The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-06-17

THE EARTHQUAKE IN NEW GRANADA
The report published of a terrible earth
quake in New Granada, by which 10000
lives were lost, is supplemented to-day
by details received from Panama, which
give more graphic idea of the extent
and havoc of the visitation. The region
in which this earthquake occurred has,
especially OF late years, been subjected
to violent shocks, by which towns have
been destroyed and thousands of lives
lost, and embraces vast volcanic area,
extending through Central America and
the Northern portion Of South America.
Of the earthquakes of former times, that
which happened at Caracas, in Venzuela,
in 1912, by which II, 900 lives were lost,
is one of the most uotable; but it does
not compare with some of the earth
quakes of the Old World. That which
destroyed Antioch, in SAG A. D., accord
ing to the historian, Gibbon, caused the
death of 250,00O persons There were
in the city at the time, besides the resi-
dent population, thousands Of strangers,
who thronged the city, attending the
festival of the ascension. Lisbon, Por-
tugal, was nearly destroyed by an earth
quake, November l, 1855, and within the
space of six minutes G0O00 persons
perished. This terrible catastrophe is
thus described:
"a loud rumbling was followed almost
Immediately by n fearful shock, which
demolished the principal buildings of
the city. and in the short time Of six
minutes it is estimated that 10000 per
sons were killed. The tide on the sea-
coast ran out rapidly, leaving the bar
perfectly dry. and rs rapidly an enor-
nous wave, thirty feet in height, rushed
in again, sweeping everything before it.
The mountains in the nei shborhood were
shaken violently, deep tissures rent in
the valleys. crags toppled over, and
rocks hurled into the abysscs, bearing
everything with them. Thousands Of
persons rushed for safety to the marble
quay, which had just been constructed
Mt nm enormous expense, when suddenly
it sank, carrying its load with it, and
over the spot the water stood GOO feet
deep. All the shipping of the harbor
was sunk instantly and hardly vestige
of the life and prosperity OF the famed
capital remained"
In this country, earthquakes have Of
late years become familiar, but have not
been attended by such serious disasters
as are recorded elsewhere. California
and other parts Of the Pacific coast have
been shaken up considerably mt various
times-the last, which occurred year or
two ago, having caused considerable de-
struction of property in the interior,
with some loss of life Several slight
earthquakes have also occurred in New
England and Northern New York. The
most important events Of tho kind, how
ever, were the earthquakes of New
Madrid, Missouri. in 1911 md 1912,
when over 300 miles Of country, from
the mouth of the Ohio to that of the ST.
Frances, rose and sank in undulations,
lakes md assures being alternately
formed and filled up. These shocks
were both perpendicular and horizontal,
the latter being by far the more disas-
trous in their effects. The incessant
quallings were kept up for several
months, and the loss of property was
enormous. while many persons persisted.
a committee of three, appointed by