The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-29
A PERIOD OF pER1L.
What tho Venezuelan EARTHQUAKES
Seemed lake to an American-Peo-
pie Prayed i'm the Darkness.

What the Venezuelan EARTHQUAKES
seemed Lake to an American-Peo-
pie Prayed i'm the Darkness.
From The New York World.
Rev. Joseph Norwood, agent of the
American Bible Society in Venezuela
and Colombia, who arrived on the
steamship Philadelphia last Wednes-
day night, Is the first eyewitness of
the recent earthquake in Venezuela to
reach this port. Mr.. Norwood was
located somewhat on the edge of the
affected area, but before he left for
the north he learned a great deal con-
corning the damage and probable loss
OF life due to the seismic disturbances.
Through the severity of the shocks
the telegraph wires were torn down
all over V~enezuela, and for this reason
he was unable to get full reports from
tho devastated settlements.
The towns of Merida, Lagunillas
and Ejidos,"Mr Norwood said, "were
almost totally destroyed. Lagunillas
is situated between two high noun
tains, n was surrounded by large
sheets OF water. In the midst of the
shock the town sunk out of sight, and
a large lake spread W. the spot.
When the first shock came | was
In the Hotel America, in Maracaibo.
The premonitory rumble felt like tho
noise OF a derailed street Cur, and my
impression was that something had
happened to the street railroad in
front of the hotel. AS the rumble
continued, however, | know almost
Immediately that it was an earthquake.
and drew out my watch to time its
duration.
THE first shock was at 9:45 o'clock
p. M, April 18th. 1t began with an
| nn6nlQtinn which o~ oE,.@ ko~&,
five seconds. Then there was an
oscillation of about the same period,
and the subsequent disturbance last
ed about two minutes. The heaviest
effect lasted about half that time.
After the earthquake had passed,
there were seven great cracks in the
walls OF my room. Through one OF
them you might have put an arm.
immediately after the first shock
the electric light wires were torn
down, and the town was left in dark
ness. With this gloom the situation
OF h inhabitants became moro fright
ful. Every one ran into the streets
and many fell on their knees and called
for help. No one was killed, although
many persons we're injured.
AFTER the first shock all the guests
and employees in the hotel. with the
exception OF another man and myself
left the place and took up quarters in
the streets. We concluded to stay
indoors, but as u measure of safety we
moved our cots to the head of the
stairs. The hotel was u two-story
structure, built of adobe and bricks
An earthquake such as we felt in
Maracaibo would have leveled all the
tall buildings in New York to the
ground, and would have caused 6
frightful loss of life.
Tbcca is probably little truth il
the report from Merida that 15(
soldiers lost their lives. 1t is undoubt
eddy true, however, that the shock was
the greatest since that of 1912, wher
10000 persons we're killed. Later &C
counts will probably show that this
one, while possibly not as extended
will, nevertheless, be very severe"
Mr.. Norwood is on his way to the
general conference in Memphis, Tenn
at its conclusionN he will return t.
Venezuela.
Acting Minister Eartleman has
cabled to the state department al
Washington that aid from this countr,
would be appreciated. In Venezuela
already a large amount has beer
raised and a committee of congress has
been sent to Maracaiba to extend an,
relief in the governments power.