Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-10
South Amsiican Earthquakes-Appsal to
the United States for Aid.

bouth American Eartnq quhkes-hppehi "
the United States for Aid.
WASHINGTON, October 4-Mr. Seward,
Secretary of State, has received accounts
of the terrible earthquake in South Amer
lea from United States Minister Alvin p.
Hovey, dated Lima, Peru, September IA,
as follows:
SIR: In my dispatches Nos. l44 and
las, dated the 22d and 28th of August,
respectively, / gave you slight account
of the terrible earthquake, which, on the
18th ultimo, laid desolate large part of
Peru; and now again it is my painful duty
to inform you that large and the most
prolific part Of the Republic of Ecuador
is in ruins, caused by similar shock
at half past one on the morning of the
10th Of the same month. This earthquake
seems to have had its center in the prov.
ince of Imbabura, near the volcano of
Ocsmps. about sixty miles north of the
city of Quito Eight towns, with the ad-
joining hacendias aud populations, are
said to have been destroyed, numbering
from forty to fifty thousand inhab-
itants. The cities of Otavat6 and Gotta
.cachi, containing respectively about
twelve and eight thousand inhabitants,
aad both situated on the shores ofythe
lake Mojanda, are said to have been
swallowed up, with their entire popula-
tions, and their sites have become part
of the lake. The city of Ibarra, with
population of thirteen thousand, is totally
destroyed, only about three thousand of
the inhabitants escaping, and the town of
Atuntaque leveled with the earth, burying
all its inhabitants in the ruins. Nor is
the Injury confined to the cities and
towns, but all of the hacendias OF the
province, the richest in Ecuador, growing
sugar and grain and producing large
numbers of cattle and sheep, have, as it
were, been swept out of existence.
Quito did not suffer in the same ratio
in the loss of life, but its walls and houses
are destroyed The most of its inhabi-
tants, including the English charge de
afaires, Mr.. Hamilton, with his large
family, were driven to the open square
or plaza, in the center of the city, and
he. more fortunate than the others, is now
enjoying the great luxury of tent,
while thousands of the best citizens are
without shelter. To bighten the gloom,
-despondency and misery of all, the tep-
rife thunder storms of the tropics seem to
have redoubled their force, and have
literally deluged the whole country. The
losses Of Imbabura will cause great suf-
fering in Quito, as nearly all the neces-
saries of life for that city were drawn
from that province. The difficulty of
conveying food from Guayaquil will be
very great, as the journey requires twelve
days severe travel with mules, carrying
small burdens over rugged and precip-
itous mountains, deep gorges and narrow
passes If relief in some form is not
speedily given, many of the sufferers will
be compelled to reach the sea shore or
perish.
Extracts from private letters and pub
lie documents, published in the Lima
journals, show the destruction and desti-
tuition to which have referred. Indeed,
these shocks have almost ruined the re-
public of Ecuador. The mentioned rep. |
reservations have been fully. corrobo-
rated by the statements of his Excel |
lency Don Antonio Flores, plenipoten-
tiary of Ecuador in Peru. In Peru also,
as / have heretofore informed you,
proud and rebellious Arequipa is leveled
with the dust; africa, swept from the !
seashore, with but one solitary house
whilst the district and city of |
Mouueuua, with its rich villages, vine
yards and hacendias are but the wrecks
of things that were. Had the earth
quake in Peru taken place at night time,
as it did in Ecuador, the loss of life
would have exceeded one hundred thou
sand souls. As it was, that loss in Peru
is less, but the loss of property is far
greater.
Want, hunger and famine in these now
unhappy countries are striding through
all classes in the midst of the unburied
dead aud a general paralzstiou of
thought and action seems to pervade the
land. This is, no doubt, caused by the
continuous shocks since, and the great
fear of ether cslamities, and to add to
the CONSERVATION of the weak, fearful
and helpless, robbers in some localities
are said to be sscking and pillaging
everything within their reach.
/ take great pleasure in informing you
hat Rear Admiral Thomas Turner, Cap
ain McDougal, Commanders James II.
Hillis, James S. Thornton, Austin PEN
iergrast and the other officers and crews
IF their commands in our navy, near the
scene of danger, have done all that noble
brave sailors coald do to allie
rate the sufferings Of all within their
each.
The generosity OF our country in days
zone by has left a record that will never
,e forgotten. Greece, Poland, Hungary
md ireland, with no greater, If not far
ess, claims for aid and charity, have found
hat in the United States there were feel
ng hearts and open hands for those who
leeply suffer- Will not our generous
learted countrymen add Peru and Ecu
dor IN their noble lisi7 Our govern
nent, / know, can do no more than has
,een done by our navy, but most
earnestly urge and entreat that you ap-
zeal to the good men Of our country TO aid !
y charity the suffering people Of Peru !
md Ecuador. Let those who gave bread
o starving Ireland repeat their generos-
ty, aud let the Protestant and Catholic
lov join aud vie with each other in show
M by their works that the Christians
reed means good will aud charity toward
h.s- fsllow-rnen. and let All othara who