out on the crest of the
! first tidal wave, and thrown back TO shore
again with the returning foam of the liquid
mountain. The bold mariner saw it at once
and seemed to be fully aware Of his impend-
ing doom. Selling the gigs ensign in his
! right hand, he stood for moment erect in
the stern sheets Of the boat, and waved to
his comrades q last adieu. All on board his
ship looked on this tragic scene with breath
less, melancholy interest. He continued to
wave the American flag in the midst of this
elemental horror, but the second recol of
the angry waters dashed the gig TO pieces,
and swallowed the hardy sailor SO that he
was seen no more.
AS soon as the worst phrase Of the earth
quake was over, and when only occasionally
ing the Wateree began. Ali her guns and
Tea stores were taken out. Every thing that
could be spared was contributed for the
comfort of the wretched inhabitants of the
town, who, in such brief period, were
reduced to the verge of despair.
Only two buildings in the town bore the
brunt of the first shock. The custom house
and single church, on the main plaza, still
stood but the church bowed its sacred
head 10 the next upheaye, and two additional
shocks shattered the custom house. The
rest Of the town at once laid in & heap
of ruins. All the damage was accomplished
in q moment; und Iiny in twinkling the la
Dor of years. The buildings generally in
the town of africa were constructed of adobe
blocks, peculiar species of clay worked up
and dried in the sun. The walls were gener-
ally thick, broad a the base, and intended
especially 10 Withstand these periodical
throes of nature. Notwithstanding all archi
tectural precautiou, not house was spared
all being literally shaken to pieces. Those
who were in their places of business, those
who were about their domestic duties, with
hundreds who walked abroad, were instantly
buried alive among the tumblirg ruins.
Youth, manhood, old age, strength, beauty
all met their inevitable fate unwarned.
The spires of the church loomed up for awhile /
amidst the surrounding desolation, like
huge sentinel among the battle fields of the
Titans. africa had ceased to exist. Those
who were not at once engulphed were seen
running wildly hither and thither, some
betaking themselves TO the highlands in the
vicinity, others fleeing for protection to the
fortified rock and still others frantcally call
ing upon those who responded to their cries
no more. But while this reign of terror
prevailed, while men stood on the verge of
eternity, the bad instincts OF the baser sort
prevailed. There seemed to be regard
for death, no regard for humanity. The
native soldiers. who are also the daily
and nightly police, exhibited the example of
themselves prOwling in every direction in
quest of valuables. which were strewn all
around.
The railroad depot and everything connec-
ted with 1t was swept away, and great dam
'ge sustained by the track throughout it's
entire course The tidal waves did most of
damage along the shore, and the beach for
mies was strewn with the debris of ships,
and houses and utensils of all descriptions
rhe inhabitants were thus literally thrown
naked on the world
As soon the destruction of the Fredona
became known to the Admiral he came to
the scene in mis- flagship the POwhatan. The
survivors of the Fredonla and the crew OF
the Wateree were at once taken on board
All of the men whose term of service had
already expired were sent TO the United
States in the mail-ship. The assistance rem
dered TO the suffering people by the Ameri-
can ships was of course slight, but recev,d d
with every mark of gratitude, and it is
hoped that this may he only the prelude to a
more extensive national bensfaction.