Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-07-23
The Late Earthquake ia south
Anlpricn,

gives to his government the following ac-
count of the great earthquake which de-
stroyed that city, May IS: On sunday,
the 10th inst, at ) 20 p. M, the first move
nlont Of the earth began, without any dam
ger 10 the population. on the following
day, Monday, The 17lh, at ). 30 n. M, an
other shock was experienced, without
any iamentablc -quenccs, however.
But the following day, Tuesday, the 18th,
at 4. Is o. m, with clear atmosphere and
an ardent sun, the earth shook 50 rapidly
aud so suddenly that in four seconds the
city was completely destroyed, not single
house, and scarcely a single wall, remain
ing standing, while beneath their ruins
were buried nearly 5000 persons. Those
who by the grace Of Providence, had their
live, spared it, that awful moment, were
neatly asphvXjn,cl Ly The dense cloud of
dust that covered us 70 such an extent that
We could not distinguish an object at two
metres distant, Untl a ,inleut gust Of wind
cleared Tie atmosphere and cual,lcd us TO
rcspirc pure air, and thus return TO life.
a number Of buildings in tie city. among
them some arothecaiios' stores, instantly
became ignited hut strong rain control
led the fire somewhat. Then followed a
series Ct shocks for six successive nights,
succeeding each other hour alter hour,
each shock being preceded by one, two or
three dttoralit ms very similar To- that pro-
cecding from the explosion Of a piece OF
artillery If immense calilrc. So violent
were the sc shocks that it was necessary to
lie on the ground and, firmly grasping
some object, thus prevent dangerous re-
suits. The terror, rs depicted in The coun-
tenances Of the survivors,; the mourning
and desperation Of husbands, wives and
children, who with The utmost anxiety,
solicited each other for sympathy and IT,.
dnss Of the lost the cnes and groans Of
the victims expiring beneath the ruins
this is a picture which the most vivid
Imagination could not describe.
But the worst OF all was the presence
within three hours aftor that awful catas-
trophe, which in its terror and pathos
would have reached the heart OF hyena
of bands Of thieves, who, with machele
in hand, trod under foot the bodies, and.
deaf to the ciiCs for aid OF the sufferers still
uhAtl AliN lN4lN- Hlt', Il II illbltU 10
the human race, rausacEed the ruins for
the gold that the honorable labor Of years
had accumulated. The Colombian guard
stationed in that city, II they had been in
spircd by phlauthropic sentiments, could
have lent, by their character, important
services TO the unfortunate Inhabitants,
saving many lives and Interests and eleva-
tiuU ibp paiinup1 spntinaui huf tvtih
conduct that l abstain from qualifying,
they took up their march ia twenty-four
hours, by way of Pampelona. Most Of the
merchants of San Jose de Cucuta, were
VeneZuelars. Such of these as did not
leave their bodies under the ruins OF their
homes and their widows and children in
mourning for them saw buried in the
fri ghtful ruins the fortunes they had accu-
mulated. According 10 the advices OBJ
tanned from trustworthy persons who had
left the unfortunate place for this city up
10 May 22d, there had been destroyed by
the earthquakes the following Venezuelan
towns: San Antonio, Capacho, Tariba, San
Christobal, Lobatere, Micheleno, Colon,
San Juan de Urena and Guaismos. OF the
towns belonging to Columbia, the follow
ing were destroyed: San Jose de Cucuta,
Rosario, Pueblito, San Cayetano, Santiago,
Salazar, Galurdo, Arbaleda, Chuincota and
Cucutella. The total value of the property
lost at San Jose de Cucuta is rs follows:
Value of the buildings 50, 500 900
Coffee and other products 2,OO0OO
Other merchandise /, 100000
Jewels, furniture and other per-
sonal etlecs 900, 900
Total S7,COO,OOO
Accompanying this is list of promi-
nent persons who, according to Trustworthy
advces, lost their lives at the great earth
quake Of that day. In Il will be read the
names of honorable Venezuelans who con-