The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-07-09

I"Thcre Shall be Earthquakes"
THE DESTRUCTION or GAN JosE BE
CucUTA ArD FIGHT THOUSAND OF ITS
PEOPLE CoLoMRIA'. AWFUL CALAMITY.
llN. y. B,Ta.d's Maracalbo Letter. 2Dfh uli.l
On the morning of the 2sth inst. this
community was startled by the appsll-
ing news of the entire destruction, bv
an earthquake, of The city OF San Jose
de Cucuta, in Columbia. on the 18th inst, ,
at half pasf II q. m. The first shock
accompanied by lend subterranean, de-
donations. levcled every wall in the city,
and buried under its ruins in that single
instant Of time some eight thousand be-
ings out Of a population OF .en thousand
souls, and of those then spared manv
have since died OF their injuries, and
others remain seriously affected i'm mind
The accovnt given by the unhappy be-
lings. who have fled the doomed spot
and are daily arriving here, Is harrow
lug 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 efrors in
continued trepidation of the earth, by
the explosion of powder and fire-work :
stored iu 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 an, thing.
Thus all who have reached here from
Cucuia have landed here in the clothes
they wore on that fatal day. as few or
none were able 10 save even their wear
ing apparel.
The isllewing details are furnished by
one OF the survivors: San Jose De
Cucuta had for many years made very
lrapid prog ress, increasing in wealth and
population, until IL had become one of
the most important cities Of Columbia.
OF late years new aud important en-
lterprises had been started, necessitating
the construction OF new buildings for
ulercsstile and other purposes, and of q
large number OF fine residences. In a
moment OF time these have all heen de-
stroyed. IL was situated on the bound
AIRY OF the Republic. aud was founded
bv Juan DE Martin in 1884. II was a
port of entry. il an inland Town can be
called rugt, inl here MAS The estab :
lished custom-house. Tho population
lof the city at the time Of the disaster is
estimated nj twelve thousand; ii had a
large commercial business and was the
great depot for coffee and cocoa for
shipment either trough the Venezuelan
lrun or down ,he Maglnlvna. At half
past five o'clock on the afternoon Of
SUNDAY. the 18th. q strong shock was
observable, lasting twenty seconds. A
little later another trembling OF she
earth 'oos place, which gradually died
away through the space al 1--WE minutes.
AZ 4 quarter past five the same day The
entire population was brought TO It's
feet by strong shock. which lasted for
some time. During the 18th and the
following night occasional trembling :
were experienced. On tho morning Of
the lsih every thing was serene. and tho
day advanced without any thing now.
with no prrmoui,ions Of the awful fate
" hich awaited The doomed CITY. The
hour VI hai'-past eleven arrived A
great part OF the citi2sns were at table.
The earth commenced shaking with
great force. and from all sides The peo-
lplc rushed 10 The streets with despairing
lci i-s for mercy For fifteen seconds the
movement continued. the city meving
like a great ship without ballast. In
simultaneously n cloud Of fine dust en-
shroudcd tie streets and houses. inn
ipeding the vision and calling forth re-
lnewcd cries ot horror and appeals for
mercy from the populacc. These were
'of short duration. however. as Tic dust
soon became so thick asto impede rts
lpira,ion, and as If by the teuch Of an
lenchanltf's wand. an awful silence sue
lceeded. Many who might have been
saved from the ruins of the falling build
lngs fell victims ta sufiocation. Not
longer than two minutes did this terrible
situation continue. A wind rapidly car
ricd away tho dust cloud. revealing the
terrible scene. What was a few mo-
lmrnts before beautiful city, instinct
with nfe and happiness, was now the
lhideous tomb OF thousands. The ruin
was complete. A contemplation of the
few who survived the awful disaster
was even more terrible than the sight of
the ruins and the dead which lay be-
noath them Crazed with horror, men.
women and children ran about crying
for help and To their friends who lay
dead near NJ hand Here mother fran
tically called to her child then the child
horribly disiigured. perhaps. walled out
for i,s parent. Husbands, wives, sons.
daughters, fathers and mothers were
running about in wild dismay. Some
hours pass ed bcior, quiet was restored
aud realization Of the event obtained.
The trembling OF the earth continued,
and, 10 add TO the horrors Of tho situa-
tion, fires broke out in varieus locali-
tiles amid tho ruins. The so fearful dav