TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO.

Waka Maori, Volume 11, Issue 11, 8 June 1875, Page 124

TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO.

Seventy Persons Killed. A correspondent of the New York Herald at Gundalajara, Mexico, writing on the 20th February, thus describes an earthquake which destroyed a town, and killed seventy persons:— On Friday, the 11th of February, at half-past 8 o'clock p.m., a very severe shaking was felt in the capital (Grundalajara), accompanied by a strange subterranean sound. The phenomenon was so marked that it seemed as if the great terraqueous mass was about to pass from under our feet, and for the moment the falling in of every roof was expected. In four minutes after, the shaking was repeated with equal force, and with the most tremendous noises,

whereupon the amazement and alarm had no limit. The public squares, and every place where it was thought the falling houses could not reach, were taken possession of by the multitude, who were beside themselves with panic. A few moments before the earthquake the heavens were clouded, and the atmosphere hot and suffocating, all of which tended to horrify more and more public imagination. The shakings were of a tremendous character, terminating in oscillatory movements, and lasted about ten seconds. There is no doubt that Gundalajara has never suffered earthquakes so strong as those- just passed through, and that fortunately we have not many accidents to lament. Nevertheless manv buildings have suffered considerable injury—among others, the Institute, the chapels of Loreto, la Merd, de Jesus, Liceo, and Mexicalcuigo ; while an arched roof was cracked open in the Penitentiary, a tower cracked loose belonging to the cathedral, &c. A falling stone from the cathedral destroyed a man's foot. The theatre Degollado did not suffer—a proof that the rumours in regard to its bad construction have no foundation although the persons who had gone to the theatre to the benefit of ]Mrs. Leonardi were very much frightened. The whole night was spent in watching, so strong was the conviction that the phenomenon would be repeated. On the following day the telegraph announced that towards the east as far as Leon, the north as far as Chalchihuiti,the south as far as Zacoalco, and the west to the Pacific, all the towns had felt the earthquake with more or less intensit}', especially those near the volcano of Geboruco. In the valley of the river near the hacienda of Mr. Portillo, a large rock fell down, killing a horse and wounding a man. In San Cristobal the affair has been very bad, as nearly all the houses in that town have been destroyed, and many, perhaps, buried in the ruins. Up to the 15th or 16th of the month, besides the bruised and wounded, the bodies of seventy killed have been taken from the ruins. As the town contains onlv SOO inhabitants, the proportion of the accidents to* that number is horrifying. The priest is one of the victims ; it is said he died yesterday. It may be said of San Cristobal that it has disappeared, and that its ruins, only exist. The families which have been saved are now living in the open air under trees. San Cristobal—writes a resident of that place—is situated, or rather was situated, at the bottom of the beautiful valley which crosses the greater part of the north of this State, the waters of the Grrand Hiver nearly touching the foundation walls of our houses, and was a most picturesque place, for the high rocks upon the opposite side of the valley and in front of us appeared hanging over our heads. We lived tranquilly, for our commerce was not great, and earthquakes in former years had never been severe with us, and had occasioned no alarm. On the 11th instant, at 25 minutes after 8 p.m., a rumbling sound came from the earth, beneath us, the precursor of a tremendous earthquake. The animals instinctively manifested their surprise; the dogs howled, the horses turned down their ears and snorted, the cattle which were lying down jumped up terrified and assumed their attitude when fearing to be eaten up by wolves; all were prepared for the danger which was about to come on them. An instant afterwards came another subterraneous rumbling, and then began the catastrophe. The earth swung back and forth from the north-east to the south-east, rapidly succeeded by oscillations from the east to the west: it seemed, so to speak, that the earth had been wounded by some electi'ic shock. A frightful whirlwind followed, after which all was confusion. I happened to be in the edge of the town, and proceeded towards my home, but the rapid movements of the earth threw me'down

twice, and a moment afterward I was immovablyfixed by a terrible noise, occasioned by the falling of the houses and the doleful screams ot nearly all the inhabitants. A cloud of dust covered the whole town and the air was suffocating. I ran with precipitate haste towards the spot where my house stood, meeting a number of men and women, many of them but partly dressed, wildly gesticulating, alternately calling upon G-od to have mercy upon them, and making use of certain superstitious orations. My heart almost sank within me as I rushed forward* in the hope of seeing my family, for, to add to the horrors of the scene, the groans of many persons tended to prove that each heap of ruins would also be a sepulchre. Arriving at the spot where my house was, I found but a heap of rubbish. I called lustily so as to ascertain, if possible, if there was atiy one jalive beneath, but received no response. I then ran off to- another part of the town, and there discovered that my family, fortunately, were away visiting at the time the house fell, and were thus saved from destruction. After some hours had been lost, the work of searching for friends and relatives known to be beneath the ruins was commenced; but it is impossible at this time to state exactly how many perished, partly because a great many people took to their heels and ran into the forest, and partly because the darkness prevents a perfect search for the bodies. So far, in a few hours, thirty-seven bodies have been dragged out. It is reported from Ahuacatlan that a little while before the earthquake was felt, the volcano of Ceboruco was covered with reddish clouds, and that continued subterraneous noises were heard. At 10 o'clock at night there was a shower of sand, which lasted for more than five minutes. At 15 minutes past S o'clock yesterday ~ morning the volcano of Ceboruco was observed to be throwing out fire with great activity.