The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-05
After the Earthquake.
A Correspondent Looks at San salvador
Aner Il. pe.trnetion.

As We approached the town OF Snn
Salvador, says letter writer, the signs
of destruction became apparent. An
aqueduct which spans the road, aud
from which the citywAs mainly supplied,
lay broken down, its massive arches
the road, and the remnants
threatening to fall Mt any moment. The
bullock"drivers were doing splendid
business, the whole route being throng.
ed with their wagons going to and fro.
On arriving at the suburbs Of the un-
fortunate city, our driver, an impudent
vagabond, stopped, and refused to go
any further, Wepersuaded him, how
ever, to drive to the plaza, where We
found the President, and most Of the in.
habitants that remained, encamped.
The English Vice.Consul could not be
found Immediately, SO we waitedon His
Excellency the President, and made
known the object OF ourmission, placing
our services Mt his disposal, md Rssur.
ing him of the sympathy of Her Britain
mic Majesty's Government. We soon
afterward found Mr.. Blair, acting Vice.
Consul, who in company with some
other English gentlemen, was working
hard to save what he could from the
ruins of the British Consulate.
In company with one Of these gCntlo.
men, n Mr.. Motiat, made nn inspection
OF the city, taking sketches Of some
most striking ruins. Such scene OF
desolHtion l have never before witness.
cd, ueless it be Africa. The whole
town was down, with the exception OF
one or two wooden houses. all the
churches, including the cathedral, were
II heap of ruins the spire Of the latter
had been arrested in its fall, and re-
manned in a slanting position, like the
leaning tower of Pisa, but at q much
greater angle, One Of the bells must
have been swung completely round, MS
it remained mouth up. The United
States Consulate was mass OF ruins
inside, though the outer walls were
standing. Mr.. Biddle, the Resident
Minister Of the United States, with his
five little children, had very narrow
escape.
The Palace, being built Of wood, re-
NAMED standing except where stone
had been used, in which places the
sides had fallen, leaving great gaps
in the building. There was not q single
house left in habitable condition; the
stronger tho walls the greater was the
ruin, and the streets were one mass OF
debris. Mr.. Blair and his friends were
living in the patio under n rude sort OF
tent, surrounded by the ruins Of the
consulate. They were NIL wonderfully
CHEEKY under the circumstances, and rs
kind and hospitable as il nothing had
happened. Ntrs. Keogh's escape was
miraculous tho room in which she
was sleeping was completely wrecked,
md must have been killed but for some
beams which prevented tho walls from
crushing her. Accounts differ MS to the
number of lives lost-some sAyas many
rs fifty killed and 500 wounded: others
not so much; but all agree that the
number is wonderfully small consider
ing tile damage done. Indeed, looking
at the ruins it seems extraordinary how
any escaped, especially as the catastrO-
Pile happened in the night. Most
providentially the final shock, which
brought down tho town, was preceded by
two others of sufficient force 10 awaken
and alarm the Inhabitants, who had
time to rush out, and so save their
lives.
The President behaved most nobly,
and by his admirable regulations aud
the discipline which he enforced, pre-
vented amy riots or robberies. The city
was placed under martial law; citizens
were authorized to shoot any one inter.
fering with their property, and scntries
were posted at the corners OF the streets,
with orders to fire ut any one lurking
about after dark. Judging by the way
the ritle-balls were flying about during
the night, they must have kept sharp
lookout. Mr. Taylor, an American
gentleman, who has been superintend-
ing the laying down OF telegraphsin the
country, extended his hospitality to all
indeed, l do not know what We should
have done without his assistance. He
contrived to have good breakfast and
dinner prepared for NIL who chose 10
avail themselves Of it, although his
house was ruined like the rest. During
our stay in the city-some iorty.eight
hours-we experienced seven or eight
shocks Of earthquake OF more or less
violence. No further damage was done
by them, simply because nothing more
could be done, unless the earth opened
and swallowed up the ruins. In some
placCs it already opened, some Of the
cracks being upward Of foot wide and
Of considerable depth. Mr.. Nddle, who
had taken his family out to a hacienda
some three or four leagues of, rode in
to see US. We went together over the
ruins OF his house-a most melancholy
sight. Many horses and mules were
killed by the falling walls, and those
that remained seemed to have their
nerves quite shattered. Mr.. Blair told
me that one Of his mules, a valuable
auimRl, was now quite worthless from
the fright she had received she would
stop and tremble ut the slightest sound.
Birds also seemed in IN excited state ;
at every shock all the cocks began to
crow, and pigeons wheeled wildly inthe
air.
The President issued n decree the day
following the disaster, saying that the
town would be rebuilt on its old site.
One cannot help Odmiring the pluck Of
the gallant old man, but it is nothing
more nor less than tempting Providence
to do such n thing. The city has been
completely destroyed alreadysi or sew.
years the last time was in 1854 The
ground on which it is built is n mere
shell. BY placing ones ear to the earth
running water may be distinctly heard,
and II struck by any heavy object hol.