The New York herald., 1878-11-06
SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE IN THE REPuRLIc OF
sALvADoR-LOss OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
ARBITRARY ACTION OF THE AUTHORITIES IN
COLOMBIA.
PANAMA. Oct. 26. 1878.
At six O'Clock, the evening OF October q severe
earthquake was experienced in the village
Of Jucuaps and neighboring towns, in the
Department Of Usulutan, in the southern por-
ton Of the Republic of Salvador. Nearly all
the houses in Jucuapa destroyed and many fami-
lies buried in the ruins particularly in the outskirts
Of the town. where the means of escape confined
to streets and where the houses were not so
solidly constructed In the centre Here tho plaza
furnished security to the distressed people who were
trying to avoid the crumbling walls and falling
roofs Of their ruined dwellings, At last advicss
ten bodies had been recovered and many moro were
supposed to be under the ruins, many people are
missed by friends relatives. The towns included
in the disaster Guadalupe Nueva Guadalupe,
Chinameca, Usulatan, the Caserio del Arcnal, San
tago de Maria, which is entirely ruined and
siso sH%' found Teeapa Tqunfo and SAN Buens n
Ventura. In Nueva Guadalupe and Chnameca tho
ruin is complete and the loss Of life is also to be Ia
injury. The shock which produced the greatest
damage was at first kind Of oscillatory
and and terminated in what felt like . general
upheava of the earth and so violent that solid
walls ana arCneS ana strongly Draceu roofS were
broken and severed like pipe stems. The movement
proceeded from the southwest to tho northeast and
supposed to have been occasoned by eruption
Of the volcano Of Tecapa.
GOVERNMENT AID
The government has begun the work Of erecting
houses for the unfortunstes. and will supply them
with food until they able TO provide for them
selves. The district which has been devastated II
the most thicky settled portions Of the country The
people devote themselves TO the cultivation Of indigo
sugar cane and tobacco, are industrious and
economical. and many Of them in very comfort
able circumstances. The failure Of the indigo crop.
on account Of the locusts and the destruction Of
their homes by this dread visitaton, double
caamities which should awaken pity and active SYM
pathy for them in the bosoms Of their neighbors.
The Idea Of Santa Ana reports that apprchensions
exist in the public mind that the volcano OF Santa
effects Of which serious consequences arc feared.
COLOMBIA
Mr.. B. Leignardier, of the firm Of Hoffman. Legnar-
dcr Co., and French Vice Consul at Aspinwall has
been arbitrarily confined In prison by order of jus
tice Of the peace for alleged contempt of court The
case has been examined carefully by the American
and English consular authorities at Aspinwall aud
pronounced most emphstically to be an outrageous
breach OF authority and foul wrong They
telegraphed the President of the State to
that effect, and he answered ordering
Mr.. Leignardier's release. The Judge refused
TO obey the order. and this morning tho President
took the train for Aspinwall to personally examine
into the affair.
Business in Colombia il without animation Ex-
change In still at unfavorabe prices ninetyday bills
selling at from wcnty-sx to twenty eight pence per
SOL Exchange on New York is at ninety per cent
premiuni.