River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-05-02
SAN SALVADOR.


Details OF its Distraction by an Earth
qanke-Alsrm OF the Natives.
The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin
publishes the following private letter
from gentleman in San Salvador,
Central America, to a gentleman in
recent destruction of that place by an
earthquake:
SAN SALVADOR, March 8.-For few
days slight shocks Of earthquake had
occurred, but no serious spprehensions
were entertained. 1t was on the after
noon of the 4th OF March, after an early
dinner, at which / had taken glass OF
sherry TO the Inauguration OF President
Grant, at about 4:30, the children play
ing in the grounds, Miss s. and Mag
gle experimenting the removal of the
dinner table, and quietly smoking CT
gar upon our porch, when within thirty
seconds, not only our house, but a
great part of the city was reduced to a
little more than ruin. Suddenly. in q
twinkling, the ground heaved as the
deck OF ship in a gale, terrific thun-
deriRg burst from under foot, walls
tottered and were rent in many places
with wide crevices, roofs sank, and
tiles, &c, were precipitated to the
ground; lamps, basins, glass &c,
xere overturned and broken. Three
violent shocks followed in success
sion, and the servants commenced
to scream piteously, and could not be
pacitied The most singular effect was
that upon the dumb animals. Wild
birds flew to the houses, the horses
grew frantic in the stables, and the
dogs bowling, skunk toward us for
protection. Although l was not con-
scious of personal fear, it was noticea-
bic that every ones face grew ashy
pale. Ii might have been the intense
excitement, and from the fact that no
human means for preservation were
available.
Miss s., with admirable presence Of
mind, seized the children and hurried
them to the patio or open court
yard. Maggie aided with prsyerful
EXCAVATIONS, and L am afraid that |
fired something of a volley Of words
at the native servants, who yelled, as
| thought, beyond human capacity.
Every few minutes shakings Of less
violence occurred, and | made dash
for the street. The scene beggars
= description. Ruined houses, pan
ic.stricken people-men, women
i and childTen-heeing to the
fields with valuables hastily collected.
Then the ringing of the alarm bells
4 and beating Of drums, calling all the
soldiers under arms-f for her murder
: and pillage accompany the confusion
e OF great earthquakes, and as the fright.
= ened citizens leave the town dusky In
+. dams from the forest prowl for prey
y into it, only checked by the bayonets
' of the government troops. These were
r posted in squads at short distances all
over San Salvador aud a special guard
{ posted in the front and rear Of the le-
eation.
Gca Bustamente, who had happened
( TO be in town, rode to me and said,
"Senor, you must leave with your
, family. very much fear the whole
place will be leveled in the night"
And what was to be done The mos.
peulous place was under q roof. Dark
. ness near at hand, and the country all
+ in terror. The children behaved adj.
u mirably, bright and cheerful all the
time. Santa Tecla, or New San Saliva
V dor, is about ten miles distant from the
. capital. II is about 500 feet high, end
p thought to be more exempt from "tem-
q blores. Here | determined 10 seek ref
uge with the children, and asking Maggie
B and Miss 5. to collect necessary clothes
g and % send money aud valuables for
deposit 10 the iron safe in the British
a Consulate, l went 10 the only. livery
stable to see il could hire stage, or
% even bullock cart, 10 carry us TO Santa
Iecla. But not a horse or mule, don
q key or vehicle Of any description could
a he obtained for love or money. and the
4 lengthening shadows showed that the
tropical night was near. / oh.
tanned. however. one extra horse, and
, 1 suggested To Miss :. and Maggie
f. their getting on this together, but they
declined, saying they could not ride
aud would prefer 90 walk But we had
30 be of soon, for the 'tembhncs were
\, protentous. We chen put Colly and
sim en- The same horse. Sally on tho
little bay pony, and Elsie and Harry
. both on the cream-cOlorei pony. and
I Miss =, Maggie, and / were on foot
My large white horse was loaded with
blankets, sheets, clothes, provisions
6c, ia ease OK need and our being com.
PEELED to encamp in the open air, and
/ told my servant Francisco to ride him,
as he was lighter than 1, aud preierr-
ed 20 walk Nc the head Of the children
with Miss $. and Maggie.
We LEFT the house, leaving two native
4 q .f /. rs 4
sleep in the open air with safety, and
commenced our pilgrimage. bnt hardly
g bad We travelled lew yaras when my
horse. who had always bes perfectly
gentle With nae, became utterly unmau
ugaable, backed 10y tunelseo. Perhaps
tao northumberland oythe t,anhlores
bad great deal 60 do with It, for he
commenced rearing aud plungiug, aud