Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-03
GREAT LISBON EARTHQUAKE.

l
 h the early morning of All Saints l day, November l, all Lisbon was abroad. The morning was hot and stlll
 and yelled in film of yellow haze 1n which the color of city and sky and river ran riot. Behind the seven hills
 on which the town was built rose high
 CT hills, heaving softly into green swells, and pillows, a deeper back ground for white-walled monasteries and a confusion of red-tiled roofs and turquoise towers and minarets, and the
 yellow outer walls Tapped by the blue
 river In the streets people hurried in
 and out among the booths and shops, gathering into momentary groups to discuss the absence of rain, the fact
 that the wells of the country had sud-
 denly gone dry, the coming bull fight,
 latest scandal perpetrated by armed
 and hooded noblemen rowing after
 dark. The yellow glare beat on lofty
 houses covered with Dutch tiles done
 in blue and white, highly glazed and
 wrought into scenes from Bible tales;
 on the small shrines to saints or the
 Madonna at every corner; and threw out into sharp contrast the sombre green of citron and lemon trees. The procession of the yiaticum swung past, through black lanes of kneeling people,
 with the Host borne aloft by bare. footed people of rank under q canopy that blaZed with gold and jewels.
 White clad Dominican friars threaded through the crowd with austere faces and dark-clouded eyes; negro fruit vendors shouted their wares above the babel of songs and laughter, the chant, ing of songs and the droning of pray CTS. Rosy monks, black cowled. jos tied among the women with coarse robes trailing about fat white ankles. Slim figures discreetly shrouded slip. ped through the throng, conveyed by alert duennas. English and Dutch talked business at the corners, intent on finance or on trade. Streams Of dark clad people trickled through the massive entrance into the great church of san Domingo. Above the hum and swarm of the town the church bells pealed, vibrant, masculine. deep-toned and slow, their mellow notes pulsing over the blue river and drifting out among the hills. And at the tenth hour the ground quivered as though to the rumble of heavily loaded wagon on the streets.
 Two minutes later, with sudden ripping crash as of a lightning bolt struck home, the earth heaved like an anlmal in pain. In an instant the air was logged with blinding dust. through which could be seen the first sickening lurch of buildings toppling to their fall; the wide downward sweep of failing trees. In all directions were the flying figures that reeled to the earth's motion and fell and rose and staggered on. For ten minutes the conyulsion lasted; minutes that see1n- eel each one all hour; The dust clouds then frightened and those who were left upon the broken streets got their bear lngs and started for the rivers and quays. The great marble quay at the Terrerio do Paco, crowded with panic frenzied refugees from all parts of the town, sank suddenly beneath the river without warning, leaving never trace or sign; and the waters gulped over 1t and hurled themselves forward on the city, seeking other prey Out of the river straining ships were suck ed into the jaws of a whirlpool that drew each one remorselessly to it. self. strive they never so hard to fly. merchantmen, gallant ships of the line. tiny pleasure boats with paintings of impotent saints on. their sails, all with rows of rigid faces staring over the rail into the death that awaited-C. Bry son Taylor in the July Everybody's.