WHOLE CITIES SWALLOWED BY EARTHQUAKE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 122, 27 August 1875, Page 9

WHOLE CITIES SWALLOWED BY EARTHQUAKE.

i | ■ Cokrespondence from Maracaibo, dated May 29, describes the awful earthquake which destroyed several cities and thousands of lives. The following details are furnished by one of the survivors : San Jose de Cueuta had for many years made very rapid progress, increasing in. wealth and population, until it had become one of the most important cities of Columbia. Of late years new and important enterprises had been started, necessitating -the construction of new buildings for mercantile and other purposes, and of a large number of fine residences. In a moment of time these have all been destroyed. It was situated on the boundary of the Eepublic, and was founded by Juan de Martin in 1534. It was a port of entry, if an inland town can be called a port, and here was the established Custom-house. The population of the city at the 'time of the disaster is estimated at about 12,000. It had. a large commercial business, and was the great depot for coffee and caca for shipment either through the Venezuelan port or down the Magdalona. At half -past five o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday, May 16, a strong shock was observable, lasting twenty seconds. A little later another trembling of the earth took place, which 'gradually died away through the space of five minutes. At a quarter past six the same day the entire 'population was brought to its feet by a strong- shock, which lasted for some time. During the 17th and the following night occasional tremblings were experienced. On the morning of the 18th everything was serene, and the day advanced without anything new, with no premonitions of the awful fate which awaited the doomed city. The hour of half-past 11 arrived. A great part of the citizens were at table. The earth commenced shaking with great force, and from all sides the people rushed into the streets with despairing cries for mercy. For fifteen seconds the movement continued, the city moving like a great ship without ballast. Instantaneously a cloiid of fine dust enshrouded the streets and houses, impeding the vision and calling; forth renewed cries of horror and appeals for mercy from the populace. These were of short duration, hoAvever, as the dust soon became so thick as to impede respiration, and, as if by the touch of an enchanter's wand, an awful silence succeeded. Many who might have been saved from the rains of the falling buildings fell victims to suffocation. Not longer than two minutes did this terrible situation continue. A wind rapidly carried away the dust cloud, revealing the terrible scene. "What was a few minutes before a beautiful city, instinct with life and happiness, was now the hideous tomb of thousands. The rnin was complete. A contemplation of the few who survived the awful disaster was even more terrible than the sight of the ruins and the dead which lay beneath them. Crazed with horror, men, women and children ran about crying for help and to their friends who lay dead near at hand. Here a mother frantically called to her child ; there the child, horribly disfigured, perhaps, wailed out for its parent. Husbands, wives, sons, daughters, fathers and mothers, were running about in wild dismay. Some hours passed before quiet was restored and a realization of the event obtained. The trembling of the earth continued, and to add to the horrors" of the situation, fires broke out in various localities amid the ruins. The so fearful day was followed by a still more horrible night. The survivors had moved to the suburbs of the city, where encampments were established. The rain commenced to fall in torrents, and amid the impenetrable darkness the groans of tho wounded filled the air, varied only by the sharp detonations proceeding from explosive materials amid the rains. The coining of a now day showed that not more than 2000 remained alive. Beneath the fallen houses lay from 8000 to 10,000 dead. Immediately the sad news reached here a subscription was raised by the merchants in money and clothing, which was liberally responded to by all ; and the United States Consul, as agent of the Atlas Steamship Company and the G-rinoco Navigation Company, having tendered the use of the steamers Pico and TJribante, they were that same evening despatched with an ample supply of provisions, clothing and medicines, under the care of a committee to dispense them, and a number of able physicians to administer to the wounded and sick. Tho Governor of this State also nobly responded to the call for aid in money and provisions, and furthermore sent a picket of soldiers for the protection of the emigrants coming from Cueuta. .Reports from other localities furnish news of equal destruction. San Cavetano was destroyed ; also the larger part of Santiago. In Gramalote there was great destruction. Arboleda, Cucutilla and San Cristobal are all nearly destroyed, principally the four last. The population of these towns is estimated by a person well acquainted in that region to be more or less as follows : — San Cavetano 4000 Santiago 2000 - Gramalote- ; 3000 Arboleda 5000 Cucutilla 5000 San Cristobal 1600' The section of country above referred to embraces the regions about where Colombia and Venezuela join, the Colombian portion embracing the State of Santander. It is in some respects' the most productive part of the republic, and the coffee of this section is familiar to all the world. The shock was felt sharply of Bogota and adjoining sections. A gentleman who was at the time in Pacatativa says that the movement Listed for three quarters of a minuteIt was also strongly felt in Barranquilla. Maracaibo, though removed a degree and a half from the scene, yot felt at the°same moment a gentle but long-continued undulation of the ground, and not a day has passed since the memorable 18th May that we have not here felt shocks more or less strong.