The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-25
Horrible Scenes of Suffer-
ing and Dismay.
VICTIMS SUFFOCATED BY THE DUST.
Graphic Description Of the Catastrophe
by an Eye Witness.
MARAcAIno. MaY 20. 1878

hali-nasL eleven a. M. the nrSt shock, accom-
panied BY loud subtcrraneano etonations, levelIed
every wall In the CITY, ana buried under Its ruins
In that single instant OF time some
EIGHT THOUSAND HUMAN BEINGS
out OF q population Of 10000 souls, and OF those
then spared many have SINCE died OF their IN
juries, and Others remain seriously affected in
MIND. The account given by the unhappy beings,
who have ned the doomed spot ana daily
irving here. is narrowing In the extreme. The
FIRST care Of the lew saved, after they could col
lecs their shattered Senses was TO succor those
whose
sHRIEKs FOR AID
nlled the air on every side; but their efforts in
many cases were rendered futile by the continued
trepldatlon of the earth, by the explosion Of pow
der and fireworks stored In many parts of the
city, and by bands or robbers, who roved over the
ruins,
RoDBING THE DEAD
and numbering those they ianc,ed had saved any
thing. 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 wearing apparel.
The following details are furnished by one OF
the survivors:-
SAN JOSE DE cUcUTA
had for many years made very rapid progress, In
/ creasing wealth ana population until 1t had be-
come OF the most important cities OF Colombia.
or late years new ana important enterprises had
been started, necessitating the construction OF new
buildings for mercantile and other purposes, anu
a large number OF fine residences In moment
OF time these have all been destroyed. IL was
situated on the boundary OF tne Republic, and was
founded by Juan de Martin 1894 1t
was port OF entry, II an Inland town
can be called a port and here was the es-
tablisned Custom House. The population OF
tine city at the time OF the disaster is estimated at
ABOUT 1900; 1t lad large commercial business
and was the great depot Tor coffee and caca Tor
shipment either through the Venezuelan port or
down the Magdalena
PRELIMINARY SHOCKS.
At halfpast FIVE O'Clock IN the afternoon OF
Sunday, the 10th, strong shock was observable,
lasting twenty seconds. A little later another
trembling OF the earth took place, which gradu-
ally died away through the space OF i've min-
utes. At q quarter past five the same day
the entire population was brought 10 It's
ieet by a strong snock, which lasted some time
During the nth and the following night occa-
sonal trem0nngs were experienced. on the
morning OF the 18th everything was serene and
the day advanced without anything new, with no
premonltions OF the awful fate which awaited the
doomed city.
THE FATAL MOMENT.
The hour OF hali-past eleven arrived. great
part OF the citizens we're at table. The earth
commenced shaking with great force, and from
all sides the people rushed TO the streets with
despairing cries Tor mercy. For nfteen sec
onds the movement continued, the city moving
ike great ship without ballast. lnstantaneously
a cloud OF nne dust enshrouded tue streets and
houses, impeding the vision and calling forth
renewed cries or horror aud appeals Tor mercy
from the popuace. These we're OF short duration,
however, as the dust soon became so thick as 10
UKspfRkTrOx
and as n Dy the touch OF an enchanter's wand, an
awful silence succeeded. MANY who might have
been saved from the ruins oil the falling buildings
fell victims to sufocation. Not longer than two
minutes ala this terrible situation continue. A
WIND rapidly carried away the dust cloud, reveal
ing
THE TERRIBLE SCENE.
What was few moments before n beautiful
city, instinct with life ana happiness, was now
the hideous tomb OF thousands. The ruin was
complete. A contemplation OF the few wac sur
vlvcd the awful disaster was even more terrible
than rhe 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 a mother franticaily called 10 her
child; there the child, horribly disneured, perhaps,
walled out Tor Its parent husbands, wives, sous,
uauEnteESs aud mothers were running
about IN wild dIsmay. Some hours passed before
quiet was restored and a realization or the event
obtained. The trcmbllngs OF the earth continued,
and, 10 add 10 the horrors 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 10 the suburbs OF the
city, where encampmcuts were established. The
rain commenced TO iall IN torrents and amid the
impencrabc darkness the Groans OF the wounded
filled the AIR, varied only by the sharp detonatons
proceeding from explosive materials amid the
runs. the coming OF new DAY showed that not
more than 1900 remlined alive. Beneath the
fallen houses lay from 5000 20 10000 dead.
AID FOX rms sUFFERERs.
Immediately the sad news reached here q sub
scrption was raised by the merchants in money
and clothing. which was literally responded to
by ali ana the United States Consul, as agent or
the Atlas steamship Company and the orinoco
Navigation Company, having rendered tue use OF
the steamers Proc aud Uribante, they were
that same evening despatched with an
AMPLE surPLY or PROVISIONS,
clothing ana medicines, under the care OF q CON-
mittee to dispense them, and number OF able
physicians 70 administer 70 the wounded and SICK
the Governor Of this state also nobiy responded
to the call Tor aid in money and provisions, and
furthermore sent picket Of soldiers for the pro-
lection OF the cmigrants coming from Cucuta.
OTHER TOWNS DESTROYED.
Reports from other localities furnish news OF
equal destruction. san Cayetano was destroyed
also the larger part or Santiago In Gramalote
there was great destruction. Arooeda, Cucuula
anu san CristoDa are all nearly destroyed, prin-
cipaliy the four last. The population OF these
towns IL estimated Nv person well acquainted In
that region to be more or less as foliows:-
san Cayetano ............................ 1000
1000
Glamalote 5000
Arb leda. 5000
CucutIlia. 5000
san CrisfoDa 1900
rho section or country above referred TO en-
braces the regions ABOUT whe-e Colombia and
Venezuela JOIN, tho colombian portion embracing