The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-15

Il A WoMAS's PERILs DURING THE EARTH
ovAKgs.-Lima, Peru, January IA, lsG9.-
Mrs. Davidson, one Of the sufferers OF the
terrible earthquakes Of August il, died In
Valnarsiso on the 10th instant. Her escape
VAS perfect miracle, and after innumera-
BILE escapes and suferings, she has OF last
riyen up to the shock upon her nervous sys-
tenn. She was wealthy widow lady,
living in AFRICA with her only son, and
after the first heavy shock her son, a fine,
es,imable young man, rushed home, through
the falling ruins, to find his mother par
italy buried under the beams and tlmoerS
of her fallen house. After frantic efforts
10 extricate her, and being unable to do so
alone aud unaided, he vainly tried to tnd
some one to help him release her; but at
such time help from others is almost I'm.
possible, every one seeking their own ana
their friends safety. At last he found
some kind gentlemen, and by their aid, anu
after incredible labor, his mother was re-
leased from the fallen ruins, but SO bruised
and injured that she waa nearly uncon-
scious, and totally unable to stand or rise
While seeking again for some person TO aid
him in removing her to a greater place OF
safety-as the second shock had compelled
the kind men helping him to flee to secure
the safety of their own families-he was
obliged to wander away to distant part
of the town and as he was returning with
help the cruel sea came in, and he saw his
mother washed out to sea before his very
eyes, clinging to door upon which ne had
laid her. But as she lay extended upon 1t,
it kept her afoat, and after two hours she
was washed ashore upon small island.
Here she lost all consciousness, but recovered
her senses to find herself again foated
off to sea, after about an hours refuge on
the island. Her son had miraculously
kept her in sight, watching her tossing
among the breakers even amid the convul
sions around him, and he now succeeded
in getting boat sent off TO her from the
Peruvian corvette America. BY the time
the boat picked her up another tidal wave
had filed the boat half-full of water, and
there was great danger of being swamped.
Mrs. Davidson had been in the water
nearly nine hours, and the men, finding the
sea running go high, said they could not re-
turn to the ship, and, as their only saliva
ton, put the boat out to SEQ and waited and
watched for the day flight. At 6 o'clock the
next morning they landed at africa, to find
the corvette ashore and the whole place
in ruins. They brought Mrs. Davidson
ashore, however, and for three days
longer she lay exposed to the scorcb
ing rays of the Gun and the cold night
dews without any shelter or covering ex-
cept small blanket that her son secured
for her. Her property was all destroyed,
and yet this brave woman kept up, and
was cheerful and confident. her son made
an unavailing effort to get her to Valpa-
raise by the first mail steamer, but in the
crush and fright of the fleeing people it
was an impossibility. At last, on the 9th
Of September, she reached Valparaiso by
the steamer ESmerdlda, and every care and
attention were bestowed upon the unfortu
nate lady. But she sank under the shock
and attendant suffering, and died On the
10th, as above stated. If any son deserves
eulogy, young Davidson does. 80 attached
was he to his mother that many predict
that he will not long survive her. 1t seems
hardly credible that d frail woman could
endure such suf'ering.--C Correspondence
Neto York Times.