The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-07-08
The South American Earthquake.

The South American Earthquake.
On the morning of the 2Sth inst. this
news of the entire destruction by an earth
quake of the city Of San Jose de Cucuta,
in Colombia, on the 18th inst, at II 80
a. m. THE first shock, accompanied by ]
loud subterranean detonations, lcvelcd
every wall in the city and buried under its
ruins in that single instant of time some
5000 human beings, out of a population of
III, 900 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 arc 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 shricks 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 rOvcd over the ruins, robbing
the dead and numbering those they fancied
had saved anything. Thus all who have
reached here from Cucuta have landed
in the clothes they wore on that fatal day,
| us 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 cst-
mated at about $4,000; it had large COM
mcrcial business and was the great depot
for coffee and caca for shipment either
through the Venezuelan port or down to
Magdalena.
At halfpast five O'Clock in the afternoon
on Sunday, the 10th, Il strong shock was
observable, lasting twenty seconds. A lit
tic later another trembling of the earth
took place, which gradually died away
through the space of five minutes. At a
quarter past five 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 trcmblings were experienced.
On the morning of the 18th everything was
serene, and the day advanced without any
thing new, with no prcmonitions 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
to the streets with dcspairing cries for
mercy. For fifteen seconds the movement
continued, the city moving like a great
ship without ballast. Instantancously IA
cloud of fine dust cnshroudcd the streets
and houses, impeding the vision and call
ing tarth renewed cries of horror and APP
pcals for mercy from the populacc. These
were of short duration, however, as the
dust soon became so thick as to impede
respiration, and, as if by the touch OF an
cnchantcr's wand, an awful silence sue
cccdcd. Many who might have been
saved from the ruins of the falling build
ings fell victims to suffocation. No longer
than two minutes did this terrible situa-
ton continue. A wind rapidly carried
away the dust cloud, revealing the terrible
scene. What was u few moments before
a beautiful city, instinct with life and hap
pincss, was now the hdcous 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 Il mother frantically
called to hcrchild; there the child, horribly
distiurcd, perhaps, walled out for its par
cnt. 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, to add to the horror
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
suburbs of the city, where cncampmcntS
were established. The rain continued to
fall in torrents, and amid the impenctrablc
darkness the groans of the wounded filled
the air, varied only by the sharp detona-
tons proceeding from explosive materials
amid the ruins. The coming of new day
showed that not more than 1000 remained
alive. Beneath the fallen houses lay from
5000 to 10000 dead.
Reports from other localities furnish
news of equal destruction. San Cayetano
was destroyed; also the larger part of San
tiago. In Garmalotc there was great dc
structon. Arbolcdo, Cucutilla and San
Christobal are nearly all destroyed prin-
cipally the four last. The population of
these towns is estimated by person we'll
acquainted in that region to be over 20, 600.
The section of country above referred to
embraces the regions about where Colon
bia and Venezuela join, the Colombian
portion embracing the State of Santander.
1t is in some respects the most productive
part Of the Republic, and the coffee of this
section is familiar to all the world
The shock was felt sharply at Bogota
and adjoining sections. A gentleman who
was at the time in Facatativa says that the
movement lasted for thrcc-quartcrs of Il
minute. 1t was also strongly felt in Bar
ranquilla. Maracaibo, though removed a
degree and a half from the scene, yet felt
at the same moment a gentle but long Con-
tinucd undulatiOn of the ground, and not
a day has passed since the memorable 18th
of May that We have not here felt shocks
more or less strong.-Narucaido lNay 29)
Cor ". Y Heruld.