New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-21
SAN SALVADOR DESTROYED.
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN EARTHQUAKES.

KILLED AND FIVE HUNDRED INJURKD-sCEEEs
OF TERROR.
lFRon AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRBCSE.l
SAN SALVADOR, March 23.-Within the past
IS days this Republic has visited by the most az
fctng series OF caamites 1t has experienced since the
destruction Of the Capital In 1884 The chef city again
lies in ruins. and OF the outlying and villages
within distance OF 20 miles have suffered serious injury
not entire devastation. Another OF the great convul
sons to which the region has been periodically subject
it's original settlement has given fresh proof OF the
fatal Insecurity OF the site which the authorities persist
in maintaining for their government. by render
ing 1000 people absolutely homeless. deprving
Of all their ordinary means of Subsistence
hictng material losses which estimated less
than five millions OF dollars. and causing a painful,
though, owing to fortunate circumstances, not
sye sacrifice of human life.
san Salvador above all others this continent is the
city OF earthquakes Previous 10 this last calamity it
had been eight times overthrown, and many other
occasions shattered that It's reconstruction has
seemed like willfuldedanc Of natural Laws which have
been established by repeated demonstrations. Perhaps
no other place affords such definite and perpetual evil
dence OF the existence or uncontrolled forces which may
at any moment break out in wild 1t is
erced by volcanoes and the dangerous nature OF the
soil is shown by the fact that violent blows, rapid
passages Of horses the surface at any me fol-
lowed by distinct echoes OF hollow reyerberatOns In
the silence Of the night strange murmurng sound like
that OF the bubblng OF heated water almost always
audible. Animals, whose instincts such matters ap
pear acute than those OF human beings are fire.
quently excited 10 manifestations OF alarm, which in
some serve valuable warnings. In the early
part Of the present month unusual indication Of this
kind was observed During the night Of the 81, the
cattle the neighborhood only showed extreme
esness, but in many broke from their
and eagerly about II seeking safety. Herds
% mules stsmpeded in confusion, and startled the in.
About o'clock the morning OF the 18th. succession
Of sharp earthquake shocks drove everybody the
streets but t found, upon examination by daylight,
that disasters OF serious character bad occurred
within the city. Though the walls Of many houses
cracked, only few actually leveed Some OF the
villages in the neighborhood suffered much more
severely, but the general effect only such pro-
duce feeling OF anxiety for the future and TO compel
degree OF watohfulness and caution to which the
tremey moderate subsequent loss of life may happily be
attributed Anecessy FOR very prompt action, however
appeared 10 be felt in quarter Great numbers Of
the citizens, in fact all who able to do
so,removed their families and household goods beyond
the limits Of the city. Many sought refuge consider
able distances, and am informed that the United States
Minister Mr.. Biddle, not recognizing at first the
gency OF the and neglecting provide himself
once with the means OF transportation, was obliged,
with his family, 10 proceed foot for distance Of
several miles Those who remained in the capital for
similar open spaces and the houses were, 10 great
tent deserted. It Is stated by persons who carefully
watched the progress OF the phenomenon that tytwo
distinct movements counted within eight hours
after O'Clock the morning OF the Attn. For fifteen
DAYS subsequently all comparatively Tranquil, al
.he-nh tDe pune renamed unalayed,
and signs, familiar to the experienced gave tes
mony that additional and possibly greater peril to
be apr ehended
On the OF the 18Th, at nearly the hour
that the first shocks felt. the catastrophe
Two vibrations Of considerable sharpness aroused
the populace presently third movement, series
Of movements began the length and violence Of which
unprecedented in the memory Of all who endured
them. Ii impossible TO describe tie terror which for
few moments held the entire community under its
troll The angry subterranean crash and the sick
ening jar swell Of earth's surface the appalling
chaos tumbng ruins and the Outcries Of anguish and
trepidation that the wounded the timOr
GUS threw even those who endeavored TO maintain
degree OF composure into torture OF bewilder
meut and dread. The darkness intensified the horrors
OF the moment. The sense OF obvious and inevitable
calamity aggravated by the universal uncertainty
as 10 the impending results. Few were venturesome
enough stir from the positions IN which they had xed
themselves the night Tor least known that
the earth had opened IN many places and this although
the extent OF the assures could not at be dscOv
cred danger especially to be avoided IN the OBJ
scurity The last thrill thrown the stricken
popuace by sudden fires which shot up in various quar-
tiers and a lurid glow upon the sky though not
sufficiently Eliminating II 70 render any general move
ment practicable By some extraordinary processes or
communication which are said 20 be not uncommon
similar occasions OF intense public alarm, rapid nteil
gence Of many OF the most startling incidents OF the v
itation-ofen distorted and exaggerated nut on the
whole sufficiently well based in fact-was circulated
long before dawn; and light gradually broke upon
the ruined city hardly individual among the anxious
IN M he
Of dreary desolation that came IN view.
The CITY OF san Salvador mad ceased 70 exist It's site
was covered with Of ugly ana shapeless ruins
with only few fragments standing in Isolated spots to
mark the locality Of what had been it most conspicuous
edhees The lines " the streets were almost undstin
guishable. Only a single house is known 10 have es
capped without serious injury Of kind and this was
wooden dwelling Most of the buildings we're Of adobe,
and few such az the Government establishments,
partly of stone None OF these spared The chief
hotel OF the place the principal official department and
an unimposng ecclesiastical institution suffered little
less severely than the rest but only the latter OF these
remained at all habable. II was immediately taken
and occupied by the Government authorities. San Sal
vador gas dstin guished by any thing Ike majesty
OF appearance. Like all Central American towns II was
always in condition OF partial dilapdaon az least 10
foregn eyes, but II would hardly have seemed possible
that the most furious of commissions could nave turned
il into such picture OF dire wrechedness and desoaton
as it offered on that gloomy morning. No one would
have suspeced that IL possessed capacities for such
dspav of utter overthrow and rremedable confusion
IL is of such city TO be picturesque
even in destruction but pitiably desolate' ana 10
the inhabitants effect must have been affecting ana
appalling. have mentioned that the remains ot only
the most familiar ecihces were clearly distinguishes
Bile. The cathedral which was IN some respects tne
most notable that the capital contained was
strangely rent and shyered Its splre IL happened,
was thrown only half over and OF its bells had Deen