AMERICA.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 392, 26 July 1861, Page 3

AMERICA.

EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH AMERICA

NEARLY FIFTEEN THOUSAND LIVES LOST. We have now received full information of the total destruction, on March 20th, by earthquake, of one, if not three populous cities of the Argentine Republic—namely, Mendoza, San Juan, and San Luis. The former has certainly been destroyed, and very lew of its population of 15,000 souls have escaped to tell the fearful tale. The news was sent by telegraph to Valparaiso, aud was confirmed by the subsequent arrival of a mail courier from the ruined city.

The latter stated that he arrived at Mendoza on the morning of the 20th j and at half-past 8 p.m. a brief* but excessively violent shock of earthquake, lasting but six or eight seconds, destroyed every building, public and private, in the city, and that the number wh.> w*;re enabled to escape was very limited. The streets being narrow, the buildings high, and the inhabitants totally unused to such phenomena, were paralysed with terror, and neglected to seek refuge in the open courts of their dwellings until too lite. The postmaster was buried beneath the ruins of the post office, the governor was missing; and when asked why he brought no certificate that the mails were lost, the messenger replied * There was no one left to write it, nor materials to write with.'

The aspect presented by the city after the first shock was terrific. Hoarse subterranean thunder deafened the air, animals of all kinds rushed frantically through the open spaces howling, the earth opened and vomited forth floods of water, while, to crown the scene of horror, flames burst from the ruins and consumed nearly the entire business portion of the city, with its dying, and its wounded.

, On the 28th a number of letters were received at Valparaiso and at Santiago,' by relatives and friends of Chilians residing in Mendoza, but the hope until then entertained, that the earlier accounts were exaggerated, soon gave way to the dreadful certainty that the calamity had not yet been painted in colors sufficiently vivid. The earth still continued to tremble, the few walls that had resisted tho first shock one by one fell, until now no vestige of a build* ing remains.

The mountain roads are in a most dangerous condition, not only on account of the huge masses of rock that have already fallen and obstructed the road, but because the vibration of the earth is still hurling them down from the heights above into the valleys.

The gaudies, or natives of the surrounding country, hastened to the spot, not to assist the needy or aid in rescuing the wounded from a lingering death, but' to seek for plunder among the smoking ruins, and to snatch the little saved from the wretched survivors.

One gentleman, writing from thence, after describing these horrors says:— * I believe that in a few days we shall have no other law here than that of the poignard.' The prison was destroyed; out of 100 inmates 92 perished. The remaining eight, who were already hardened villains, formed themselves into a band of freebooters, and had gone, it was supposed to the mountain passes, to intercept and rob the parties sent from Chili for the relief of the sufferers. One woman was found robbed and murdered by the roadside. She was recognised as one who was on her way to Mendoza to see her family. They too had all perished on the 20th. In the Jesuit church there was preaching that night. The services had just concluded, and the congregation was about dispersing, when the" shock came. The few who had reached the plaza were saved, but the wails ;-u)d roof of the building fell inward with a crash, and priest and penitent together were hurried into eternity. The latest advices from Mewioza represent the suffering to h* extiemo. there being neither food, clothing, nor shelter for the survivors, everything being buiied beneath the ruins. They akso state that San Juan and San Louis, two other populous cities of the Confederation have shared a like fate, the San Juan river having, after the shock, left its bed, and swept over the tow», utterly destroying what the earthquake had

spaied. This news is not, however, fully confirmed.

As soon as the disastrous news was rendered beyond question, the Goverment and private individuals vied with one another in uiergettc efforts to send immediate relief to their suffering brethren. Without waiting for the completion of the work, on the 3')tb, a party oi' physicians and others left for the scene ef the disaster, bearing medicines, food, and clothing, and accompanied by a small party of troops. The gloom and terror spread throughout the Republic of Chili by this awful calamity may be imagined. « Situated upon an,'eminently volganic region,' says a letter from Valparaiso, « we have constant evidence oi the insecurity of our tenure of existence. Separated but by a chain of mountains from the scene of destruction, and taught by sad experience the frightful and 7 irresistble force of the unheralded earth-storm, we retire each night with a feeling of terrible insecurity. The coast has been frequently visited in past years by earthquakes. Chilian has been twice destroyed; Concepcion once; while Valparaiso, Santiago, and Copiapo have suffered severely. No amount of human foresight, no precaution avails against the mysterious visitor, who comes at dawn, at noonday, or at midnight, and, in a few seconds, levels to the ground the proudest monuments of human skill.'