, 1873-04-14
SAN SALVADOR.


- ~
qual1es
Tho Philadelphia Eueaing Bulletin publishes
the following private letter from q gentleman In
San Salvador, Central Amorica, giving tho first
details Of the rocent destruction Of tlat place by
an earthquake:
BAN SALVADOR, March 8, 1878.
For fcw days alight shocks Of earthquake
had occurred, but no serious approximations we're
entertained. 1t was OIL tho afternoon Of the 4th
Of March, after au carly dinner, at which I had
taken glass Of shorry to tho roinnuguration of
President Grant, at about ~, tho childron mer-
Maggie suporintending the removal Of the
dinnar-table, aud quietly smoking a cigar
upon our porch, when, within thirty seconds.
not only our house, but o groat part Of tho city,
Was reduced to little more than ruin. 9uddon-
~ in q twinkle, the ground heayod ss ths deck
Of ship in q gallo, terrific thundornga burst
from undcr foot, walls totterea and we're ront
in many places with wilo crevices, roofs sank,
and tilea, oto, wero precipitated to tho ground !;
turned and broken. Thrco violent shocks fol-
lowed In succession, and the servants commenced
to acream piteoualy, and could not bo paciled
The most singular OBJECT waa that upon tho
dumb animals. Wild birds flow to tho houses,
the dogs, bowling, skunk toward us for pro-
lection. Although I WAS not conscious Of rer-
sonal fear 1t WAS noticeable that every ones face
grew ashy pale. It might have boon tho intonao
pA14hpAAtAk1 huA 1iUuA Lug 1QGt kuRE no human
means for preservation wero available.
Miss g., with admirable presence Of mind,
seized tho children and hurried them to tho
. patio, u Or open courtyard. Maggie aided, with
prayerful calculations, and l am afraid that I
vo ssrsaa Who yee' ' as thonEht e. Soson ma
human capacity. Every few minutes BhakingB
OF loss violence occurred, and j made dash TOR
the streot. And the scene boggara description.
Nuinod hopsos,., panic-strlcken .peoplc-,-tnen
yaluables hastily collected. Thon tic ringing Of
tho alarm bells aud beating Of drums, calling oil
tho Boldlers under arms, for hero murder and
pillage accompany the confusion OF great earth
quakos,. and as tho frightened citizeua leayo the
town, luaky Indians from tho foroats prowl for
piey into It, only checked by tho bnyonsts Of tho
Government troops. ThoBo were posted in
squads at short dlstancon all over San 8alvador,
and special guard posted in tho front and roar
Of tho Legation.
Gen. Dastamento, who happened to bo in
town, rodo to me, and said, "sonor,. You must
whole place viii be levolled in the night" And
what was to be done? The most perllous place
the country all in terror. The children behaved
admirably, bright and choorful all tho timo.
Santa Teola, or Now San Salvador, is about ton
milea distant from the capital. It IL 800 feet
hiEh md was thought to DO more 10, exempt @ from
with the ehildron, and asking Maggie and Miss
money and valuables for deposit to tho
iron safo III tho British Consulate, I
went 10 tho only livory-stablo to 500 1t
could hlro stage, or ovon d bullock-cart, to
carry ua to Santa Teola. But not horse or
mule, donkey, or vehicle OF aay description could
DO obtained for love or money, and tho lengtheu-
Ing shadows showed that the tropical night was
nenr, I obtained, however, one extra lorso, and
I suggested to Miss s. and Maggie their getting
on thfs togethor, but tAoy doolinod, saying thoy
we had to bo on soon, for tho tromblinga woro
portentouB. We tlon put Colly and Jim on tho
ssamo horse, Sally on tho little lay pony, and
Elaie aud Harry both On the croam-oolored pony,
aud Miss s., Maggie, aud I were Oh foot. My
large white horse was loaded with blanketa,
aheots, clothes, provisions, &o., III case Of need
and our being compelled to enca1np in tho open
air, aud told my servant Francisco to ride him,
AZ ho waa Lighter than I, and proforrad to walk
at the hoad Of the children with Miss 8. and
Maggie.
Wo loft the house, lowing two native women
to take care OF 1t, who would Dleep In the open
air for natety, aud commenced onr pilgrimage,
but hardly had wo travelled few yards whom
my horse who had always boon perfectly gontle
With mo, bocame utterly unmauagoablo, backed
by Francisco. perhapn tho excitement caused
by tile temblores had great deal to do with It,
for ho commenced rearing aud plunglng, and at