The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-06-13
GREAT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Immense Destruction of Proper.
ty in the Province OF SZchuem
--Nearly Twcnfy-three aIuD-
dred Persons Crushed by Inc
Falling Buildings.


--Nearly TWcnfy-three lun-
dred Persons Crushed by the
Failing Buildings.
Our Minister in China, Governor Low,
has forwarded to the Secretary Of State.
the following translation of report Of
the great earthquake in Bathangs made
by the Chinese Governor General of the
province in which it occurred:
EARTHQUAKE AT BATHANG, IN szCHUEN.
l have ascertained that Bathang lies
on very elevated spot, beyond the
borders of the province, about 260
miles west from Litang and more than
80 post stations from the district town
of Ta-tsicn, on the high road to Tibet.
About Ii o'clock A. M. on the 1lth Of
April, 1870, the earth trembled SO VIC.
lently that the government offices, tenn
plies, granaries, stone and st0rehouses;
and Notifications, with all the common
dwellings and the temple Of Ting-lin,
were at once overthrown and ruined
The only exception was the hall in the
temple grounds, called Tachao. which
stood unhal1ned in its isolation, A few
of the troops an0 people escaped, but
most of the f sss -
INMATES WERE CRUSHED AND KILLED
under the falling timber and stone.-r
Flames also suddenly burst out in four
places, which strong winds drove about
until the heavens were darkened with
smoke, and their roaring was mingled
with the lamentations of the distressed
people. On the 18th the flames were
beaten down, but the rumbling noises,
were still. heard underground like dis
tant thunder, and the 7f asHfc9 eTn
EARTH ROCKED AND ROLLED
like ship in storm at the mercy of
the waves. The multiplied miscries. of
the afflicted inhabitants were increased
by thousand fears, but in about ten
days matters began to grow qdiet and
the motion to cease. .ssi'saii@a4
The grain collector at Bathang says
that for several days before the. earth
quake the water had overAowed tho
dyke, but after it the earth cracked in
many places, and black, fetid water
spurted out in furious manner If one
poked it the squirting instantly followed,
just as is the case with the salt wells
and fire wells, Tin the eastern part Of
the provinces, and this expinins how
it happened that fire followed the earth
quake in Bathang.
As nearly as is ascertained there
we're destroyed two. large temples, the
offices of the collector. of grain tax, the
local magistrate and the colonel, the
Ting lin Temple, and nearly 700 faith
oms of wall around it, and 351 rooms,
in all, inside; six smaller temples, num-
bering 22l rooms, besides 1,S49 rooms
and houses OF the common people. The
number Of people, soldiers, and lamas
KILLED BY THE CRASH WAS 2,298,
among whom were the local magistrate
and his second in Office The earthquake
extended from Bathang eastward to
Pang chah-muh, westward to FNantun
on the south to Lin-tsah- -shih, and or
J the north to the salt wells Of A-tumtsz
t a circuit of over 400 miles. 1t occurred
simultaneously over the whole OF thii
region. In some places ~ t5y,ss
STEEP HILLS SPLIT AND SUNK. .i-pssy
into deep pits; in Others, hills on leye
spots became precipitous cliffs, and the
;, roads and highways were rendered i'm
passable by distractions.
!. T. The people were beggared and scat
tered like autumn leaves, and this calam
ity to the people of Bathang and vicin
. ity was really one of the most distress
. ing and destructive that has happened
: The Governor General twice memorial
J lied the Emperor respecting it, who
granted aid to relieve the misery, reoper
; the roads between the posthouses, ani
= rebuild or repair the offices and dwell
! ings, as they were needed. Many art
now resuming their occupants, and th'
roads are everywhere passable.