The Van Buren press., 1875-07-20
THERE SHALL BE EARTHQUAKES =
The Destruction Of San Jose de Cucuta
and Eight Thousand Of its People
Colombia's Awful CALAMITY
Uerald's MnraeaIho Letter. 9ath nj

community was startled by the appalling
news of the entire destruction, by an
earthquake, Of the city of San Jose de
Cucuta, in Colombia, on the 18th inst, at
half-past IL a. m. The first shock, &C
companied by loud subterranean detona-
tions, leveled every wall in the city, and
buried under its ruins in that single in
slant of time some eight thousand human
beings out of a population of ten thou
sand souls, and of those then spared
many have since died of their injuries
and Others remain seriously affected in
mind, The account given by the unhap-
py beings, who have fled the doomed
spot and are daily arriving here, is har-
rowing in the extreme. The first care OF
the few saved, after they could collect
their shattered senses, was to saecor
those whose shrieks for aid filled the air
on every side but their efforts in many
cases were rendered futile by the contin-
ued trcpidation of the earth. by the ex.
plosion Of powder and fireworks stored
in many parts of the city, and by bands
of robbers, who loved over the ruins,
robbing the dead and numbering those
they fancied had saved anything. 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 Cucu-
ia had for many years made very rapid
progress, increasing in wealth and popu
lation, until it had become one of the
most important cities Of Colombia. Of
late years new and important enterprises
had been started, necessitating the con
struction of new buildings for mercantile
and other purposes, and of a large mum.
Der of fine residences In moment of
time these have all been destroyed. 1t
was situated on the boundary of the re-
public, and was founded by Juan De Mar
tin in 1884. 1t was port of entry, If an
inland town can be called a port. and
here was the established custom house.
The population of the city at the time of
the disaster is estimated at about II 900 !,
it had large commercial business and
was the great depot for coffee and caca
for shipment either through the Venezue.
Ian port or down the Magdalena. At
half past five o'clock on the afternoon of
Sunday, the 10th, a strong shock was OBJ
servable, 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 a
quarter past five the same day the entire
population was brought TO its feet by a
strong shock, which lasted Tor 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 with
out anything new, with no premonitions
of the awful fate which awaited the
doomed city. The hour of halfpast II
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
despairing cries for mercy. For fifteen
seconds the movement continued, the
city moving like great ship without bal
last. Instantapeously cloud of fine
dust enshrouded the streets and houses,
impeding the vision and calling forth re-
ucNttt NIlcS vi HolIol uBDCAtS IoI
mercy from the populace' These were
of short duration, however, as the dust
soon became so thick as to impede per.
spiration, and, as il by the touch Of an
cnchanters wand, an awful silence sue
'ceeded, Many who might have been
saved from the ruins Of the falling build
ings fell victims to suffocation Not
longer than two minutes did this terrible
situation continue. A wind rapidly car
ried away the dust cloud, revealing the
terrible scene. What was few moments
before beautiful city, instinct with lite
and happiness, was now in the hideous
tomb Of thousands. The ruin was CON-
plctc. 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 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 mother frantically called to her
child, there the child, horribly disfigured.
perhaps, walled out for its parent, Hus
bands, wives, sons, daughters, fathers
and mothers were running about in wild
dismay Some hours passed before qni-
ct was restored and realization OF the
event obtained. The tremblings of the
earth continued, and, to add to the hor
rors 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
encampments were established The
rain commenced to fall in torrents, and
amid the impenetrable darkness the
groans of the wounded filed the air, va
ried only by the sharp detonations pro-
ceeding from explosive materials amid
the ruins. The coming Of new day
showed that not more tkan 1000 remain
ed alive. Beneath the fallen houses lay
from 5000 to 10000 dead.
Immediately the sad news reached here
a subscription was raised by the mer-
chants in money and clothing, which was
literally responded to 10y all; and the
United States Consul, as agent Of the At
las Steamship Company and the Orinoco
Navigation Company having rendered
the use of the steamers Pieo and Uri
bante, they were that same evening dis
patched with an ample supply of provis-
ions, clothing and medicines, under the
care of committee to dispense them,
1 !