The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-07
THE LATE EARTHQUAKES.
A REPUBLIC IN RUINs-DETAILS OF THE TERRIFIC
LOSS OF LIFE AND PRoPERTY-APPEAL TO THE
UNITED STATES FOR AID.

Secretary Seward has received accounts of
the terrible earthquakes in South America, from
United States Minister Alvin P. Hoyey, dated
Lima, Peru, September 14th, as follows:
S1R: In my dispatches Nos. la and las,
dated the 22d and 28th of August, respective
ly. I gave you q 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 /. 80 on the morning Of tho 18th Of the same
m5nth. This earthquake seoms to have had
it's centre in the province Of Imbabura near
the volcano Of Ocamps, about sixty miles north
Of the City of Quito. Eight towns, with the
adjoining haciendas and populations, are said
to have been destroyed numbering from forty
to ffty-four thousand inhabitants. The ci-
respectively about twelve aud eight thou
sand inhabitants, and both situated on the
shores Of the Lake Mojanda, are said to have
been swallowed up, with their entire popula-
tions, and their sites have become q part of
the lake. The City of Ibarra, with a popuia-
tion of thirteen thousand, is totally destroyed,
only about three thousand OF the inhabitants
escaping, and the town Atuntaque leyelled with
the earth, burying al-its. inhabitants the
ruins. Nor is the injury confined to the cities
and towns, but all Of the hacendias OF the PROV
ince, tho richest in Ecuador, growing sugar
and grain, and producing large numbers OF
cattle and sheep, have, as ii were, been swept
out Of existence.
Quito did not suffer in the same ratio in the
loss Of life, but Its walls aud houses are de-
stroyed The most of its inhabitants, inclu-
ding the English charge d'affaires, MIR. Hamil-
ton with his lors family were driven to the open
square or Plaza in the centre OF tho city, and
he, moro fortunate than the others, is now en-
| joying the great luxury of O tent, while thou
sands of the best citizens are without shell
| ter. 10 heightcn the gloom, despondency and
misery of all, the terrific thunder.storms OF
the tropics seem to have redoubled their forces,
and have literally deluged the whole country
| The losses in Imbabura will cause great suffer-
ing in Quito, as nearly all the necessaries Of
| life for that city were drawn from that prov
ince. Tho 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 pre-
cipitous mountains, deep gorges and narrow
passes. If relief IN some form is not speedily
given many Of the sufferers will be compel ed
to reach the seashore or perish.
Extracts from private letters and public
documents published in the Lima journals,
show the destruction and destitutlon to which
have referred. Indeed, these shocks have
almost ruined the republic OF Ecuador. The
mentioned representations have been fully
corroborated by the statements OF his Excel
lency Don Antonio Flores, plenipotentiary Of
Ecuador in Peru. In Peru, also, as l have
heretofore informed you, proud and rebellious
Araquipa is leyeled with the dust; africa, swept
| froe the seashore, with but one solitary house
remaining, whilst tho District md City of
Monguegua, with its rich villages, vineyards
and haciendas, are but the wrecks Of things
that were. Had tho earthquake IN Peru taken
place at night time, as it did in Ecuador, the
| loss of life would have exceeded one hundred
Thousand souls. AS it was, the loss in Peru
is less, but the loss of property is far greater.
Want, hunger and famine in these now un-
happy countries are striding through all classes
| in the midst Of the urburied dead, and gene
| raj paralization OF thought and action seems to
pervade the land. This IS, no doubt, caused
by the continuous shocks since, and the great
fear of other calamities, and to add to the con-
sternatlon of the weak. fearful and helpless,
robbers in some localities are said to be sack
ing and pillaging everything within their reach.
take great pride in informing you that Rear
Admiral Thomas Turner, Captain McDougal,
Commanders James 81. Gllis James S. Thorn
| ton, Austin Pendergrast and the other officers
! and crews of their commands in our navy, near
the scene of danger, have done all that noble
hearted, brave sailors could do to alleviate the
sufferings OF ell within their reach.
The generosity of our country in days gone
by has loft record that will never be forgot
ton. Greece, Poland, Hungary and Ireland
with no greater, if not far less, claims for aid
and charity, have found that in the United
States there were feeling hearts and open
hands for those who deeply suffer. Will not
our generous-hearted countrymen add Peru
and Ecuador to their noble list2 Our govern
ment, I know, can do no more than has been
done by our navy, but most earnestly urge
and entreat that you appeal to the good men
OF our country to aid by charity the suffering
people OF Peru and Ecuador. Let those who
gave bread to starving Ireland repeat their
generosity, and let the Protestant and Catholic
now join and vie with each other in showing
by their works that the Christians creed
means goodwill and charity towards their
fellow men; and let all others who have heart
that can feel for the sufferings of their feiluw
beings, aid by sending mite from their riches,
to the hungry, starving, naked and desc late
people OF these two countries. Money, cloth
ing, food, or any other necessares OF life,
would be bread cast upon the waters, but the
supplies to do good must come quickly. The
people are too much terror-stricken to act with
vicor, and the governments OF Peru and Ecua.:
dor cannot now give the aid the necessities Of
the people imperatvely demand.