The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-04-26
SAN SALVADOR SWALLOWED UP
By Great Earthquake.


gerous nature of the soil is shown by the
fact that violent blows, or the rapid passa.
ges of horses over the surface, at any time
are followed by distinct echoes or hollow
reyerberations, In the silence Of the nipht
a strange murmuring sound, like that of
the bubbling of heated water, is almost
always audible. Animals, whose instincts
in such matters appear more acute than
those OF human beings, are frequently
excited to manifestations of alarm, which
IN some cases serve as valuable warnings.
In the early part Of the present month an
unusual indication of this kind was obser-
we'd. During the night Of the 3D.. the
cattle in the neighborhood not only showed
extreme uneasiness, but in many cases
broke from their fastenings and ran eager
ly about, as if seeking safety. Herds of
mules stampeded In confusion, and star.
tied the inhabitants with the expectation
Of some untoward event About 2 o'clock
on the morning Of the 4th, a succession of
sharp earthquake shocks drove everybody
into the streets, but it was found, upon
examination by daylight, that no disasters
of a serious character had occurred within
the city. Though the walls of many
houses were cracked, only few were ac-
tually levelled. Some of the villages in
the neighborhood suffered much more
severely, but the general effect was only
such as to produce feeling of anxiety for
the future, and to compel degree Of
watchfulness and caution to which the ex-
tremely moderate subsequent loss Of life
may happily be attributed A necessity
for very prompt action, however, appeared
to be felt in every quarter. Great num-
bers Of the citizens, in fact all who were
able to do so, removed their families and
household goods beyond the limits of the
city Many sought refuge at cOnsidera-
BILE distances, and am informed that the
United States Minister, Mr.. Biddle, not
recognizing at first the exigency of the
case, and neglecting to provide himself at
once the means of transportation, was
obliged, with his family, to proceed on foot
for distance of several miles. Those
who remained in the capital, for the most
part, encamped in tents in the public
square, or similar open spaces, and the
houses, were, to great extent deserted.
1t is stated by persons who carefully
watched the progress of the phenomenon
that fifty-two distinct movements were
counted within eight hours after 2 O'Clock
in the morning Of the 4th. For fifteen
days subsequently all was comparatively
tranquil, although the anxieties of the
public remained unallayed, and certain
signs familiar to the experienced gave tes-
timony that additional and possibly greater
peril was to be apprehended
On the morning of the 10Th, at nearly
the same hour as that when the first
shocks were felt, the catastrophe came
Two vibrations of considerable sharpness
aroused the populace, and presently third
movement, or series of movements, began
the length and violence of which were
unprecedented in the memory of all whc
endured them. 1t is impossible to describe
the terror which, for few moments, helC
the entire community under Its control
The angry subterranean crash and roar
the sickening jar and swell of the earth,
surface, the appalling chaos Of tumblin,
ruins, and the outcries of anguish ant
trepidation that arose from the wounded
ondoa s O ~ 1.;",e em e ea 'hosc "n' y
on,, .'o,.e w.. ,a".'' 81 - y
nd al IT." SarLnoss ;n, oe ~
horrors Sc ,ha n"omnn, tn ea,,na =, ~ ~
,,;"ns 81 ;no,,;,oh,a ".,.,;.,. 'e 'a y. VI
ra,ad hn ,hn nn;Uo,sai nnac,.a we 'sDa
,h 49, ~ nv aas ',',. un NJ as u
,mrosopo onog.h 81 a.;r frou, ,h ", -, ien
y" o .hon " sur ,'o Z, 'no po''''ph
the night far il was al least tnown tho'
the earth Ind opened in many nloces an,
this tbouyh tho extent Of the fssnres eonl,
not nj once no discovered w,s a DANCE
esneciaIlv IN no avoided IN Tho obscnr;iv
The last thrill was thrown over Tho s,r;cI
en- populace bv sudden 6res which sbo
nm IN rar;ous Quarters and cas, = h,r;,
Glow unon the sky tbouob not snfic;on,l,
illnminat;ng Il 10 render env General movc
ment nract;cable Rv some ex,raord;nar,
nrocssses of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NIL -.
aid 10 be no, nncommon ON s;,n;lor 800
sions of intense nubl;c alarm ranid ;n,oll;
oence Of many df tho most stortl;na inc;
3en,s If tbc v;s;tat;on~of,on d;s,ar. o,
and ax,ogeratod bu, an ,ho ,rhala sn@
c;entlv we'll baood in s,o,--w.o o;ro,i"ta,
iong before dawn and 40 ,;"h, n.sJms,i,
hrole unon tbo rr;nod c;,S I'LL. :,
;ndiy;dual AMONG the anx;ous and er,;ts,
mui,;,uJo NOS nnnsoaa~aJ ~ a o.'' ~
scene of dreary desolation that came /,
view. The city of San Salvador had ceas
ed to exist.
Fru accounts of tho o.r,honolo >. c.,
Salvador conGrm tba trs, rop".,s ae -
ont;re abstraction Of the o;,T oao .oI;
tarv ed;fce Of wood was icf, rn;n;,rod
tn oniv o,bar bu;la;nas nat oamg, a,e n
love,lod win Tho aar,h w. ,ho Cp""s
mont House md the Hotol do p.,o,'a
both bu;lt of stone F;ftv oorn.os w.,
cast nm from the;r o,,yas z tLo na;,,hta w.,
inc oemetery and lsg IN morn;n' n NV,
na S of the dead amon@ ,bs MIN.