New-York tribune., 1868-10-05
THE soUrH AMERIcAN EARTHQUAKES.

ECUADOR IN RUINS-OfTICIAL LETTER TO SIC
RETARY SEWARD.
WASHINGTON. Oct 4-The following correspond
encn is published by direction of the Secretary OF
State:
LEGATION or TUE UNITED srATEs
m .f .l LIMA, Peru, sept. H. 1868.
To ae Ron WILLIAM H. SEWARD Secretary Of Stafe Of te
81, United STATES.
sIR; In my dispatches Nos iA and l45 dated the 22d
and 2sth OF August respectively gave you slight ac
count OF tho terrible catastrophe which, on the iSth
utmo laid dcsoato large part OF Peru, and now again
"a my painful duty 20 inform you that large ana the
most prolific part OF the Republic OK Ecuador ~ In
ruins caused by similar shock at II O'Clock on inc
morning OF the 18th OF the month This earthquake
seems 10 have had center III the Province OF lmDabu
ra near the volcano OF Ocampo about GO miles north OF
the city Of Quito Eight towns with the adjoining hac
endna and popultons are said TO have been destroyed
numbering from 10000 TO $4,000 inhabitants The cites OF
Otavato aud Cotacnohi, containing respectively ABOUT
70 600 and 5000 Inhabitants and both situated on the
,hofes OF the Lake Moanda, said to have been sw7
ioTed nm with their entire populations, and their sites
buvs become n part OF the lake. Tho CITY OK iDarra
with population OF 1900, Is totally destroyed ohy
about 5000 Of the Inhabitants escappg and the town OF
Auntaque levcled with the earth, bui ing III us ape
ant. in i,s runs Norris thesnnry confined to the Giles
and towns but all Of tho haciendas OF the
nrovi vinces the richest In Ecuador, growing sugar
aud grain, and producing large numbers OF
cat aud sheep have as WERE pee sWePs v' ~ tha
wisnce Quito did not suffer- In the saine ratio IN ,he
ioss Of lfc walls aud houses are & @ rms
most OF lis inhabitants. including the English Snargo
driven 10 the open square OF plaza IN Tue center " .o
city, and he, more fortunate inan the nas or tho
io,nc he great luxury OF tent while VI .no
best citizens are without shelter 10 nslen ehc
s ,SoSc, rnS seem to have
and have literally deluged the whole country. no
IN q" I@saSass sSs that city
rom that province The difficulty OF CONVEYING yaa
iooo ina V ,onrney requires IL days severe travel
with nulcs carrying small burdens, over rugged aia
precptous mountan deep gorgs ara na,pow ~ the
snrera will be compelled TO reach the sen so,e VI
nerIsh Extracts from private letters, ana pupy uoou
ipcnts published in the LIMA aaTasd spd Ssstntion to
Sbch have referred indeed these shocks nave aimoss
ruined tho Republic Of Ecuador The mehIo%s" @ % sptS
sentations haye been Yy p HpoDo Pores Pienipocn
tary Of Ecuador In Peru IN fer, MI, 90 Areonipa ia
Informed YOU proud sna tsn the sea shore
S,h hnt one solitary house remaining, while the
and CITY Of Moguena, with its rieh viafs' 81 thines
yards, and haciendes are sno pu. .no n Peru taken
nlsse .has vat at nghttIme as Il did In SbsI Ecuadof
h'' ihe loss cf life would have ,o. efSredse nat ise
souls As was that Sss % n fsru unrer and famine
Classes in the midst Of the nnbnred den a the
of Thought and action seems 10 w.
h 40 M Doubt caused by the continuous SHOCKS
ncc and the great fear OF other caIalitcs a n,ass
to the CONSERVATION oi the to he sackng and pil.
M ,arvthlng within their reach TAKE stc.s & p
iastS SsopwIHs Won that RearAdmira Thomas s
INT McDoncal Commanders james II. r'is, @ "rs nd
Iap. 4stn Prenlergast, and the othor oce,s n ~
cretSa OF their commands III our naNy, hrae sailors
daugcr have done Nil that nopehen,se", s,,gs Of all
oo9Lia oo9Lia u1 u1tbeir reach The generosity OF ol 1nr our
couutiy IN days gone by. has ictt iooo'u 'h'' W."