The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-04-14
The Earthquake at San EaSv,slnr
some Particulars or as,s. Tf,.,...s 8. q

S"aae saftacaaars OF the Dissster. .
The Philadelphia Eoensng Ra1le.,n pu,,.
fishes private letter frors san sal yado. s ass
Ing the following details or the ARA. ann =,
ance OF the earthquake: S. :, .s-f 80 -
| SAN SsA!IsADoR, March s, is7s.-For fsn,
GAYS sighs shocks of earthquake had oc.
| su.lou, uus no serious apprehenstons were
| eutcIta,neu. III was on. the afternoon of Tho
sSn " Maicn, AFTER no early dinner, at which,
4 n.u 'aaen g'ass OF sherry to the reinanp,I.
.a.ion u resident Grant, ut about Al o'clock.
Miss $. and Maggie supcrintendin1 the re'
| moval OF the dinner.table. and 1 nnia,,v
| smoking cigar upon our porch. when. with.
In thirty seconds, not only our house, but
great part OF the eits,swas reduced to little
| more than ruin. Suddenly, In a twinkle.
the ground heaved as the deck OF shin In \
gale. terrific thunderings burst from under
foot, walls tottered and were rent in many
places with wide creyices, roofs sank, and
tiles, &c, were precipitated to the ground
lamps, pitchers, basins, glass, &C., were over
turned and broken.
| Three violent shocks followed 10 success
sion. and the servants began to scream pite-
Dusty. aud could not be pacifed. The most
singular effect was that upon the dumb ami.
mails. Wild birds flew to the houses, the
horses grew frantic In the stables, and the
dogs. bowling, skunk towards us for protec-
ton. Although was not conscious Of per-
sona 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
available.
Miss S., with admirable presence Of mind,
H.. 4 Nt,at,N 70 hn
"palio," or open courtyard. Maggie aided,
with prtyerlul calculations. and am air' d
that / fired something OF volcy Of words
ut the native servants, who yelled. rs
thought, beyond human capacity. Every
few minutes shakings of less violence oc.
Cured, and made dash for the street :;
and the scene beggars description. Ruined
houses, panic-stricken peope-men, women,
and children-feeing TO the fields with valu-
abeS hastily collected. Then the ringing Of
alarln-bells and beating of drums, calling all
the soldiers under arms-tor 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 dis.
tanceS all over San Salvador. and q special
guard posted in the front and rear of the
legation.
General Bu>tamente, who happened to be
in town. rode to me and said, "Senor, YOU
must leave with your family. very much
fear the whole place will be leyelled 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. Santa Tecla, or New San Salvador.
Is about ten miles distant from the capitol.
1t is 500 feet high. and was thought TO be
more exempt from "temblores." Here
determined to seek refuge with the chill
dren.
None of us having undressed, we were all
up and about at dawn, when a council was
held as to what was next best to do. The
majority Of the population had fed from
San Salvador, and ull said that Santa Tecla
would now be over-crowded So thought
Inc Of Mr.. BIS estate, Monte Christie,
which must be within few miles. For
this, then, we trayelled-some on horseback,
Others afoot, as on the night beforehand,
clambcring over the mouptains, reached our
destination in time fora II O'Clock breakfast.
: As we entered their grounds in our unique
, style, some three on horse, and all begrlm-
med " til dust, good Mrs. b INDUCED in
j.. hearty German laugh; and, bidding US a
. warm welcome, added that they had just an
: hour before sent an express rider to the city
with letter telling US to come to them at
| once. And here we are, enjoying the fine
| air of Monte Christie, and the generous
hospitality of tue BIS. The young lady
You saw in Philadelphia is with them, and
she helps to take care of the children, who
have intensely enjoyed the whole adventure.
Yesterday Mr. B and rode to town
and saw the President. The temblores yet
continue, and again some tiles were elected
from tie roofs. We will not return until
the danger has passed.
SAN SALVADOR, March To- open the
letter to add that although the uemblores con-
tinue, not much additional damage has oc-
Cured. We are all yet at Monte Christie, as
it is hardly safe yet for the children to return.
I came in to-day to close my correspondence
for the steamer, and, mid fallen roots and the
: debris of broken walls and chattles, write
this in the legation office. The British Con.
> sulate is literal ruin, and many other
houses.
At 8 this morning there was another
heavy earthquake. No loss of lives in the
whole of them.
IYk-rr