Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-08
The South American Earthquake.

On the morning 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 Cucuta,
in Colombia, on the 18th inst, at III 80
a. M The first shock, accompanied by
loud subierranean det0nations, leyeled
every wall in the city and buried under It's
ruins in that single instant OF time some
5000 human beings, out OF population OF
10, 600 souls, and Ofthose 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; but their efforts in
many cases were rendered futile by the
continued trcpidation Of the earth, by the
explosion OF powder and fireworks stored
In many parts of the city and by bands OF
robbers, who roved over the ruins, robbing
the dead and numbering those they fancied
had saved anything. Thus oil who have
reached here from Cucuta have landed
In the clothes they wore ON that fatal day,
rs few or none were able to save even their
wearing apparel.
The following details are furnished by
one OF the survivors: The population Of
the city at the time Of the disaster is esti-
mated at about 1900; IL had large com.
mercial business and was the great depot
for coffee and caca for shipment either
through the Venezuelan port or down 10
Magdaiena.
Al half past five O'Clock in the afternoon
on Sunday, the 10th, strong shock was
observable, lasting twenty seconds A lit
tie later another trembling Of the earth
took place, which gradually died away
through the space of five minutes AT u
quarter past five the same day the entire
population was brought to It's feet by II
strong shock, which lasted for some time.
During the nth and the following night
occasional tremblings were experienced
On the morning Of the 18th everything was
serene, and the day advanced without any.
thing new, with no premonitions Of the
awful fate which awaited the doomed city.
The hour OF halfpast eleven arrived A
great part Of the citizens were at table
The earth commenced shaking with great
force, and from all sides the people rushed
10 the streets with despairing cries for
mercy. For fifteen seconds the movement
continued, the city moving like great
ship without ballast Ins,antaneously a
cloud of fine dust enshrouded the streets
and houses, impeding the vision and call,
Ing forth renewed cries of horror and ap.
pcals for mercy from the populace. These
were OF short duration, however, Ms the
dust soon became so thick A. 10 impede
asI ~ ~ hy th.. ta,,.l. 20 -.
cnchanters wand, an awful silence sue.
cccded. Many who might have been
saved from the ruins OF the falling build.
ings fell victims TO sufiocalion. No longer
than two minutes did this terrible situa.
ton continue. A wind rapidly carried
away tho dust cloud, revealing the terrible
scene. What was "A few moments before
a beautiful city, instinct with life and hap.
pness, WAS now the hidcous tomb OF thou.
sands. The ruin was complete. A contem-
plation Of the few who survived the awful
disaster was even more terrible than the
sight OF ruins and the dead which lay be.
meath them. Crazcd with horror. men,
women and children ran about crying for
help and to their friends who lay dead
near at hand. Here mother frantlcally
called to her child; there the child, horribly
disfinred, perhaps, walled out Tor its par
eni, Husbands, wives, sons, daughters,
fathers and mothers were running about in
wild dismay. Some hours passed before
quiet was restored and realization Of the
event obtained. The trcmblings of the
earth continued, and, 10 add 10 the horror
of the situation, fires broke out In various
localities amid the ruins. The so fearful
day was followed by still more horrible
night The survivors had moved to the
suburbs OF the city, where cncampmenss
were established. The rain continued to
fall in torrents, and amid the impenetrable
darkness the groans of the wounded filed
the air, varied only by the sharp de,ona-