The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-10-15
The Guatenn.llA IsApsh4uAks.

. A correspondent of the PaRama
Star, writing from Antigua, Guatema-
la, gives the following details concern
ing the earthquake that suddenly
shook that place on the night ofSep-
tember 3D.: fa
"The duration of the first strong
shock must have been from twenty
five to thirty seconds. The contents
of large water tank in the COURT
yard were thrown out ia a broad
sheet of water. Wild schreeches and
screams continued even after the first
terror had little subsidized L at once
saw that our policy was 10 keep
quiet and away from the walls. Long.
after the first shock had passed there
was still the sound of walls falling
more or less distant. Suddenly arose
the sound of hundreds of voices chant
ing a hymn to the Creator for mercy.
The solemn melody had strange
effect on my excited nerves aud feel
ings. Many shocks followed during
the night, OF varying intensities, every
one OF which gave rise to new alarms
and new petitions Tor mercy. The
night seemed an age in length; for
tunately no rain Tell. 9-ls'
| "At daybreak l went through the
town to see the extent of the mis-
chief done. l judge that about two
dozen houses that were Inhabited have
been destroyed, causing, as far as L
could learn, the loss OF thirty-two
lives. A considerable number of
damaged houses will have to be taken
down. s.4t
SIN Guatemala, the capital, slight
shocks were felt; this fact, taken
along with the direction of the earth
quake, and its increasing effect being
in direct ratio to the distance from
the 'Volcan del Feugo, makes it prob
able that this mountain caused all the
nocturnal disturbance above describ-
ed. The Indians say that three viii
lagos at the foot of the volcano haye
been destroyed. though this needs
confirmation,, ei4-ia ah
"Quring the confusion and disaster
of the earthquake many narrow and
wonderful escapes are related as usual,
For instance. a mother was killed but
the child she held in her arms was
unhurt. Another woman got hold Of
her child and her old mother, but in
getting out of the house the old wo-
man was killed, and SO on.
"Even during the terror of the first
tShOOh tACLO W do AOG D0IVGES6
men who appeared with long knives
for the purpose of stealing and mnr-
dering. aud tried to do so, but fortun-
ately the political chief of Antigua
proved to be the right man for the
1 occasion. He took measures at once
to put down such pests to society,
and saved the people of Antigua from
murder and plunder. The aulhori-
ties did their duty on this trying &C.
casion and deserve public thanks.
"All the squares aud open places
of Antigua are covered with tents
aud other modes of shelter. The in
hahitants look with fear to the ap-
pfoaoh 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 nice picnic. Happy
childhood. ~
Gwen carriages and carts serve as
temporary abodes.a,It will take some
time before the people of Antigua,
Guatemala, recover serenity of mind
enough to go to sleep in their totter-
houses. Impressions of a strong
shock of earthquake are not easily for
gotten or controlled by force of will
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