THE EARTHQUAKE IN THIBET.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 13, 22 April 1871, Page 4

THE EARTHQUAKE IN THIBET.

The current number of the " Annals of the Propagation of the Faith," contains an account by a French* missionary of the earthquake which in the spring of last year destroyed the town of Petang on the eastern frontier of Thibet. On the 11th of April, in the midst ot a storm of wind, snow, and hail, a violent shock overturned every house in the place, without a single exception: Fortunately the three French priests escaped unhurt, being at the time engaged, two in planting vegetables, and the third in parochial'work. The first impulse on recovering from their surprise was to rush to the relief of the mission house. One was found with both his legs caught between two beams of wood; him they released; and to another, whose groans attracted., tbem, they first gave absolution, and then set to work to free him from the heap of ruins under which he lay. To most people a reversion of this order of proceeding would have recommended itself, and to none more so than the wretched sufferer, who, when at length liberated, was found to be " almost suffocated." One Christian was brought out dead, and two others were much injured. The terror and perplexity ©f the townspeople were terrible to witness, and to add to the horrors of the scene, at nightfall fires broke out in different parts of the town. This rendered the task of rescuing the persons buried under the ruins of the houses almost impossible, and for twelve days the flames continued to devour furniture, merchandise, and food until all were destroyed. The priests consider that at least 3000 persons, one third of the population, perished either in the earthquake or in the fire. Of this number 400 were Lamas, and two were " living Buddhas."