Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-07-07

THE COLOMBIAN EARTHQUAKE.
mmense Destruction of Life and Property
-Gra phic Description OF the Terrible Ca
| tastrOphe.
Following are the particulars and in
cidents of the great earthquake in Co.
lombia on the 18th inst, brief mention
of which has been heretofore made
MARAcAIBo, May 29.-On the morn
ing of the 28th inst, this community
was startled by the appalling news of
the entire destruction, by an earth
quake, of the city Of San Jose de Gu
cuta, in Colombia, on the 18th inst, at
half past II A. NJ. The fret shock, ac-
companied by loud. subterranean de-
donations, leveled every wall in the city,
and buried under it's ruins in that single
instant Of time some eight thousand
human beings out of population Of
$1,000 souls, and Of those then spared,
many have since died of their injuries,
and others remain seriously affected in
mind. The account given by
the unhappy beings, who have
fled the doomed spot and are
daily arriving here, is narrowing in the
extreme The first care of the few
saved, after they could collect their
shattered senses, was to succor those
whose shrieks for aid filled the air on
every side; that their efforts in many
cases were rendered futile by the con-
tinued trepidation of the earth, by the
explosion of powder and fire works
stored in many parts of the city, and by
bands of robbers, who rovsd over the
ruins, robbing the dead and numbering
those they fancied had saved anything.
Thus all who have reached here from
Cucuta have landed here in the clothes
they wore on that fatal day, as few or
none were able to save even their wear
ing apparel. The following details are
furnished by one OF the survivors:
San Jose de Cucuta had for many
years made very rapid progress, i'll
creasing in wealth and population until
it had become one of the most import
ant cities of Colombia OF late years
new and important enterprises had been
started, necessitating the construction
of new buildings for mercantile and
other purposes, and of large number
of fine residences. In moment of
time these have all been destroyed. It
was situated on the boundary of the re-
public, and was founded by Juan de
Martin in 1884. It was port of entry,
if an inland town can be called port,
and here was the established custom
house. The population Of the city at
the time of the disaster is estimated at
about 1000; it had large commercial
business, and was the great depot for
coffee and cocoa for, shipment either
through the Venezue IAN port or down
the Magda]ena.
At half past 5 o'clock in the after
noon of Sunday, the 18th, strong
shock was observable, lasting twenty
seconds. A little later another trem-
bling of the earth took place, VIII oh grad
ually died away through the space of
five minutes. At quarter past 5 the
same day the entire population was
brought to its feet by strong shock,
which lasted for some time. During the
18th and the following night occasional
tremblings were experienced On the
morning of the 18th everything was
serene and the day advanced without
anything new; with no premonitions of
the awful fate which awaited the doomed
city.
The hour of half-past eleven arrived.
A great many citizens were at table.
The earth commenced shaking with
great force, and from all sides the peo-
pie rushed to the streets with despairing
cries for mercy. For fifteen seconds
the movement continued, the city NOV
ing like great ship without ballast.
Instantaneously cloud of fine dust
enshrouded the streets and houses. i'm
peding the vision, and calling forth re-
newed cries of horror and appeals for
mercy from the popuiace. These were
of short duration, however, as the dust
soon became SO thick as to impede re
SEPARATION, and, as if by the touch of an
! enchanter's wand, an awful silence sue
ceeded. Many who might have been
saved from the ruins of the falling
buildings fell victims to suffocation.
No longer than two minutes did this
terrible situation continue. A wind rap
idly carried away the dust cloud, reveal
ing the terrible scene.
What was few moments before a
beautiful city, instinct with life and hap
piness, was now the hideous tomb of
thousands. The ruin was complete. A
contemplation Of the few who survived
the awful disaster was even more terri
BILE than the sight of the ruins and the
dead which lay beneath them. Crazed
with horror, men, women and children
ran about crying for help and to their
friends who lay dead near at hand.
Here mother frantically called to her
child; there the child, horribly disfg-
ured, perhaps walled out for it's parent.
Husbands, wives, sons, daughters, faith
ers and mothers were running about in
wild dismay. Some hours passed be-
| fore quiet was restored and realization
of the event obtained The tremblings
of the earth continued, and to add to
the horrors of the situation, fires broke
out in various localities amid the ruins
The so fearful day was followed by a
still more horrible night.
The survivors had moved to the SUBJ
urbs of the city, where encampments
were established. The rain commenced
to fall in torrents, and amid the impen-
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