The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-05-10
Destruction of Sam Salvador.
SUPPOSED CAUSE OF H EARTHQUAKE.
PANAMA, April 5, 1873.


PANAMA, April 5, 1873.
The steamer Honduras arrived here
this morning. She brings details of the
terrible earthquake at San Salvador.
The first shocks of the earthquake were
felt the 4th of March, which destroyed
some houses and alarmed the inhabi-
tants, the greater part of whom took to
living III the squares and open places.
The shocks continued with more or less
frequency until tie 10Th, when a shock
game which laid the whole city in ruins.
Every town and village within a radius
of twenty miles suffered more or less.
fortunately, owing to the previous
shocks having frightened the greater
part OF the population from living in
their homes, the loss of life has not been
so great as it would otherwise have
been.
Of a population Of 10000 inhabitants.
which the city is said to contain, the
number reported killed and wounded
varies from 80 to 500. The only build
lngs left standing, though somewhat
damaged, are the Hotel del Parque and
the Government Palace. In the midst
of the dust and CONSERVATION a fire
broke out, but it was soon got under
control. The Government fun%ctionaries
did their several duties in a very credit
able manner. The President sent his
family to Santa Tecla, and established
himself in the principal square of the
capital IN a tent. He depressed all at
temDts at disorder and robbery, and
renuered assistance wherever needed.
Any one found carrying away II
property not his OWn was Immediately
shot. The authorities still persist in re-
building the city on the same site, al
though this is the eighth time within
$50 years that the city has been de-
strOyed. Most of the people have never
theless removed to Santa Tecla.
The only building that stood the
shocks with the least injury was a build
ing erected of timber. The impulse at
present is to import timber from Cali
fOrnia for the construction of such earth
quake proof houses. Aid and money
have been sent from all parts of the
Republic. Everything has risen to ex-
h0rbltant prices. Capt. Kennedy, H. B.
NJ. ship Reindeer, gave all the assistance
he could, and offered her for the use of
Mr.. Biddle, United States Minister.
The latter, as the Government, returned
letters OF thanks to Capt. Kennedy.
Among the heavy foreign sufferers
doing business in San Salvador, are re-
norted Moses Levy & Co., London;
kattengell & Campbell, Manchester;
&. B. kerfOrd & Co., Liverpool; and
among the resident merchants are Ker-
ford Il Keogh, Carrazo & Duke, Do
rantes & Ojeida, Blanco and Trigueros.
J. NJ. Peratta, D. Emeterio Ruana and
Jose ROsales, though every one has. of
course, suffered more or less. Great
fears are entertained that the stoppage
OF sewers, exposure and fright, the dead
bodies u~nrecOvered from beneath the
ruins, ard other mOrbific conditions
may bring on epidemic.
A fine bridge lately built across the
river on the road to SOpopanga was
thrown down. Other roads are rem
dered impossible by the numerous
blocks of stone thrown down from the
heights some one hundred tons in
weight.
Owing to the continuance of shocks
more than forty bodies we're displaced
from out the inches in the cemetery.
The earthquake is supposed to have
been caused by a suppressed volcano of
st. Thomas, n of seven volcanoes
within a radius Of thirty miles. Izalco
is at present in full blast, throwing
down it's sides q constant stream of
lava, visible at night along the whole
coast of the Balsam region. Officers of
the Reindeer report that the United
States Consulate is a mass of ruins in
side, though the walls are standing.
Mr.. Biddle with his five little ones had a
narrow escape. During the, two days
these officers remained in San Salvador
they felt eight shocks. In some places
the ground cracked a foot wide and
very deem VisitOrc OODoi1nr H. n 4o,,r
tation OF Providence to rebuild the city
below it is evidently a mere shell. The
ear placed to the ground hears a noise
like running water, and the fall of q
heavy stone produces a hollow sound.
Indians would never build on this site.