Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-01-02
THE EARTHQUAKE AT ST.
THOnaA
Report from the Late Admiral Palmer
Extraordinary Effects OF the
Shocks Upon the Seas.


Shocks Upon the Sens.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. ~.
The Navy Department received thi
morning the following report of the recen
disaster at st. Thomas, written by the lat
Rear-Admiral Palmer:
The report is dated Flagship Susoue
hanna (Firs. Rate), ST. Thomas, w. /.
November 10, 1867. and is as follows:
SIR: / beg TO inform the department g
an extraordinary occurrence, producin:
much disaster, which took place in thi
harbor, yesterday afternoon. The weathe
was clear, though extremely hot-barome
ter 30. While writing in my cabin, abou
2:30 p. m, my attention was called by
sudden tremor seizing the ship, increasin:
in intensity, accompanied by sound re
sembling the grinding OF a vessel upon /:
rough bottom, then gradually subsiding nm
Ill it ceased, the whole lasting about two
minutes. l recognized it Immediately a.
an earthquake, and looking toward thu
town saw from the dust and confusion there
had been destruction among its buildings
Concluding II was now over, resumed my
occupation, and had been seated about ter
minutes when the report was brought IL
me that the sea outside OF the harbor had
risen, and was coming in huge volume
as tito engulf US all. Invent on deck, and
here the extraordinary spectacle of aheavy
wall of sea some twenty feet in height, APP
parently distant about three miles, wai
coming toward the harbor with terrible
power. The second anchor was immedi-
ately dropped, and men were sent to the
helm, which was alive could do and then
we stood 10 meet it as it advanced with a
diminishing line of iumultuous rollers in
front. | saw with some comfort that il
came from s. S. W.. and would conse-
quently strike the entrance of The harbor
in an Obliquc direction. With feeling of
awe we awaited its arrival. 1t came rushing
on tumbling over the rocks that formed the
entrance, carrying everything before it. A
small steamer and sailing vessel, that were
trying 10 get in were at once engulfcd. and
never again seen, and the vessels at anchor
near the entrance were lifted from their
moorings and carried on the rocks 10 lee
ward. Receiving this check, the heavy
rollers swept Tito the harbor. The DcSoto,
which was anchored outside ofus, was ~
ing rather broadside TO, was carried from
her moorings, both chains Swapping and
she was thrown upon the iron piles Of a
new wharf lately constructed. The next
roller swept her off into deep water again,
and soon she made signals that she was
leaking. In the meanwhile, however. We
had risen from the rollers, which we met
nearly stem on, encountcring three in sue
cession, the anchors and chains holding on
bravely. The sea was now rushing in andl
receding with great violence The sunkenI
wrecks were rising; the shipping il. The
harbor, swept from their moorings, werel
coming into us every few minutes, and the !
smaller craft in-shore were lifted up and
thrown Into the street and left stranded
Along the wa.er-fronts boats were cap
sized and in the water were men seen In
Nj directions swimming for their lives. At
asst the water in the lay subsidized into n
'ort of whirlpool. and so soon as we could
With any propiiety man our boats they |
we're sent to the rescue Of the drowning |
men. Several were picked up, one already |
lead. The DeSoto was now adrift, whirl- |
nc about the harbor, her pumps going, and |
,etting up her steam. As rapidly as pos
IDLE went on board of her, and fou ndshe /
'ould keep herselffree, and with her steam /
Up and two Hedges down she would remain /
n safety for the night. Constant shocks
# earthquake occurred every ten or fifteen
minutes, and so continued with more or
ess severity through the night, and as / am
ow writing this is still going on. The
amage on shore has been far more ruin
us 10 the merchants than that occasioned
y the hurricane. The first heavy rolls
rent up into the town. swapping the stores,
'hich were mostly on the Bay point, float
~ out and finally strandiDg their goods in
nheard-of directions. The panic that
eized the inhabitants was painfui-rushing
p the hillside, crying for mercy, and lis
ening 10 no attempts to pacify them. As
went ashore in the evening found that
II the stone dwellings were abandoned.
nd their owners in the streets, or i'm the
wooden buildings ofther friends, the alarm
eing still kept up by the constant shocks
hat were still occurring. This morning
he shocks are less frequent, and the bay
'erfectly quiet. The English mail steamer
which had lately arrived, and was coaling
n the bay on the other side of the harbor,
vas as near being wrecked as possible. Her
passengers speak OF having felt the shock
s we did, and. looking behind them, saw
mall islet in the rear was cleit in twain,
nd flame and smoke issuing from the is I
ure. Shortly afterward the sea arose and /
ame we'l-nigh carrying them down; their
ables parted, but they were thrown, most
under Ice which placed them |
n comparative safety. The passengers,
II but three females who were lost in the /
urf, reached the shore. 90. III
Just now a vessel has arrived from Santa /
,ruz, bringing an officer of the Mononga-
lela, who brought in verbal message from |
Bissel saying the shock of the
had been me It violent at that |
the sea had -isen and thrown
lis vessel high and dry on The beach, and /
hat three of his men who were in the boats |
longside were drowned. leave this eve
ling to see what assistance can render
lin. The damage sustained by this ship
5 not material.
Very respectfully, your obedienf servant,
JosEPH L. PALMER,
Rear Admiral com ding n. A. Squadron. |
TO Hon. Gideon Welles, Washington, ID. c. |
Tweniy-three millions of gold dollars