The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-12

but the way its buildings were nut mn nsu-
ally prevented grear disaster. The houses
public buildings were four feet through Not until
1854 did these frequent shocks work q notable
the Lenten season, the most violent earthauake
that had ever occurred In Central America visited
san Salvador. The destructive agent was preceded
for several days by
PREHoNIToRY SYMPTOMS.
On the morning OF Holy Thursday, the 18th Of
April, movements OF the earth were felt, and
rumbling sounds as OF distant thunder rolling
heavy artillery were heard.
These phenomena, OF course, alarmed the PEOPLE,
and served to enhance their fervor in celebrating
the religious ceremonies OF the day. On Good FRI
day the sounds and earth-ag0nies were lighter
intense heat only disturbed the people. The even
ing OF Sunday was clear, and until hallpast nine
0oeS By M o the & AZ
severe earthquake came upon the city with such
suddenness that
THE POPULATION FLED
from their houses into the open air. The severity
OF the shock, well as It's suddenness, not being
preceded by the noises that usually herald the
Coming OF such visitor, made them fear to return
TO their homes, and they formed encampments IN
the court yards and public squares. Remaining
there In anxiety they were suddenly Frustrated at
about eleven O'Clock by the violent lateral motion
Of the eartn, that at the same time overthrew
falling houses and terrified BY the expectancy Of
immediate DEATH the people were envel0ped IN
CIMMERIAN DARKNESS
by clouds OF dust that rose from the debris OF the
buildings. 1t nearly choked and sutiocated them
When the danger from the falling buildings mad
passed. and with 10 the fear OF the people, IL was
found that all the wells and fountains had been
either choked or dried up Thus the unlnjnred
citizens were compelled to work to extricate their
less fortunate fellows from under the RUNS,
while suffering the agonles or tnurst. me
devastation ,sS atna OF the city was done an ~
though there were numerous tremendous shocks,
they effected little, for the that all the pos
sible damage had been done by the
FIRST FEARFUL SHOCK.
Every public building ana church was hurled down,
ing all were made uninhabtable. writer, who
was in the city at the time OF the catastrophe has
thus pictured the scene after the shocks had lost
their force :-"Solemn and terrible was the picture
presented on that dark iunereal night OF a whole
people clustering in the plazas and on
their knees, crying with loud voices to Heaven for
mercy, or In agonizng accents calling for their
children or friends, whom they believed TO be
buried beneath the ruins. heaven opaque and
Ominious; a movement of the earth, rapid ana
unequal, causing
TERROR INDEsCRIRABLE;
an intense sulphurous odor filing the atmosphere
and indicating an approaching eruption OF the
volcano; streets filed with ruins or 0verhung by
threatening walls; suflocating cloud OF dust
almost rendering respiration impossible This Is
graphic description, and must equally be picture
of the scenes at the disaster of whose occurrence
we are just advised, though an element OF deadll-
ness is added to It by the IRE.
When the people were sufficiently recovered
from fright to search the ruins the bodies OF fewer
persons were found than was expected, and the
number OF lives lost was finally placed at about
three hundred Thus was The sylvan city Of San
Salvador first destroyed. The government laid out
Nueva, at place ten miles nearer the sea. But
as the people preferred to remain Mt their former
homes, the government soon restored the Old city
TO its name and capital honors.