Connecticut western news., 1874-10-23
AN EARTHQUAKE IN GUATEMALA.

AN EARTHQUAKE IN GUATEMALA Thirty-Tw6 Lives Lost and Twenty
 four Houses Destfoycd.-A Night O Terror and Disaster in the City O,
 Antigua.
 A correspondent of the Star ana Herald wliting from Antigua, Guate mala, sends the following account oi an earthquake that took place there
 On the 3d of September, at 8:30 P, M., without any previous warning, ( strong earthquake shook the ground violently in a direction from west to east. The movement was a series oi strong vertical and horizontal Impulses combined. The wave-like undulations on the surface rose and fell at least q foot. This, along with the vertical movement, made it almost impossible to move about without being thrown to the ground. Nevertheless, all of us in the house managed to get out into the courtyard, expecting every moment to see the walls come tumbling down upon us.
 Taken by surprise, I can scarcely say what happened in the first seconds, but soon recovered equanimity enough to note the direction of the shocks by the swinging of the lamp which hung in the portico of the Hotel de Concrete, where was staying, and other pheno- mena. Every object around me was in motion. It gave me a feeling as though had stepped into s hole, and then stumbled against an elevated body which frevented me from recovering my equilibrium. Added to all this there were the piercing cries of the population, the creaking and cracking of walls, loud sounds like thunder from the earth beneath, the rattling noise of tiles, houses and walls falling, which l altogether formed hideous concert which can never be forgotten. I If you consider that the darkness of the night made this all the more inn pressive-that every visible object was in violent motion, and that it was necessary to balance one's self with the greatest care to avoid fall-you will 1 not be surprised that my observations of the first moments of this catastrO- phe are rather scanty. A strange per plexity seemed to paralyze all my men, tai faculties. I think, however, I am correct in estimating the duration of the first strong shock to have been from twenty-five to thirty seconds. The contents of large water tank in the courtyard were thrown out in broad sheet of water. Wild screeches and screams continued even after the first terror had little subsided. II at once saw that our policy was to keep quiet and away from the walls .vaEs r-t1.,A T.on0 o ftor kho Arck chnoEr ho1 oo6 there was still the sound of walls fall ing more or less distant. Suddenly arose the sounds of hundreds of voices chanting hymn to the Creator for mercy. The solemn melody had a strange effect on my excited nerves and | feelings. Many shocks followed during the night of varying intensity, every one of which gave rise to new alarms and new petitions for mercy. Thenight seemed an age in length. Fortunately no rain fell. JT s.4 .... .,.@ ssfa
 At daybreak went through the town to see the extent of the mischief done. I judge about two dozen houses that ! were inhabited have been destroyed, causing, as far as I could learn, the loss of thirty lives. A considerable number of the damaged houses will have to be taken down. Many of the old ruins of 1773 have suffered new damages. In Guatemala, the capital, slight shocks were felt. The Indians say that three villages at the foot of the volcano have been destroyed, though this wants confirmation. n. .. Y. . During the confusion and disaster of the earthquake many narrow and won derful escapes are related, as usual. For instance, mother was killed, but the child she held in her arms was un. hurt. Another got hold of her child and her old mother, but in getting out of the house the old woman was killed, and so on. Even during the terror of the first shock there were not wanting perverse men who appeared with long knives for the purpose of stealing and murdering, and tried to do so, but for. tunately the political chief of Antigua proved to be the right man for the oc- casion. He took measures at once to put down such pests of society, and saved the people of Antigua from mur- der and plunder. The authorities did their duty on this trying occasion, and deserve public thanks. . ~ E..u. All the squares and open places of Antigua are covered with tents and other modes of shelter. The inhabi- tants look with fear to the approach of of night, expecting repetition of the earthquake at the same hour. The children alone seem to enjoy this new mode of life, regarding it probably as 8 nice picnic. Happy childhood Even carriages and carts serve as temporary abodes. It will take some time before the people of Antigua, Guatemala, re- cover serenity of mind enough to go to sleep in their tottering houses. I'm pressions of strong shock of earth quake are not easily forgotten or con-