Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-14
8ailp &enrsbtf Journal.
Augusta, Thursday Morning, April II.
The Chic Earthquake.

The Chic Earthquake.
The earthquake At Chic is even more
terrible than the early accounts stated.
The destruction OF seven thousand peo-
pie without al instant of warning. the
wounding Of ten thousand others, and for
ty thousand deprived of homes and shell
ter and sustenance. is the latest report
from the scene Of this great calamity. And
still It Is said the earthquake shocks con-
time. Imagination can scarcely conceive
the horror Of such a situation.
It must be that the buildings on the
island we're constructed of brick or stone,
probably with but little thought of pos
sible catastrophe such as has taken place
The great loss Of life was undoubtedly
caused by the fall of the buildings. bury
ing and crushing the inmates beyond the
power Of rescue. The mere heaving and
cracking OF the ground would have oc-
casioned but little loss Of life to people
not in houses or other buildings.
II was stated in some of the dispatches
that those who we're in tents feared no dan
ger and suffered no disaster, tact which
supports the opinion that the loss Of life
was directly caused by what was above
rather than from the shocks below. In
countries well known to be subject to
earthquakes the buildings are generally
constructed OF light material and of but a
single story. In Chic this wise method could
not have prevailed and hence the enor-
nous loss Of life. Though the place has
in times past been visited by earthquakes.
it had for SO long time been exempt from
them that all precaution against future
visitations OF the kind were neglected.
Appeals for help for the destitute people
are now being made in this country. One
Of the most stirring and touching is an ap-
peal issued at Washington and headed by
the name of Mrs. Blaine, followed by the
name of Mrs. Sherman and some others
Of the most distinguished ladies in tina,
city. In this appeal, after reciting the
facts relating to the great calamity it is said
THE situation admits of no delay. The
suffering is present and pressing. Nc
community could recover from so mys.
"terious and terrible blow except
Through the slow lapse of time. The
"neighboring Powers have rushed to Chic
with instant aid, but the shocked and
'sorrowful people must be nurtured back
Ito comfort and confidence. to hope ant
''hOme joy. to moral strength and self-de
"pendence. In this sudden and over
''whelming anguish the accredited repre-
"sentatives of the desolated Province have
appealed to us to implore the generous
assistance of the American people. W,
''do not appeal TO the American people
''They need no appeal. In this swee
''charity the New World insists upon it
fright to stand and share with the Old
''But gathered in the national capital from
'all sections of this great land, feeling
profoundly that the Kings business re
"quireth haste. and confident that in thu
complying with the request of our friend
land neighbors from over the sea- W,
gladly interpret the eagerness Of ever,
american to administer not only sym
'pathy. but prompt and definite succor
1--WE venture earnestly to beg the pastor
"of all churches-Catholic. Protestan
land Hebrew-to take up collection il
.'their several congregations at the earlies
practicable moment And we pray thu
Presidents of Boards of Trade and tn,
managers of all moneyed institutions t.
"circulate subscription papers. that thu
''rich may have immediate opportunity Il
"give of their wealth and the poor of thei
poverty through channels that shall soon
lest reach the fainting sufferers. whom
mature could not spare and whom hu
"manity must restore"
OF course the assistance necessary I,
relieve the immediate wants Of the living
will be furnished. but the loss of relative
and friends, and the turning of their beau
tiful island into one vast cemetery are ca
lamities for which no attempted compensa
ton or alienation of distress can be suffi
cient
The serious illness of Lord Beacons
field has given rise to considerable politi
cal gossip in London about the probable
successor to the opposition leadership
Lord Salisbury and Lord Cairns, by thei
vigorous attacks on the Gladstone mnistr,