Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-05-08
Before the Final Disaster.

which destroyed the city.
Slight shocks of earthquake had been
felt for several dsys. On the afternoon
of the 4th, at about 4:30, while the chill
dren were merrily tromping in the
grounds and I was quietly smoking my
after-dinner cigar on the porch, not
only our house, but greater part of
the city was reduced to little more than
ruin. Suddenly, in a twinkle, the
ground began to heave like the deck of
ship in gale.
Terrific laundering burst from under
foot, walls tottered and were rent in
many places with wide crevices, roofs
sank, and tiles, &C., were precipitated
to the ground ; lamps, pitchers, basins,
glass, &C., were overturned and broken.
Three violent shocks followedin in success
sion, and the servants commenced to
scream piteously, and could not be
paci6ed. The most singular effect was
that upon the dumb animals. Wild
birds flew to the houses, the horses
grew frantic in the stables, and the
dogs, bowling, skunk toward us for pro-
lection. Although I was not conscious
of personal fear, it was noticeable that
every ones face grew ashy pale. 1t
might have been the intense excitement,
and from the fact that no human means
for preservation were avilable. Miss
s., with admirable presence Of mind,
seized the children and hurried them
to the "patio, or open courtyard.
Maggie aided, with prayerful ejacula-
tIons, and am afraid that I fred some
thing of volley of words at the native
servants, who yelled, as I thought, be-
yond human capacity.
Every few minutes shakings OF less
violence occurred, and I made dash
for the street. The scene beggars de-
scription. Ruined houses, panic-stricken
people-men, women and children-fee-
ing to the fields with valuables hastily
collected. Then the ringing of the
alarm-bells and beating of drums, call
ing all the soldiers under arms-for
here murder and pillage accompany the
confusion of great earthquakes, and as
the frightened citizens leave the town,
dusky Indians from the forests prowl
for prey into it, only checked by the
bayonets of the Government troops.
These were posted in squads at short
distances all over San Salvador, and q
special guard posted in the front and
rear of the Legation. Gen. Bustamente,
who happened to be in town, rode to
me, and said: "Senor, you must leave
with your family. livery much fear the
whole place will lbelevelled in the night. "
And what was to be done? The most
perilous place was under roof. Dark
ness near at hand, and the country all
in terror. The children behaved ad-
mirably, bright and cheerful all the
time.
Santa Tecla, or New San Salvador, is
about ten miles distant from the capital.
1t is eight hundred feet high, and was
thought to be more exempt from "tem-
blores." Here I determined to seek
refuge with the children, and I went to
the only livery stable to see if 1 could
hire stage, or even a bullock-cart, to
carry us to Santa Tecla. But not a
horse or mule, donkey, or vehicle of
any description could be obtained for
love or money, and the lengthening
shadows showed that the tropical night
was near. I obtained, however, one
extra horse. We then put Colly and
Jim on the same horse, Sally on the
little bay pony, and Elsie and Harry
both on the cream -colored pony, and
Miss s., Maggie and I were on foot.
Ny large white horse was loaded with
blankets, sheets, clothes, provisions,
etc., in case of need and our being COM
PEELED to encamp in the open air.
We left two native women in charge
of the house and began our pilgrimage.
Luckily the moon had passed its first
quarter and the night was clear. On
we went for more than an hour, up, up,
up, the whole time my strength began
to give out at last; so, transferring the
children to the ponies, and as neither
Miss S. nor Maggie could be induced to
ride, especially with a gentleman's sad
die, I mounted the horse. Then we
struggled up for another hour. 1t was
now nearly ten, and all were giving
signs of exhaustion. 1t seemed i'm
possible to reach Santa Tecla until long
after midnight, and we hardly knew
where to go when there, for we knew
well that the little shanty called hotel
would be crowded with fugitives. We
were nearing little Indian farmhouse
on slope of the volcano, and were
saluted with round chorus from yelp-
ing ours. But the hospitable owner
cordially received us. The temblores
had been bad there also, and for safety
they were sleeping in the open air. The
children and our women-kind were at
last safely slowed away in something
between cow-shed and kitchen, and
the boys and I dared the inside of the
dwelling house with the outer door
open. And thus the night safely
passed, with occasional earthquakes and
the arrival of other fugitives from the
ruined city.
None of lis having gundressed, we were
all up and about at dawn, when coun-
Gil was held as to what was next best to
do. The majority of the population had
fed from San Salvador, and all said
that Santa Tecla would be now over
crowded, so I thought me of Mr..
BIS estate, Monte Cristo, which
must be within few miles. For this,
then, we travelled, some on horseback,
others afoot, as on the night before, and
clambering over the mountains reached
our destination in time for a II o'clock
breakfast. AS we entered their grounds
in our unique style, some three on a
horse and all begrimed with dust, good
Mrs. b INDUCED in hearty Ger
man laugh, bidding us a warm welcome.
And here we are. enioying the fine air